helent, Author at Sellafield

William Hare look to inspire West Cumbrian students

Posted on April 3, 2025 by helent

One of our key delivery partners, William Hare, has been encouraging West Cumbrian students to think about their skills.

William Hare, along with Severfield, were awarded a long-term steelwork contract across the lifecycle of PPP.

Ema Marinho, early careers lead, and Kirsty Brennan, head of HR and training, were at West Lakes Academy, in Egremont, for their Year 9 World of Work event.

The duo spoke to students, asking them to think about skills, strengths and areas for development, whilst also providing information about job roles, to be linked to their GCSE option choices.

There were a total of 210 students attending the day spread out across three rotations.

Kirsty Brennan had also supported West Lakes Academy with an Inspira-led event for their sixth form students.

In the morning she took part in an ‘Escape Room’ activity, delivered by All Together Cumbria where she had to “mentor” a small group through the exercise. Then there was a panel discussion where students could ask questions about apprenticeships.

In the afternoon there was a series of mock interviews held. And, as an added surprise Kirsty got to catch up with a former Dream Placement student, Beth Blythe, who was also in attendance.

And Ema Marinho, attended the school’s Year 10 mock interviews, an event also organised by Inspira.

Ema said: “The Mock Interview program at Lakes Academy proved to be an invaluable initiative, providing Year 10 students with an early opportunity to engage with the world of work, and develop key skills that will serve them throughout their careers.”

To see our latest volunteering opportunities use the Together For Good platform or for more details or to register for a volunteering opportunity through Inspira, contact Vicky Ritson on either 0781 222 4429 or email vicky.ritson@inspira.org.uk.

Kier rewarded for commitment to safety on SRP

Posted on April 3, 2025 by helent

SRP safety energy award was presented by Rob Seale, senior project manager (left), to James Wotherspoon, Kier construction manager.

Congratulations to Kier, part of our supply chain, as they are awarded this month’s safety energy contractor of the month on our Sellafield Product and Residue Store Retreatment Plant (SRP).

They won this for achieving 100% safety energy and demonstrating an outstanding commitment to safety.

The award was presented to James Wotherspoon, Kier construction manager, by Rob Seale, senior project manager, recognising Kier’s proactive approach to driving observations, team engagement, and their positive response to a recent unplanned event.

James Wotherspoon said: “This award reflects the dedication of our team to maintaining a safe and proactive working environment. Achieving 100% safety energy is a testament to the engagement and commitment of everyone on site.

“We will continue to build on this success and keep safety at the heart of everything we do.”

Well done to Kier for leading by example and keeping safety front and centre.

Tower crane dummy rescue drill goes smoothly

Posted on April 3, 2025 by helent

Mammoet operatives at our Sellafield Product and Residue Store Retreatment Plant (SRP) recently conducted a controlled dummy rescue exercise, using REAX self-descender equipment, to simulate an emergency evacuation from a tower crane.

The drill involved carefully lowering a weighted dummy from the crane, while ensuring stability and control throughout the descent. To manage the speed of descent, and minimise potential acceleration, the team use a Milan hoist which was secured to an anchor point above the casualty’s head.

The team also use a guide rope, this method provides additional stability and guides the casualty away from any structures below.

During the operation, a Mammoet operative, positioned below, played a key role in guiding the dummy safely down through an active worksite, navigating between two concrete pumps, positioned approximately 20 metres apart.

The descent was deliberately slowed to reduce momentum, ensuring a controlled and safe landing. Once on the ground, the Mammoet team efficiently removed the REAX rescue equipment, preparing the site for emergency services to take over.

Regular drills

Mammoet operatives regularly carry out rescue demonstrations at least four times per year. After each drill, the team conducts a debrief to assess areas for improvement.

A previous exercise highlighted that the rescue rope had snagged on scaffolding due to the wind, costing valuable time. In response, the team suggested using a guide rope in a dropped bag rather than manually lowering the rope.

This was the first time the dropped bag method was used, and it successfully saved three to four minutes on the rescue operation.

Dean Clark, site manager, praised the Mammoet operatives for their professionalism during the exercise: “This drill demonstrated the skill and precision of the team in executing a controlled rescue from the tower crane. Their focus on safety, stability, and efficiency ensured the exercise was completed in just three minutes.

“It’s a testament to their training, teamwork, and commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards on site.”

Proud to lead: Celebrating our supervisors

Posted on April 3, 2025 by helent

A scaffolding supervisor on our Sellafield Product and Residue Store Retreatment Plant (SRP) has talked about his pride in making a difference at PPP.

Craig Bennett, who works for Altrad on SRP, takes pride in the dedication of his team. Having recently stepped into his role, his leadership is already being recognised.

He said: “I’ve not long been a supervisor on this major project, I’ve been put on SRP because of my work on other projects, so it’s good to see hard work gets noticed.”

Craig’s role involves overseeing scaffolding operations, ensuring work is done safely and efficiently. His strong relationships with both the team and management help him bridge the gap, something he believes is rare in a supervisory role.

One of the biggest challenges on site has been material logistics, with scaffolding materials needing to be lifted and moved across different levels.

Proud to Lead

For Craig, working on SRP is about more than just the job: “The way they work makes me proud, it’s proper teamwork.

“I am proud to work at PPP because of the people, the progression and the recognition. I’ve been asked about moving up further, but I’m happy in this role.

“I’ve got a good relationship with the lads and management, so I can make a difference here.”

His advice to new SRP team members: “It’s a strong team, especially in scaffolding. The key is collaboration, everyone works well together and that makes the job easier and safer.”

Craig’s leadership and commitment reflect the spirit of being ‘proud to lead’, recognising hard work, valuing teamwork and ensuring safety remains at the heart of everything at PPP.

Read more of our Proud to Lead stories by clicking here.

Aspire Academy aiming to transform lives

Posted on March 18, 2025 by helent

An exciting new venture, aimed at creating opportunities for students to access a construction qualification, is launching.

Our supply chain partner, William King Construction, has worked with West Cumbria Learning Centre and Time To Change (West Cumbria) Project to come up with the Aspire Academy – in the hope that this will have a long term positive impact on the local area.

Having been born and raised in West Cumbria, William King, and Rachel Holliday, from Time to Change, are both very aware of the issues facing the area.

The idea of the Academy was born when they visited West Cumbria Learning Centre to meet children who are excluded from mainstream school.

The headteacher there, Danny Gee, spoke passionately about how so many of his students want to work in construction and how collectively we have the opportunity to ensure that they leave school best placed to access the many and fantastic opportunities locally.

William spoke of the labour skills gap in West Cumbria and all agreed what was needed was a facility which is not strictly a classroom. Instead it is a real life building site where students, in small groups, can grow in confidence and skills, working with mentors in construction and who have faced challenges in their own lives.

Funding for Aspire Academy

Rachel applied for funding, from SPARK (a Sellafield-funded programme for social enterprise), to enable a business plan to be developed. Once this was in place she spoke to local funders and with support from Cumbria Community Foundation, Copeland Community Fund and LLWR, Aspire Academy became a brand new Community Interest Company.

The funding then enabled the space at Westlakes Science Park to be transformed and ready for opening, with assistance from landlords Britain’s Energy Coast (BEC).

The Aspire Academy is set to open its doors to a first intake of six students next week. The youngsters, aged between 14 and 16, will embark on work towards a BTEC course, with William King as their instructor, running one afternoon a week over 10 weeks.

William King, Rachel Holliday and Danny Gee are all Aspire Academy directors and will help to move the project forwards.

William said: “Having come from a West Cumbrian town with low expectations and very few GCSE’s myself, I can relate to some of these pupils through my own experiences during school years.

“I’m hoping to be able to connect with them and share the belief that we can influence some better patterns going forward.

“Success will see students attend Aspire and gain the skills they need to choose their future.

“By evidencing to these students that they can work in construction, there is a bright future for them and we will support them to overcome any barriers they face.

“We would like to see a constant stream of inspired young people leaving their place of schooling and joining the working world with a trade apprenticeship at Lakes College.

“We will be mentoring the children alongside the practical part of the course and giving them extra learning in construction related courses and assisting in things like interview techniques and CV writing.”

Looking to the future

They would like to expand the Academy further in the future to look at adult job seekers, upskilling and also open it up to other schools and adult groups in the area.

Danny added: “We hope to roll this opportunity out to schools who have students who are at risk of exclusion, and for whom a traditional mainstream curriculum does not always engage or meet their needs.

“If we can support students to remain in their mainstream school this would be a benefit all round.”

Morgan Sindall has also stepped forward to offer some construction-based courses to the students, while MKM Building Supplies, at Lillyhall, donated construction materials for the project.

But Will added that they would welcome more support going forward, either financial or offers of tuition help.

He added: “As we open the doors to our students we are looking to sustain the academy through sponsorship of each cohort of students.

“We are open to speaking to supply chain companies who would be willing to offer apprenticeships / work to students who have faced significant challenges in their lives.”

If you can help please contact Rachel by emailing Rachel.holliday@ttcwestcumbria.org

Marking Neurodiversity Celebration Week

Posted on March 14, 2025 by helent

Next week is Neurodiversity Celebration Week – a worldwide initiative working to transform the way neurodivergent people are perceived and to recognise the many advantages and talents that come with neurodiversity.

To celebrate the week, our teams have put together a pack of resources to showcase the support available and to provide an opportunity to learn more about neurodiversity.

To access the pack yourself, please see here: Neurodiversity celebration week

Knowingly Safe 24/7: Saved by carbon monoxide detector

Posted on March 11, 2025 by helent

Our journey to Knowingly Safe is crucial so that everyone is switched on to safety 24/7 at work and at home.

During a severe winter storm that caused a two day power outage, Ewan Kerr, technical manager at NG Bailey, and his wife, relied on their open fire for continuous heat.

In the early evening on the second day, their carbon monoxide alarm sounded, waking them on the couch from what Ewan described as ‘probably our last sleep’.

Both were disoriented, with headaches and dizziness, but the alarm’s piercing sound alerted them just in time.

Ewan said:

“Always position your carbon monoxide monitor close to the source of combustion. This ensures any build up is detected early.

“Each floor of a home should have a linked smoke detector, ideally placed near sleeping areas, so the alarm can be heard.

“Rooms with combustion sources must be well ventilated. We had recently sealed drafts in our cottage, which improved energy efficiency but unintentionally reduced ventilation and contributed to the dangerous build-up of carbon monoxide.”

Regulations require interlinked smoke and fire alarms in homes. These alarms are designed so that if one goes off, they all do, ensuring people hear the alarm wherever they are in the house. Ewan reflected on this, adding: “I wonder how many lives this has saved?”

His experience is a stark reminder of the unseen dangers that can arise when proper precautions are not in place.

He urges everyone to have the courage to care by installing carbon monoxide alarms, placing them correctly, and ensuring proper ventilation in areas with combustion sources.

Knowingly Safe Guidance

For guidance on carbon monoxide alarm placement and installation, Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022: guidance for landlords and tenants – GOV.UK

By taking these simple but essential precautions, we can protect ourselves and those around us from the silent and deadly threat of carbon monoxide poisoning.

NG Bailey volunteers assist charity with storm damage

Posted on March 11, 2025 by helent

Volunteers from our key delivery partner NG Bailey have been busy helping a West Cumbrian charity recover from the storms that hit the region earlier this year.

Storms damaged one of the polytunnels at the Goodlives project, based at Westlakes Science Park. Goodlives is a growing project that aims to offer real life skills and employment skills through gardening and horticulture.

It creates a ‘work’ environment focused on food production whilst supporting people into employment, education and training opportunities together with delivering health and wellbeing benefits.

Volunteers from NG Bailey got stuck into the task at hand, to put a new skin on the polytunnel and helped with a bit of heavy lifting and maintenance too!

Vicki Fox, of NG Bailey, said:

“To see the project is absolutely amazing, they have a new container on site with two fully kitted out kitchens so they can offer cooking lessons and talk about and use fresh healthy produce grown on site.

“Darrel is an amazing handy man and has made a propagator that is fully insulated, and it is temperature and moisture controlled. This allows them to germinate up to 9,000 saplings ready to plant generating a really good harvest.”

Please see the latest volunteering opportunities available through Timebank using Together For Good.

New chapter for Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick on PPP

Posted on March 11, 2025 by helent

Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick (BBK) has officially opened a new office, at Westlakes Science and Technology Park, marking a significant milestone in its 47-year partnership with Sellafield and its role within PPP.

As a Key Delivery Partner (KDP) on PPP, this move reinforces BBK’s commitment to major projects, providing a modern space for teams to collaborate and continue delivering essential work in safety and infrastructure.

The new office, in Galemire Court, provides a dedicated hub for its Sellafield project teams.

This space will bring teams together to support key projects, including our Sellafield Product and Residue Store (SRP), SIXEP Continuity Plant (SCP), Box Encapsulation Plant Product Store 2 (BEPPS2), and the Box Encapsulation Plant (BEP), while ensuring capacity for future expansion.

For nearly five decades, BBK has played a role at Sellafield, contributing to projects such as THORP, SPRS, and Silos Maintenance.

Its position as a KDP on PPP has driven long-term investment in people, skills, and infrastructure, further strengthening its role in major projects.

Carl McNicholas, BBK programme director, said:

“This move underscores our determination to continue delivering exceptional value to our customers and ensuring that we remain at the forefront of delivering safe, and effective, solutions for the challenges of tomorrow.”

BBK recognised on SRP for Safety Energy efforts

Posted on March 11, 2025 by helent

(L-R) John Leslie, SRP Project Director, presenting Cameron Fletcher, BBK, with the Safety Energy Contractor of the Month award.

One of our Key Delivery Partners (KDPs), Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick (BBK), started the year off on a high note – being recognised with our Sellafield Product and Residue Store Retreatment Plant’s (SRP) Safety Energy Contractor of the Month award for January 2025.

BBK has maintained an excellent Safety Energy performance score on the project. This achievement is testament to the unwavering commitment of the entire team to create a safe and secure working environment, underpinned by a strong focus on people, culture and effective process.

The BBK team was also recognised for its collaborative efforts, working closely with the project team and NG Bailey, during an incident investigation to help provide valuable learning.

By building a culture of collaboration, the site has encouraged everyone to have a voice in safety matters, making suggestions, highlighting concerns and celebrating safety success.

Cameron Fletcher, BBK senior health, safety and wellbeing advisor, said:

“I am deeply proud of the project team for their commitment to health and safety. Their collaborative approach, working together to create a safe environment, ensures, not only the success of the project, but also the wellbeing of every individual involved. It’s a true testament to their professionalism on the journey to Knowingly Safe.”