Consultants named for new fusion energy recruitment framework

Six firms have been named as official suppliers on a new framework for fusion energy programmes in the UK. Among the successful applicants were six planning and construction consultancies.

The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) is aiming to fill over 100 roles, worth £9.5 million to the economy, over the next four years – as it looks to support major fusion energy programmes over the next four years. At the same time, UKAEA will supplement this talent pool with a range of specialists from the professional services sector.

To that end, UKAEA has launched its Project Delivery Services Framework, which aims at providing a fast and flexible approach to recruitment while ensuring value for money. This will help UKAEA in its mission to make fusion energy a safe, sustainable, low carbon energy supply of the future.

Ian Chapman, CEO, UKAEA, commented, “We are delighted to launch UKAEA’s Project Delivery Services Framework to bolster the range of expertise across the UK’s world-leading fusion energy programmes. It will provide increased flexibility to our project teams as we work together with industrial partners to deliver fusion as an important part of addressing climate change and providing energy security.”

Six professional services firms have been named on the initial framework, and were announced at a launch event at UKAEA’s Culham Science Centre site in Oxfordshire. The suppliers are planning and construction consultancies Atkins (with Faithful+Gould), Arcadis (with DBD and Enkom), Gleeds, Mace, Prima Uno and Turner & Townsend.

Attending the event, Dev Reedha, Framework Director, Arcadis, said, “Improving quality of life and being able to make a difference is exactly why our people work with us. It is more than just a job. As an organisation, we are extremely excited to be part of the UKAEA framework and are looking forward to supporting a wider mission of taking fusion to the world as a safe and sustainable low-carbon source of energy.”

UKAEA has already created approximately 36,900 direct and indirect jobs over the past decade with R&D in fusion leading to the upskilling of the UK workforce. Secondees from the Project Delivery Services Framework will be contributing to several UKAEA programmes including STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) which aims to deliver a prototype fusion energy plant and a path to the commercial viability of fusion.

Lee Patrick, UKAEA Key Account Manager, Atkins, added, “The appointment of Atkins and Faithful+Gould to the Project Delivery Services Framework reinforces our commitment to supporting UKAEA as it takes a lead on the delivery of sustainable fusion energy. We look forward to bringing the programme management expertise of Faithful+Gould to strengthen the planning and delivery of UKAEA’s portfolio of ambitious projects, and combining this with Atkins’ in-depth knowledge of fusion energy and longstanding relationship with UKAEA.”