Welcome from the founder
We’re delighted to welcome you back for Enhancing the Nuclear Economy – Part 2.
This year, our focus expands across the entire nuclear life cycle, from policy and finance, to innovation, decommissioning, fusion, and transportation. Our vision is to bring together voices from government, industry, the supply chain, and academia to have the critical conversations that will shape the future of nuclear.
Since our last gathering, we’ve seen significant changes in government, ongoing volatility in energy prices, and evolving market dynamics. The rise of AI and data centres has further intensified the conversation around future energy demand and security, placing nuclear even more firmly in the spotlight.
The case for new nuclear has never been stronger. With the launch of the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce, momentum continuing at Sizewell C, and the next phase of the GBN SMR competition on the horizon, it’s clear that alignment is growing across sectors and stakeholders.
We’re excited to be part of this journey and to have you with us as we explore what’s next for the UK’s nuclear economy.
Jonathan Torrealba
Bridgewater hall
Nuclear Strategy Summit Enhancing the aNuclear Economy
8th May at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester UK
The Bridgewater Hall is Manchester’s international concert venue, built to give the best possible space for music. The Hall hosts over 300 performances a year including classical music, rock, pop, jazz, world music and much more.
This has been the home to the Halle Orchestra since 1996 and it also hosts the BBC Philharmonic and Manchester Camerata regularly.
The former Free Trade Hall, faced replacement proposals after World War II due to damage. In the 1990s, a site east of Lower Mosley Street was chosen for a new hall. Architects were invited to submit designs, leading to Renton Howard Wood Levin (RHWL) winning the bid. The Bridgewater Hall, which opened its doors in 1996, became not only a symbol of Manchester’s modernization postdeindustrialization and the 1996 bombing but also received royal recognition as Queen Elizabeth II officially opened it on December 4th, 1996.
Outside, the plaza showcases the “Ishinki Touchstone,” a striking sculpture made of Italian Carrara marble, while a sculpture of Sir John Barbirolli graces the main entrance, adding to the hall’s aesthetic charm.
Hannah Vaughan Jones
Introducing Hannah Vaughan Jones, an Emmynominated British journalist celebrated for her hosting and moderating prowess. With prime-time shows for CNN and Sky News under her belt, Hannah is a seasoned professional known for her insightful interviews and engaging presence.
Having moderated for prestigious organizations such as the IAEA and the WHO, Hannah has had the privilege of interviewing world leaders, including the likes of Bill Gates and His Majesty King Charles III. Her notable achievements include hosting the CHOGM London Malaria Summit alongside Bill Gates and fifteen Heads of State.
Beyond her media career, Hannah runs her own successful company, Lewnah Ltd, and holds influential roles on the McCain Institute’s Global Advisory Council and as Senior Counsel to Incisive Health.
With her wealth of experience and charismatic demeaner, Hannah Vaughan Jones is the perfect choice to host and moderate the “Enhancing the Nuclear Economy” event, ensuring it’s both informative and captivating for all attendees.
Agenda
8:00am Arrival, Registration & Breakfast
9:05am Nuclear Strategy Welcome
9:10am ONR – Presentation
9:25am Bureau Veritas - Presentation
9:40am Cavendish Nuclear- Presentation
9:55am MTC – Presentation
10:10am Deloitte – Presentation
Break
11:25am Rolls-Royce SMR - Presentation
11:40pm Airbus Protect - Presentation
11:55pm Amentum - Presentation
12:10pm Panel Discussion and Q&A – Tripling Nuclear - Xenergy, EDF, NIRO, Dalton, Kaefer
Lunch
14:10pm Tokamak Energy - Presentation
14:25pm UKAEA – Presentation
14:40pm Core Power - Presentation
14:55pm Community Nuclear Power (CNP) - Presentation
15:10pm Closing remarks
15:15 to 16:50pm Post drinks reception ** Programme and speakers subject to change**
From Classroom to Control Room: How Gen2 is Building the Nuclear Workforce of Tomorrow
With the UK embarking on a nuclear renaissance the pressure to recruit and retain skilled talent across the full nuclear life cycle has never been more intense. A national competition for expertise is underway, and the sector is grappling with a growing skills gap that threatens progress.
The challenge isn’t just within the nuclear sector either. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Survey 2025 lists big data specialists, AI experts, data analysts, and information security
professionals among the most in-demand roles globally, creating further pressure on finding and retaining key talent. Alarmingly, 63% of employers identified skills shortages as the top barrier to transformation, prompting 85% to commit to upskilling their workforce while 70% also look to hire talent with the right capabilities.
This is where Gen2 steps in. With over two decades of experience delivering high-quality skills training to the nuclear sector,
Gen2 is helping bridge the talent gap through robust, futurefocused educational programmes designed to support both legacy operations and next-generation innovation. Gen2 supports the development of skills across from short courses and immediate upskilling all the way to Level 6 degree apprenticeships. The combination of activities ensures that critical safety, leadership, and engineering skills are available when needed on site and promotes long term development of personnel.
Navigating the Nuclear Lifecycle: Seven Considerations for Project Success
At CEA, our extensive experience supporting nuclear projects throughout their lifecycle has provided us with unique insights into the challenges and opportunities at each stage. Our team of strategic advisers specialise in consenting, radioactive substances regulations (RSR), environmental permitting, and assurance.
This article highlights seven critical success factors for effectively navigating nuclear development, with a focus on consenting and permitting at the early stages.
1. Strengthening Regulatory Relationships
Early and proactive engagement with regulators is crucial. Our team includes former regulators who understand the importance of fostering relationships that build confidence in the maturity of a project. Maintaining productive relationships with regulators throughout the nuclear lifecycle facilitates more efficient resolution of emergent issues and periodic reviews.
2.
Optimisation from the Outset
Optimisation can never be considered too early. It is important that Best Available Techniques (BAT) are considered in the design of both the plant and monitoring systems in relation to the liquid, gaseous, solid waste streams that will be produced over the lifetime of the plant. CEA recommend integrating BAT into procedures and ways of working early on, to ensure it is adequately considered throughout the project lifecycle.
3. Radioactive Waste Management and Decommissioning Planning
CEA recommends adequate consideration of radioactive waste management and decommissioning from early design stages, to maximise safety, environmental protection, cost and time efficiency. Incorporating features that facilitate eventual decommissioning into the original design reduces end-of-life costs and environmental impacts. Consideration should be made in the early design stages to future developments of disposal facilities and innovative waste treatment techniques.
4. Working Collaboratively, a ‘One Team Approach’
It is important to engender trust between all organisations that form the overall project delivery team. Safety and Environmental disciplines should work closely with Project Directors and Managers, and the supply chain to facilitate joint risk management and where required, work on shared IT platforms to ensure that there is a single source of the truth. Co-locating teams and holding joint workshops enhance cross-discipline collaboration and effective decision-making.
5. Robust Environmental Impact Assessment and Habitats Compensation
An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required for civil nuclear reactors, it must be comprehensive, scientifically sound, and address
Value Added Services
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Our team pride themselves on providing best in class service and will always meet our customers’ expectations and requirements.
Avoira gives you flexible purchase and managed service options, so all you have to do is decide which option suits you best.
With Over 40 years’ experience, we are proud of our enviable and unrivalled reputation for expertise. Our accredited engineers have a wealth of experience, so you get the relevant support and expertise across our entire portfolio.
An assessment allows us to understand your situation. We can then recommend the best solution for you.
As part of our Assessment services, Avoira’s expert consultants work through a defined business analysis process with you to arrive at specific outcomes, recommendations and actions.
Our client base, nurtured since our founding in 1976, is as diverse as the solutions we deliver. We serve private and public sector organisations of all sizes, across a broad range of sectors.
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Airbus Protect sets the benchmark in safety, cybersecurity & sustainability for the civil nuclear industry
Airbus Protect is an Airbus subsidiary specialising in safety, cybersecurity and sustainability risk management. With more than 1,700 skilled professionals, they deliver high-value consultancy services and digital solutions to strengthen incident prevention, regulatory compliance and business resilience at every level, from design and production to maintenance and operations.
With decades of experience protecting critical infrastructures across Europe, Airbus Protect supports nuclear companies to build resilience across their end-to-end operations.
: Expertise [you can trust] services we have provided to Nuclear clients:
> SOC, Cyber Risk Consultancy and Offensive Testing
> CyberRange - Cyber Training & Industrial Simulation Platform
> General Agreement for detection and management of cybersecurity incidents
> Critical analysis of risks analysis studies
> Update of the hazard studies of the nuclear fuel reprocessing plant
> Fire studies for radioactive effluent treatment facility
> Blast studies for a nuclear fuel manufacturing plant
> Assistance in answering questions from the nuclear safety authority on risks analysis
> Fire studies for nuclear installation
> Reliability studies for a new nuclear facility
Bureau Veritas is a world leader in laboratory testing, inspection and certification services. Created in 1828, the Group has more than 84,000 employees located in more than 1,600 offices and laboratories around the globe.
Bureau Veritas helps its clients improve their performance by offering services and innovative solutions in order to ensure that their assets, products, infrastructure and processes meet standards and regulations in terms of quality, health and safety, environmental protection and social responsibility.
Website https://group.bureauveritas.com/
MTC has a strong pedigree in supporting the nuclear industry, both in civil and related sectors. With over 50 years of collective experience, our team understands the complex needs of the nuclear domain.
They support the entire lifecycle of nuclear programmes - from concept creation, design and validation to maintenance, obsolescence management, decommissioning, and waste management.
Website https://www.the-mtc.org/
Exhibitors
Kaefer supports the nuclear sector through reliable, efficient, and technical industrial services. Kaefer offers a unique range of industrial services, delivered by experienced and multi-disciplined specialists, right across the UK. You can choose from their advanced scaffolding and access systems, cryogenic, thermal and acoustic insulation services, asbestos management and removal and industrial painting and coating services.
Website https://kaefer.com/
Booth Industries is a world-renowned provider of high performance, high integrity protection systems, specialising in certified, engineered and bespoke multi-protection doorsets.
We offer a full turnkey package in order to satisfy all customer requirements, and our full range of services enables a smooth project lifecycle – from concept, through to developing your design, to manufacture, and then through to installation, commissioning and providing the full service-life assurance.
Our unique QC1 grading allows us to satisfy & assure the most demanding and highly regulated of sectors, from Nuclear, Infrastructure, and Defence & Security, through to Oil & Gas, Petrochemical, and Aviation. We also have extensive List-X facilities in order to support the most sensitive of projects, manned by SC and DV cleared personnel.
Website https://www.booth-industries.co.uk/
Over nearly five decades we’ve become fluent in a range of complementary technologies that empower our clients to enhance their communication, productivity and service delivery. We couple our technological fluency with an impartial, expert consultancy service, ensuring that our client needs are always at the heart of every solution we deliver. We’re unique in designing, delivering, supporting and managing highly sophisticated and effective solutions that harness our varied specialisms and cutting-edge technologies. These include everything from two-way radio systems, through cutting-edge unified communications platforms, tariff-free internet-enabled telephony and potent AI-powered Customer Experience (CX) software.
Website https://avoira.com/
Established in 1983, we have a long and proud track record of delivering high quality, often bespoke, products and services across a broad range of markets.
We are privileged to work for a wide variety of prestigious clients on some of the most exciting and complex engineering projects in the world. From cleaning up nuclear legacies to developing the next generation of security scanning products, the one thing all our projects demand is excellence in engineering and manufacturing.
From new build and operations to waste treatment and decommissioning, we offer practical solutions for the most complex of nuclear challenges.
Website https://nisltd.com/
Gen2 was established in 2000 and specialises in the Engineering, Nuclear, and Manufacturing sectors. In May 2017 Gen2 joined City & Guilds.
Gen2 currently operates from 5 training centres across Cumbria and over 150 employees, the vast majority of which are direct delivery staff. Through targeted development of commercial training Gen2 continues to grow its geographic and product portfolio.
Gen2 has developed many higher level programmes to meet the needs of industry including the suite of nuclear related technology foundation degrees. The quality of teaching and learning is paramount, resulting in Gen2 success rates typically 20% above the national average.
Website https://gen2.ac.uk/
