News: Local manufacturers urged to get involved in nuclear new build

Local manufacturers are being urged to make the most of Rotherham being at the centre of the UK civil nuclear supply chain.

Alan Cumming, commercial director for EDF Energy's nuclear new build programme in the UK, and one of the sector's leading buyers, has said that South Yorkshire manufacturers are better placed than their rivals across the UK and Europe to supply the civil nuclear energy industry and should take advantage of having The Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC) on their doorstep.

With new £25m facilities set to open soon on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham, the Nuclear AMRC is a joint initiative between the University of Sheffield, The University of Manchester, and a consortium of industry partners. It will provide a focal point for the bulk of the UK civil nuclear manufacturing industry supply chain, ensuring that manufacturers in the UK have the capability and capacity required to compete for nuclear new build in the UK and globally, from skills training to research and development.

The UK is embarking on its largest ever investment in new nuclear power stations, with a total value of around £40 billion.

Alan Cumming, who is also on the programme board at the Nuclear AMRC, said: "The Nuclear AMRC is set to be the single most important hub of the entire UK nuclear energy sector.

"It's a world class facility and is sitting next door to some of the world's most talented manufacturers, so we will be hosting special events where those manufacturers can get a clear understanding of what we need.

"It's time for South Yorkshire's manufacturers to grab this opportunity with both hands."

At the same time as Rolls-Royce signed a £400m agreement with AREVA that will create hundreds of jobs in Rotherham, EDF signed a £100m–plus contract with Kier BAM for site preparation works at the UK's first European Pressurized Reactor (EPR) project, and an MoU with AREVA relating to the delivery of the nuclear steam supply system and central instrumentation and control systems.

The series of Supplier Days, where local manufacturers can discuss their products with key buyers from the nuclear energy sector, are being planned for the Nuclear AMRC.

Martin McKervey, partner at commercial law firm, Nabarro which is a headline sponsor of next month's Global Manufacturing Festival, said: "It is hoped that South Yorkshire engineering companies specialising in instrumentation, valves, pumps and other high-end products can grab pole position in this sector as the UK is about to see its largest-ever new-build programme for nuclear energy."

EDF Energy website
Nuclear AMRC website

Images: edfenergy.com