Cumbrian SMEs could benefit from a new fund aimed at boosting nuclear decommissioning in the county.

The Nuclear Innovation Fund, backed by technical services provider Wood, will provide investment for decommissioning technologies developed by small and medium sized enterprises.

The aim is to transform the decommissioning or dismantling process at nuclear facilities by finding new ways to minimise human intervention, increase productivity and optimise waste treatment, packing and routing.

“The UK government and Nuclear Decommissioning Authority wants industry to deliver safer, cheaper and faster decommissioning and to meet this challenge, it will be necessary to deploy new or existing technologies in ingenious and innovative ways,” said Bob MacDonald, CEO of specialist technical solutions at Wood.

“Wood is already investing seedcorn funding in a number of areas, including our SIAL nuclear waste encapsulation technology, and now we are inviting SMEs to put forward investment-ready proposals.”

Wood Plc operates in more than 60 countries, employing around 55,000 people, with revenues of around £6 billion.

Its nuclear business employs more than 1,300 people in the North West, mainly at including Sellafield and Whitehaven.

The company’s technical experts will assess all proposals and successful SMEs will also be assisted by the commercial, operations and business development teams.

For more information, contact WoodNuclearInnovationFund@woodplc.com