[A] collaboration between the University of Cumbria and Sellafield Ltd which has resulted in 600 students undergoing specialist training and the creation of new jobs has received a prestigious award.
Recognition for the creation of a project academy came as part of the NDA Estate Supply Chain Event, held at EventCity in Manchester on November 2.
The awards recognise the contribution of suppliers to the UK’s nuclear clean-up mission with the university receiving an award for the best enhancement of capability and capacity.
The category recognises capability and capacity in the supply chain are important to support projects and programmes, both now and in the future. The award was aimed at suppliers who may have:
- developed employee skills
- supported the development of supply chain partners
- created opportunities to bring people into the workplace
- developed skills and enabled an environment where differences are valued
“Our suppliers play a critical role in delivering timely, cost-effective decommissioning across our sites, and we are delighted to acknowledge their vital contribution,” Ron Gorham, the NDA’s Head of Supply Chain optimisation and SME Champion, who chaired the judging panel, said: “The standard of entries this year was again extremely high, and the judges and I were particularly pleased with the dedication, creativity and determination shown from companies large and small.”
“These awards celebrate the commitment of our supply chain and the value they bring on a daily basis, and highlight that the UK industry is uniquely positioned to continue to be successful, not just at home but also abroad.”
The academy’s vision was to create a centre of excellence for the development of project skills delivery and has so far trained over 600 students and created 8 new supply chain jobs. The initiative also supports other sectors such as health, construction, the third sector and education, as well as delivering a significant cost saving for courses to Sellafield Ltd.
This approach will enable Sellafield Ltd to create the capacity to deliver the projects needed for site decommissioning by providing people with education, training and professional qualifications.
“It is a fantastic recognition of the hard work across the university in developing and delivering our broad project management portfolio including the development of new academic and training solutions and qualifications,” Jaq Longrigg, the University of Cumbria, industrial partnerships and contract lead (nuclear) said. ““We’re now planning to build on this work and expand the academy to ensure we continue to ensure we’re offering relevant, timely training in a sector that’s vital to Cumbria’s economy.”
