News releases 2014

Atkins and Nuclear AMRC sign collaborative agreement - 24 November 2014

The Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and Atkins have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to work together on nuclear industry research and development and on support and training for the UK's civil nuclear supply chain.

The MOU was signed by Mike Tynan, chief executive of the Nuclear AMRC, and Chris Ball, managing director for nuclear at Atkins. It confirms that the two organisations will work together for mutual benefit in areas relating to nuclear research and development, UK civil nuclear supply chain development, and the provision of effective support to the UK civil nuclear industry. Both groups will contribute expertise, experience and knowhow to their shared aims.

Atkins commits to being an active supporter of the Nuclear AMRC, including joint reviews of opportunities for UK suppliers in nuclear new build, decommissioning and operations, and will seek to identify opportunities for the Nuclear AMRC to add value to Atkins' delivery of commercial work.

The Nuclear AMRC will involve Atkins in key areas of its manufacturing research and development including small modular and micro reactors, fuel cycle and waste treatment/management activities.

Mike Tynan, Nuclear AMRC chief executive, commented: "I am delighted to sign a collaboration agreement with Atkins, a successful, experienced and innovative company in the global civil nuclear marketplace. Both of our organisations are committed to excellence in the nuclear industry and are determined to drive a new era of civil nuclear power for the UK. We share a particular interest in the development of the UK civil nuclear supply chain, skills for the future and economic value for the UK through the creation of value in the civil nuclear programme. I look forward to working with Chris Ball and his nuclear team at Atkins."

Chris Ball, managing director of Atkins' nuclear business, said: "Atkins and the Nuclear AMRC share the spirit of innovation, collaboration and excellence, and we are looking forward to working together. This is a very exciting time for the nuclear industry in the UK and internationally, and by working closely on pioneering projects with partners like Nuclear AMRC, we're making a real difference to civil nuclear power in the UK."

Ends

For more information:

Paul Childs
PR manager, Energy

paul.childs@atkinsglobal.com
+44 207 121 2828

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Notes to editors:

Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC)

The Nuclear AMRC (www.namrc.co.uk) combines academic innovation with industry expertise to help UK manufacturers win work in civil nuclear and other innovative energy industries. It is part of the University of Sheffield, with support from The University of Manchester's Dalton Nuclear Institute.  Based on the same collaborative model as the established University of Sheffield AMRC with Boeing, the Nuclear AMRC develops new manufacturing techniques and technologies to meet the demands of the civil nuclear industry. The Nuclear AMRC is supported by the UK Government and the European Regional Development Fund. It is part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, a collaboration between seven UK research centres with funding from the UK's innovation agency Innovate UK (formerly the Technology Strategy Board).

Atkins

Atkins (www.atkinsglobal.com ) is one of the world's leading design, engineering and project management consultancies*, employing some 18,000 people across the UK, North America, Middle East, Asia Pacific and Europe. Our people's breadth and depth of expertise and drive to ask why has allowed us to plan, design and enable some of the world's most complex and time critical projects.

*15th largest global design firm (Engineering News-Record 2014) and the third largest multidisciplinary consultancy in Europe (Svensk Teknik och Design 2013).

Recent projects from across the Group:

Atkins is working across urban regeneration, master planning, national energy programmes, major transport schemes, water and environment projects - applying smart design solutions on projects including:

  • Central Planning Office - helping to co-ordinate Qatar's National 2030 Vision for world class transport infrastructure, which will bring major benefits to the economy;
  • The London 2012 Games infrastructure transformation - as technical advisor to London's boroughs as the Olympic Park moves into its legacy configuration as a follow-on role to our work as the Games' official engineering and design provider;
  • 's peaceful nuclear new build programme - providing technical assurance to lenders backing the United Arab Emirates' most ambitious energy infrastructure projects;
  • North Sea and Gulf of Mexico oil and gas platforms - extending the operational life of critical oil and gas platforms to allow cost-efficient and safe recovery of fuel sources from mature fields;
  • offshore wind alliance - provision of expert engineering and design support for the UK's biggest offshore wind alliance with Scottish and Southern Energy;
  • - designing the Central London twin tunnels and station architecture for Europe's biggest civil engineering scheme which will see tunnels passing beneath 470 listed buildings and critical infrastructure;
  • Railway - providing multidisciplinary design expertise on the 1,200 km Rail network which will passenger and freight transport in the ;
  • Denmark - providing signalling expertise on the first countrywide installation of an train control and management system in Denmark;
  • Hong Kong-- Bridge - lead consultant on this integral part of the new Hong Kong link road scheme which will significantly boost land connectivity in the region;
  • Sixth Form College - design of the energy consumption College in the UK which aims to reduce operational energy use by more than 60% compared to previous designs;
  • UK National Composites Centre - providing technical expertise to bring the latest lightweight carbon fibre materials to all engineering sectors, helping to develop innovative applications and reduce costs and carbon;
  • US Environmental Protection Agency - providing technical assessment and analysis of national water-related resources and ecological systems in North America;
  • Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) broadband - providing technical, commercial and procurement support to help deliver broadband to one of Europe's most remote regions.


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