New initiative to broaden nuclear supply chain

An initiative to help broaden the UK nuclear supply chain has been launched. The Nuclear Supply Chain Partnership (NSCP) aims to help smaller companies prepare to bid for manufacturing work on […]

An initiative to help broaden the UK nuclear supply chain has been launched.

The Nuclear Supply Chain Partnership (NSCP) aims to help smaller companies prepare to bid for manufacturing work on new projects.

It was launched at the Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) Conference in London yesterday and hopes to bring together manufacturing companies who have a “realistic offering” to nuclear developers, reactor vendors and top tiers of the supply chain.

It will act as a business tool for the UK and help SMEs to bid for work, encouraging joint ventures or partnerships with overseas companies to bring a UK percentage to a contract.

The initiative will work closely with the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) and the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre’s (NAMRC) Fit For Nuclear (F4N) programme.

A hundred companies have already completed the F4N programme, which equips companies with the technical skills to work in the supply chain.

The NIA’s NSCP will provide other skills such as business plan writing, access to finance and contract information.

To date, more than 50 companies have signed up to the scheme.

NIA Chief Executive Keith Parker said: “I’m delighted to launch this partnership to help open the supply chain to more companies. Any business working in an advanced manufacturing industry should be viable to compete for work on the UK nuclear new build programme.

“Assisting SMEs to bid for work in the new build supply chain, will mean work being retained in the UK and give successful firms a foothold into the export market.”

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