Latest News Archives - Page 6 of 8

Sir Robert McAlpine aid Creating Careers in Construction cohort

Posted on February 6, 2025 by helent

One of PPP’s Key Delivery Partners, Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM) has aided a Creating Careers in Construction employability programme focused on adults looking at a career change or entering the sector.

SRM collaborated with All Together Cumbria, to deliver a session for their Creating Careers in Construction cohort, helping adults currently out of work to gain extra skills.

They used their 13m cable stay bridge, which can be used to support the understanding of STEM and construction careers, in a session with 11 adults, held at Lakes College West Cumbria.

SRM representatives discussed career opportunities within civil engineering and construction and the cohort erected and dismantled the bridge.

Claire Louise Chapman, Social Impact Lead for SRM, said: “This is the first time we have used our STEM bridge resource with adults, and it was an opportunity to talk, in more detail, about routes into our sector, entry requirements and to meet enthusiastic and capable individuals who are looking to work in construction.

“The group was fantastic, very competent and focused and we’re glad they enjoyed the session.”

Andy Dodds, of All Together Cumbria, said: “The use of the STEM bridge for the Creating Careers in Construction cohort was very useful.

“The cohort have been using the Skills Builder framework to develop essential skills throughout the programme to support their journey to employment.

“The STEM bridge allowed the participants to develop these skills further, with the activity lending itself to all eight essential skills but particularly problem solving, teamwork, creativity and leadership.

“The group really enjoyed the activity and the practical nature of the session complemented the classroom study they were completing for their CSCS card.

“The session also provided the opportunity for the group to meet and interact with another employer, to whom they could display professional behaviours and gain an insight into the careers available.”

Matt makes a lasting impact at PPP

Posted on February 6, 2025 by helent

A supervisor on the SIXEP Continuity Plant (SCP) is making a lasting impact through his leadership and commitment to high standards.

Matt Devlin, a supervisor for William King Construction, part of our PPP supply chain, takes pride in seeing his team grow and succeed, while creating a safe, efficient working environment on-site.

He manages a team responsible for blockwork, ensuring that work areas are kept tidy and controlled to maintain safety and efficiency. He speaks passionately about his team’s progress, explaining how rewarding it is to see younger workers step up and deliver high-quality work.

Matt is especially proud of his team’s ability to handle complex tasks, showing both skill and initiative.

Having worked alongside many of his current team members on previous projects, Matt values the strong team spirit and mutual respect they share. He credits his colleagues for helping him transition into a supervisory role, highlighting their willingness to offer advice and support. He admits he’s still learning, but feels confident knowing his team always has his back.

Matt said: “I’m proud to work at PPP, the opportunities here are massive, and everyone is willing to help you get where you want to be. Whether it’s supervision, management, or quality and safety roles, the career paths are there, and the long term prospects make it a great place to be.”

Matt Devlin’s impact show how strong leadership and teamwork can drive success on site, making a meaningful contribution to project delivery progress at PPP.

Knowingly Safe 24/7: First on the scene of gas explosion

Posted on January 28, 2025 by helent

An SHE advisor on the Sellafield Product and Residue Store Retreatment Plant (SRP) was one of the first on the scene following a recent gas explosion which rocked a home in Whitehaven.

John Dunleavey, an SHE Advisor for Severfield, part of our supply chain, credits his military background and PPP safety training for helping him stay calm as he assisted those affected.

He was at home on New Year’s Eve, when a gas explosion at a nearby property on Hugh Street in Bransty, seriously injured three people and left the property gutted.

The blast shattered windows, triggered car alarms, and left the street in chaos. Families in nearby homes were evacuated as emergency services worked to secure the area and assist those affected.

On the scene of gas explosion

John said: “I don’t live far from the incident, and when the bang went off, I knew it was something serious, I saw a plume of dust and ran down to the scene.”

When he arrived, John found the street in disarray, with people running around in shock.

“The first thing I asked was, ‘Is anyone still inside?’ Nobody knew for sure, so without hesitation, I went in.

“I couldn’t see much at first, but then I spotted an arm moving under the rubble.

“We started clearing debris and managed to get the man out. He was conscious but clearly in shock.

After moving the man to safety, John learned that two women were still trapped upstairs. However, the staircase had been destroyed.

“I shouted to them, asking if they were okay. One of them responded, but there was nothing more I could do until emergency services arrived. I reassured them help was on the way.”

Relying on experience

John said his Army background and safety training were key in the situation – but it did bring back some difficult memories from his time in Afghanistan.

“It’s instinct. After nearly 28 years in the Army, you’re drilled to act when someone needs help. Nobody gets left behind. I didn’t think twice about going in.

“I’ve suffered from PTSD. Being in that house triggered some of those feelings, but I focused on the people who needed help.”

The incident reinforced John’s belief in PPP’s Knowingly Safe 24/7 ethos.

“A lot of people stood outside, unsure what to do. It’s about having the confidence to act when it matters most.

“PPP’s Knowingly Safe 24/7 culture is all about that, knowing your surroundings, having the courage to care and looking out for others.”

John’s actions made a life saving difference, showing the true meaning of Knowingly Safe 24/7, protecting others both insides, and outside, of work.

Sir Robert McAlpine help small businesses bridge the gap

Posted on January 28, 2025 by helent

Networking can be a daunting prospect to some smaller businesses or voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations – so Sir Robert McAlpine is trying to help them bridge the gap.

Over the past year Sir Robert McAlpine has promoted guest invitations to business networking events, offering introduction and access to potential supporters and customers to support growth and resilience of small and VCSE organisations.

These have been offered through Cumbria Social Enterprise Partnership, Phoenix Enterprise Centre and TEG Retail.

And most recently, Emma Wells, from VCSE organisation Unseen Victims, was extended an invite to a Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster (BECBC) Networx event.

Micro organisations, start-ups and VCSEs frequently do not have the connections and finance to access business networking. Networking can also be intimidating, particularly with larger organisations yet it is invaluable in terms of business growth and sustainability.

Claire Louise Chapman, SRM Social Impact Lead, said: “So many of our business network events offer the opportunity for guest attendance, and it’s a simple, yet really impactful thing for Sir Robert McAlpine to offer for small enterprises and local charities.

“It’s nice making connections with local organisations, demonstrating our commitment to West Cumbria.”

Emma Wells, of The Unseen Victims Project, added: “I really enjoyed the event and found the speakers very interesting. I met with some lovely individuals from organisations who seemed engaged with The Unseen Victims Project, and invited me to expand on our discussions further, in the future.

“Thank you once again for affording me this opportunity. I am sure that any others who are offered this chance in the future will come away from the event feeling how I have done.”

Ged’s commitment to safety observations

Posted on January 28, 2025 by helent

Observations are the cornerstone of our safety culture at PPP and general foreman, Ged Young, has made an exceptional contribution to this effort. He has recorded an impressive 550 observations on the Sellafield Product and Residue Store Retreatment Plant (SRP), since the inception of PPP observations.

To put this number into context, Ged has raised more observations than anyone else within the programme, and is the only member of the 500 Club. We have seen other exceptional contributions from our people but nothing of this scale.

*Ged Young leads the way in observations across PPP*

His dedication not only highlights the importance of proactive safety measures but also inspires others to take an active role in building a safer workplace on our major projects.

With 35 years of experience as a supervisor before stepping into his role as a general foreman, Ged’s career is a testament to dedication, expertise, and a commitment to having the courage to care.

His vast experience, and unwavering dedication to safety, has made him a standout figure at PPP, where he has recorded over 210 observations on SRP in 2024 alone.

Safety observations are an opportunity

Reflecting on his decades of leadership, Ged emphasised the importance of a Knowingly Safe culture. He often uses observations as a way to engage his team and drive meaningful improvements. He said:

“It’s about having the courage to care to have the conversations, guiding the team and helping them understand why safety measures matter, and making sure they’re equipped to work confidently and securely.

“An observation is more than just a report, it’s an opportunity to fix issues, prevent incidents, and make sure everyone feels heard.

“Safety doesn’t take a break. Keep making those observations, keep communicating, and remember that every action you take, positive or negative, contributes to a safer, more productive site. Let’s carry this momentum.”

Knowingly Safe 24/7: A life saved!

Posted on January 28, 2025 by helent

A routine Friday night rugby match turned into a life or death situation when Nigel Blacklock, a Senior Site Supervisor on our Box Encapsulation Plant Product Store 2 (BEPPS2) project, collapsed during training at St Benedict’s Rugby Club in Whitehaven.

Unknown to him or his teammates, Nigel was having a heart attack, a medical emergency that only 8% of people survive after defibrillation – a statistic he was told by the doctors who treated him.

*Nigel Blacklock, pictured with his wife Lyndsey*

The first to respond was Carl ‘Wammo’ Walmsley, a Concrete Chargehand from our Sellafield Product and Residue Store Retreatment Plant (SRP) project team, who was refereeing the match when Nigel went down.

Quick to action

Carl immediately assessed the situation, realised the severity, called for the defibrillator and began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Carl said: “I had my back to it all at first, then I heard someone shout Nigel has gone down, I thought it must have been a typical sports injury. But when I turned him over I knew it was something far more serious.

“All I kept remembering from my first aid training was the first four minutes are critical. Everything I learned came back to me in the moment, and without that training, I don’t think I could have helped him.”

When the defibrillator arrived, Carl followed the instructions to administer a shock, attempting to restart Nigel’s heart before continuing CPR until the paramedics arrived and took over.

For Lyndsey, Nigel’s wife, the situation was terrifying. Recalling the moment she found out, she said: “I was at home when one of the lads’ wives messaged me to call her urgently. She said Nigel had collapsed, and he hadn’t moved for 15 minutes. I panicked, trying to get to the hospital, not even knowing if he would survive. It was the longest night of my life.

“We’re taking it one day at a time, he’s not 100% yet, but he’s making progress. The support from his colleagues at PPP and the rugby lads has been incredible—they’ve checked in constantly, and it’s meant so much to our family.”

Now home and recovering

Nigel spent nearly a month in the hospital, and his recovery has been slow but steady. The incident left an emotional mark on everyone involved.

Carl admitted to struggling with flashbacks in the weeks after, saying: “When Nigel posted on social media that he was okay, I finally felt like I could breathe again.”

Nigel acknowledged the profound impact on his family, stating: “It’s brought us closer together. This could have been a completely different story.”

The aftermath of the incident has also led to actionable changes. Operatives on BEPPS2 requested more defibrillators through the observation system, resulting in the installation of two additional units on-site.

Lyndsey expressed heartfelt gratitude to Carl and the team who saved him: “They were absolutely brilliant. I can’t thank them enough for what they did for Nigel and for us as a family.”

This story is a powerful reminder of the importance of first aid training, community support, and defibrillators. For Nigel and his family, it was the difference between tragedy and a second chance at life, and a true example of the PPP workforce looking out for one another.

PPP Quality Hub shares learning and knowledge

Posted on January 28, 2025 by helent

The seventh PPP Quality Hub was plenty of collaboration and information gathering.

Representatives from PPP, the client, Key Delivery Partners and the wider supply chain came together to share learning and knowledge across the quality spectrum.

The theme for the morning was Counterfeit Fraudulent and Suspect Items (CFSI) and how it underpins Nuclear Safety.

The afternoon slot focussed on PPP’s right first-time philosophy, inspection data and improvements to Quality Control ‘Special Processes’.

PPP Head of Quality, Dave Parkinson, said: “Once again our Quality Hub was well attended by our supply chain partners, PPP ADT and PDD representatives and project services functions.

“The themes both provided opportunities to reduce time and cost and address some frustrations.”

Quality Hub is informative event

Tom Dillon, Client Quality Lead, added: “The collaboration between the wider PPP project, ADT and supply chain is what makes this hub special.

“It allows us to share learning and knowledge and gives suppliers the chance to ask questions and gain a better understanding.”

John Griffin, SWMRF Project Director, said it was a really useful and informative event.

He said: “I would recommend any project director or SLT member to come along once a quarter and find out the key issues that are facing the programme, and the wider quality sector.

“It is really useful to keep abreast of what is happening, and bring that knowledge back to your project, so you can put things in place early. This ensures that we have quality products from day one and we are right, first time.”

Stephen Parks, Quality Manager for the Nuclear Division of Hyde Group Ltd, has been at all seven of the Supply Chain Quality Hub events.

He added: “I think it is making a real difference. It gives us an awareness of what our clients are looking for.”

Eighth cohort welcomed onto PPP internship scheme

Posted on January 28, 2025 by helent

Our latest PPP Internship Skills Academy has proven another huge success – with several interns now placed with companies across our supply chain.

Our internship scheme, now welcoming its eighth cohort, was set-up to provide first-class employment and career development opportunities to people in the local community who have previously struggled to find sustained, quality employment.

First, the prospective interns go through a skills academy programme to prepare them for the workplace. And then an interview stage follows where eight were successfully selected to join the award-winning internship scheme.

Keltbray, NG Bailey, Sir Robert McAlpine, PPS Electrical, ONEaim, i3 and Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick are some of the companies participating in the scheme and taking on interns.

Wendy Mallard, PPP Internship Lead, said: “It is great to see our supply chain engaging with the PPP Internship Scheme and supporting the community by giving our interns a really good opportunity to develop and grow within their sectors.

“This recent cohort was our eighth and they were all exceptional, proving just how committed to the process they were by attending the four-week Skills Academy with Inspira, and engaging with all the employability training provided for them.

“And this has now led them to a possible future career with their respective companies.”

To find out more about our supply chain, go to: Our Supply Chain – Sellafield.

Apprentices and mentors honoured at William Hare Group awards

Posted on January 28, 2025 by helent

An award-winner from our Key Delivery Partner (KDP), William Hare Group, thanked the support of two of our teams in helping her achieve her goals.

Liv Merriman won William Hare Group’s Office Apprentice of the Year at the firm’s annual awards ceremony.

Liv is an Assistant Quantity Surveyor, who has worked on both our Box Encapsulation Plant Product Store 2 (BEPPS2) and Replacement Analytical Project (RAP) during her fledgling career.

She said: “This award isn’t just recognition of my efforts, but also a testament to the incredible support from my team – I couldn’t have done it without them.

“I’ve spent the last year working within PPP’s core projects of RAP and BEPPS2. It’s been a massive learning curve, with every day filled with different experiences and lessons. I’ve had so much support from everyone I have worked with across both projects.”

William Hare Group award winners pictured in the stand with the Elland Road pitch behind them. — *William Hare Group award winners*

There was more joy at the in-house awards, held at Leeds United’s Elland Road stadium. Paul Lovatt, a Lead Engineer on BEPPS2, who also worked on SRP, was presented with the Mentor of the Year award.

He said: “Being involved in our apprenticeship scheme for many years, it came as a major surprise, and acknowledgment, to receive the accolade of Mentor of the Year.

“It is with great pride to win this after nominations from both my peers and early career employees whom I work with.”

More award wins

Zafeerah Bagas was also a winner, named 2024’s Production Apprentice of the Year.

Zafeerah was involved in the fabrication of our Sellafield Product and Residue Store Retreatment Plan (SRP) main roof trusses.

William Hare Group also won a second Platinum accredited membership via The 5% Club’s 2023-24 Employer Audit Scheme.

The award recognises significant contribution to the continued development of employees through apprenticeships, graduate schemes, and sponsored student placements.