Nuclear Opportunities Focus for Britain's Energy Coast Business Cluster Conference

Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster (BECBC) is planning to focus on the huge opportunities being created by investments in the nuclear sector at its conference in October, 2015. n-eboc15 (Nuclear Energy Business Opportunities Conference 2015) will take place on October 13 and 14, 2015 at Energus near Workington and aims to bring together global nuclear players with potential partners in the Cumbrian supply chain.

A Steering Group is currently putting together a programme that will reflect the diversity and the scale of the business opportunities being created by some of the biggest investments in the UK.

Ivan Baldwin of Bendalls Engineering and leading the n-eboc15 Steering Group says: “Cumbria is about to have the third largest infrastructure spend in the UK and the largest nuclear investment in the country over the next ten years too. Those investments are bound to create tremendous opportunities and n-eboc15 is all about putting global nuclear organisations and the best of the nuclear supply chain companies in touch with each other to make the most of them. We know from past comments that some of the world’s biggest nuclear-related companies are surprised by the expertise, facilities and experience here in Cumbria so n-eboc15 is all about positioning the local and wider supply chain, demonstrating its potential and making stronger business connections for the future.”

The conference programme will cover four key areas of nuclear investment: research and development in the sector; new generation capacity and investment; developments in defence and deterrent; and opportunities in decommissioning and waste.

“We’re hoping that each of these strands will attract a key partner,” says Emma-Jayne Gooch, of NuExec Consulting, a BECBC Board member and part of the Steering Group, “and then we can work with them to pull together a detailed programme of expert speakers and briefings as well as an exhibition that shows off the best of the nuclear supply chain and its potential for partnerships. We’ve already had plenty of interest in involvement and sponsorship and we are working with the Centre of Nuclear Excellence (CoNE) partners to make sure that n-eboc15 will feature industry-first announcements, as well as focusing on the very latest investment news relating to both local developments and nuclear projects elsewhere.”

n-eboc15 organisers have already announced their key note speaker as Lord Andrew Mawson, a crossbench member of the House of Lords and a renowned social entrepreneur, who will be speaking on the first day of n-eboc15. Lord Mawson is a non-executive director of the Olympic Park Legacy Company and Chairman of Water City CIC. He brings a wealth of experience of how business investments and opportunities can also be turned into long-term benefits for the communities that surround them and it is that aspect of the Olympic legacy and that n-eboc15 organisers hope will be a draw for delegates.

“Lord Mawson will bring an additional perspective to the event that should challenge everyone involved in the nuclear sector,” says Ivan. “We’re structuring the event to be as accessible as possible to every scale of business, from the smallest SME and local microbusiness to the biggest players in the nuclear sector, national and international. We’re also working with the CoNE team to make sure that we reinforce and support each other to help local businesses. n-eboc15 promises to be the key event of the Autumn and every business that gets involved will be improving its opportunities for success from the nuclear and infrastructure investments that are heading our way.”

As well as the Centre of Nuclear Excellence connection, the event is also being run in collaboration with Nuclear Science Week (USA) and the Nuclear Industry Association (NiA).

Further details of the Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster and n-eboc15 sponsorship packages and other details are online at www.becbusinesscluster.co.uk or from the administrator of BECBC via hazel.duhy@becbusinesscluster.co.uk. You can also follow n-eboc15 developments via Linked In (BECBC Group) and on Twitter via @neboc15.