Cumbria-based React Engineering,a nuclear decommissioning and engineering business, which delivers sustainable solutions for industry, is celebrating winning a prestigious award. The company has developed a reputation across the UK and beyond for delivering pioneering, high quality, engineering and project management solutions in nuclear decommissioning and environmental clean-up, and achieving those outcomes in the most sustainable way possible.

At the recent Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster (BECBC) Awards, surrounded by peers of engineering and manufacturing specialists, many in the nuclear supply chain, React took the honours with the top accolade on the night when crowned ‘Business of The Year’.

React’s managing director Phil Redfern said: “I am proud of every member of the team at React who have all contributed to this amazing success and this award is thanks to each and every one of them. We believe in empowering our people, encouraging entrepreneurial spirit, giving our team responsibility and opportunities to grow and develop their skills and capabilities to be the best they can be.

“We also believe if something is worth doing it’s worth doing to the very best of all our abilities. That focus on innovative thinking and quality delivery has paid dividends over almost 30 years as it has enabled us to develop relationships built on trust. Our customers value our approach, ethos and our capability to deliver sustainable solutions to complex industry challenges.”

He added: “We have established a long-term valued relationship with our key-client Sellafield Ltd and it seemed fitting that they handed over the award after so many years of working with them. Winning an award like this and celebrating together, along with our peers made up of so many innovative, high quality, high-performing businesses and organisations across the region, is both humbling and inspiring.”

Pipeline of fresh thinking
Mr Redfern continued: “From our learning and experience over the last three decades, we are always happy to share best practice with others on how to make decommissioning happen through technical capability and how we maintain a pipeline of fresh thinking coming into the industry. Any organisation which wants to find out more, or is interested in collaborating with us, our door is always open.”

React is also passionate about raising aspirations for young people by providing educational opportunities in science and engineering not usually accessible to school students, in addition to running a series of fun events and workshops promoting STEM subjects. Last year, the company relaunched its React Futures scheme which provides financial and professional support for young people to kickstart their careers within the engineering sector.

Mr Redfern added: “We have always been passionate about giving back to our communities and making a positive difference to those who might not otherwise have access to further education or career opportunities, especially in science and engineering. It is part of our DNA at React and we will continue to try to inspire the next generation.”

React enjoyed double success on the night as its team also took to the stage as part of a collaboration of Cumbrian SMEs who have established Resolve Engineered Solutions. Resolve, which brings together the expertise of four companies: React Engineering, Forth, PAR Systems and COMS, to deliver end-to-end engineering services to mark a significant step forward in the nuclear industry’s capabilities, scooped the Collaboration Award.

Earlier this year React, which is based at Cleator Moor, opened a new office in Warrington to further embed its working relationships with the wider Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) Group in Risley, and create new partnerships with the NDA supply chain while providing a platform for further growth throughout the UK.