Four global companies are marking two years since forming a ground-breaking partnership with Sellafield Ltd.

The Programme and Project Partners (PPP) was formed in 2019 – bringing in KBR, Doosan Babcock, Jacobs and Morgan Sindall Infrastructure – to transform major project delivery at the nuclear site.

Now one-tenth of the way into their 20-year journey, the four partners and Sellafield Ltd employees are now operating as a diverse team of 1,000 professionals, with common goals and values.

With the first five major projects under its wing, the PPP is now creating the infrastructure at Sellafield to reduce nuclear hazard in its pursuit to create a clean and safe environment for future generations.

The site is now one of the biggest infrastructure delivery organisations in the UK, with a range of mega projects that will cost at least £1 billion each.

Neil Crewdson, interim projects director for Sellafield Ltd, said: “The PPP has achieved a great deal in the first two years.

"I have taken great pride in seeing us come together as five organisations to operate as one team, while appreciating the unique and different contributions each of us are making.

“At the heart of the PPP approach is the people, and I would like to thank our partners and our employees at Sellafield Ltd for continuing to bring this collaborative approach to life."

He added: "We are only a short way into a 20-year journey, and I’m excited to see our collective expertise and innovation deliver benefits for our projects, our people and our communities.”

The PPP approach is a first of its kind, developed with a heavy focus on collaborative working, to draw on the unique expertise brought from each partnering organisation. It is already helping to achieve significant ‘firsts’ for the nuclear industry.

Doosan Babcock’s Brian Davidson, who leads the partnership as PPP Representative, said: “The past two years have been challenging yet fruitful.

"The foundations have been set for the PPP model to grow and meet its strategic aims. The first major projects transitioned are nearing engineering completion and construction is visibly progressing in the field.

"The model has encouraged cross partnership collaboration to establish the major project baselines (MPB) to deliver the first projects, as well as the business transformation and social value."

He continued: "Such collaboration and idea sharing is also helping to positively impact the supply chain, establishing a new approach to run procurements across multiple projects, with the aim of reducing costs, increasing pace and predictability as well as creating sustainable employment opportunities and generating social value.

“PPP isn’t just about delivering the infrastructure needed to meet Sellafield’s needs – it also has a 20-year commitment to make an impact in our communities.

“The partnership has developed an internship scheme and is providing opportunities to young people who face additional barriers to employment but have the enthusiasm and drive to succeed.”

The next few years will see PPP continue to pick up the pace on projects and in the communities, creating opportunities for local people, increasing value for the UK taxpayer, improving cost and schedule certainty in major project delivery, accelerating high hazard reduction and, in turn, seeing Sellafield Ltd recognised for project delivery excellence.