Is your business looking to expand into the Nuclear sector as a potential market opportunity? If so, help is on hand.

The Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC) has joined forces with the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) to help more than 300 small manufacturers.

The said SMEs will be encouraged to seize the opportunities of the UK’s rapidly developing £60 billion civil nuclear new build sector and £1.5 billion a year decommissioning programme.

The business improvement programme – Fit for Nuclear (F4N) – has been funded by a number of top tier partners including Areva and EDF Energy.

It will measure individual business operations’ against the standards required to supply the nuclear industry – in new build, operations and decommissioning.

5 areas where F4N help you

1. Develop a stronger position in the evolving Nuclear sector
2. Establish potential routes to market
3. Identify gaps between your current capabilities and client demands
4. Address and close any gaps
5. Become more attractive to Nuclear sector buyers

Six things F4N will give you

1. Clear understanding of supplier expectations in the industry
2. Benchmarks of your true capability and readiness
3. Clarity on routes to market
4. Insight into driving bottom line improvements and staff engagement
5. Access to the wider resources and capabilities of the Nuclear AMRC and its network of industry partners
6. Substantial funding for companies committing to making necessary improvements

Around 150 companies completed the online Fit for Nuclear assessment in the programme’s first phase, with the majority receiving ongoing support and development from the Nuclear AMRC team.

F4N participants can also take advantage of the Nuclear AMRC’s Nuclear Connections initiative, which helps link manufacturers to specific supply opportunities from the industry’s top tiers.

The F4N Process

F4N is not a formal qualification, but a journey of business improvement. The process will take at least six months.

1. First contact and capability questionnaire. A local F4N advisor will contact you to find out more about your capabilities and aspirations, and help you complete an initial capability questionnaire.
2. Online assessment covering six key categories of business operation and performance.
3. Site visit and verification, undertaken by your F4N advisor. The advisor will also help you start to develop an action plan to close any gaps in performance.
4. Review. Once you have created your action plan and started to put it into practice, our specialists will review your progress and help you develop your Nuclear capabilities.
5. Expert support – Up to £10k match funding If your business is capable of winning business in Nuclear.
6. Any company which completes the Nuclear review stage can apply for match funding for business improvement or R&D projects worth up to £10,000.

Are you a small business interested in getting in to the nuclear industry and this initiative? Why not post your thoughts below?

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