Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
1500 visitors attended for informal networking and presentations on decommissioning opportunities.
Businesses from across the UK and overseas were represented at Manchesters EventCity venue, with delegates from as far afield as Canada, Japan, China, Russia and the European Union.
Organised jointly by the NDA and its Site Licence Companies (SLCs), a key goal is to create greater visibility of opportunities for suppliers and in particular for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
Since launching five years ago, the event has become established as one of the largest nuclear decommissioning supplier days in the world. Yesterdays event was the busiest so far.
NDA Chief Executive John Clarke formally opened the day. He highlighted the importance of suppliers in providing skills and innovation to support the decommissioning progress, together with the estates commitment to encourage participation from businesses at every level.
The main hall featured more than 270 exhibition stands, staffed by a wide range of technical and service suppliers, alongside information stands representing the NDA, all the SLCs, government bodies and regeneration organisations.
A central Innovation Zone, supported by the governments Innovate UK, hosted more than 40 exhibitor companies, who held demonstrations of leading-edge technologies throughout the afternoon.
One of the morning highlights was the presentation of NDA Estate awards to recognise suppliers who have successfully worked on successful collaborative projects or deployed innovative technology.
Other government departments attending included:
- The Ministry of Defence, Defence Equipment and Support and Submarines Operating Centre
- UKTI, the government body working with UK businesses to promoting exports
- Innovate UK, the governments innovation agency
- Crown Commercial Service
- Welsh Government
Ron Gorham, the NDAs Head of Supply Chain Optimisation and SME Champion, said:
The success of our mission depends on vibrant, dynamic businesses providing solutions to the many challenges. We remain committed to working with the supply chain, from the largest to the smallest players, to improve opportunities for involvement in decommissioning
Yesterdays event is a direct response to suppliers who wanted one place to talk with each other and do business, where they could access leading figures from across our estate and hear key messages.
The two fringe meetings both supporting the event also worked well: one for the SME agenda and the second for Women in Nuclear these added even greater value.
The event is part of a series of initiatives developed over recent years to encourage and support the supply chain. These include a simplification of contract flow-down requirements, a requirement for prompt payment of sub-contractors, establishment of national and regional steering groups for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), and a mentoring scheme for smaller businesses.
Supply Chain Awards 2015
The annual awards recognise the vital contribution of suppliers to the UKs nuclear clean-up mission and were among the highlights of the NDA Estate Supply Chain Event, held at EventCity, Manchester.
Open to suppliers of all sizes, entries were submitted in 5 categories including collaboration, innovation and export success.
The NDAs Ron Gorham, chair of the judging panel, said:
Our suppliers play a critical role in delivering timely, cost-effective decommissioning across our sites, and we are delighted to acknowledge their success. The standard of entries this year was again extremely high, particularly from SMEs who demonstrated an impressive level of innovation in their approach to challenging situations.
These awards celebrate the commitment of our supply chain and the value they bring on a daily basis.
Technology/Innovation Implementation (new award for 2015)
This new award recognises both the innovation and collaboration required to take a technology/innovation through to successful deployment on a site. The award was open to all suppliers, whatever size, working collaboratively with the SLCs.
Winner
TWI and Magnox with Fanuc Robotics
First-of-a-kind automated laser cutting of contaminated skips, developed at Hinkley Point A.
Highly Commended
Forth Engineering and Sellafield
Adapting off-the-shelf equipment to drive hydraulic power pack in legacy pond.
SME Innovation
An award specifically for smaller businesses, the innovation can be a new product/process or adaptation of technology from other non-nuclear market, bringing benefits and savings.
Winner (plus Highly Commended)
Novel development of a combined cement and organic matrix to recover and solidify contaminated water from Harwells ILW storage tubes. Supported by other SMEs.
with Highly Commended for the project partners Rutpen and Nochar, and for Stuart Watson of Magnox Ltd.
Collaboration
This year, collaboration was interpreted in its widest form, open to suppliers and organisations working collaboratively in the supply chain or providing wider community benefits, or increased skills.
Winner
PPS Electrical, Lakes College, Hilti, Arco, Edmundson Cabletech Carlisle, JTL and Sellafield Ltd
Improving the experience for students at the start of their apprenticeship journey by providing training, PPE/equipment and materials
Highly Commended
Supply Chain Quality Event Review Team (SC QERT)
Led by Interserve to develop the mechanics for sharing and communicating Learning From Experience between Sellafield Ltd and the supply chain. Members include Amec Foster Wheeler, Ansaldo NES, Arup, Atkins, Balfour Beatty, Carillion, Cavendish Nuclear, Costain, AMA, Sir Robert McAlpine, Urenco, Morgan Sindall, M+W Group, Nuvia, GE Group, Magnox Ltd and Sellafield Ltd.
Britains Energy Coast Business Cluster
Encouraging collaboration, partnership and co-operation between its 250-plus members.
The University of Manchester and National Nuclear Laboratory working with SMEs to develop their innovations for commercial applications.
Long-term collaboration with Sellafield Ltd providing cost-effective training solutions
Export Award
A new award for 2015, created in conjunction with UKTI, for companies who have successfully exported overseas from concepts, products and services originally conceived or implemented in the NDA estate.
Winner
Their unique N-VisageTM Gamma Imaging System provided analysis and consultancy support to inform future clean-up activities at Fukushima.
Ministers Award
Sponsored this year by Lord Bourne, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the Ministers Award recognises the great value, flexibility and innovation that SMEs bring to the mission.
Winner
Design and manufacture of the Shaft Intervention Platform for the Dounreay shaft.