Union backs green light for UK nuclear laboratory

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Union backs green light for UK nuclear laboratory

As the largest union for the UK nuclear industry, Prospect has welcomed the green light for the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL), as competition to select the management of this new research and development facility begins.

On behalf of 15,000 scientists and engineers in the nuclear industry, Prospect National Secretary Mike Graham said:

“This is an opportunity for the UK to be world leader in an industry which is experiencing a renaissance on the world stage.

Prospect will be seeking talks with each of the competing companies to ensure that a key aspect of all pre-qualifying bids to manage the lab is a commitment to expand facilities and take on business opportunities worldwide.

“We will be looking for the commercial expertise to secure stable long-term contracts so that our scientists and engineers are able to do the research and technological work required, not spend their days acting as fundraisers and managers. We must seize this chance to build the UK’s R&D capacity rather than let it suffer further fragmentation.”

The union is backing the short competition period set by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform that will see the new managers of the NNL in place by Spring next year.

Notes to editors:Prospect represents over 80% of NNL’s 700 staff, who work as scientists, engineers and technicians to provide technical support across all aspects of the nuclear industry.

Created from the former Nexia Solutions, NNL has been set up as a government owned, contractor operated company (GOCO) allowing for the assets to remain in public ownership. NNL will be based at technical centres across the UK including:

  • Sellafield – the technology centre operates the only facilities in the UK capable of carrying out R&D on highly active nuclear material. Also at Sellafield is the Windscale facility, which features a large shielded facility and is used to support clean-up and active work for customers
  • Springfields (near Preston) – the technology centre accommodates research programmes supporting nuclear fuel manufacture, residue recovery, safety and environmental assessment, as well as large-scale uranium work
  • Workington, West Cumbria – an off-site test facility which brings together all non-radioactive test rig work at a single site
  • Stonehouse, Risley and Harwell – where Nexia offices provide key technical support.