Technological and engineering advancement, as well as community and school initiatives, were recently showcased at the Engineering Centre of Excellence (ECOE) in Cleator Moor, an off-site Sellafield Ltd facility, during a visit by Sellafield CEO Euan Hutton.

The ECOE hosts a number of teams which benefit from the freedom of being outside the nuclear site’s boundaries, giving them the opportunity to test and explore new possibilities which can then be adopted on site. The visit last week highlighted the significant contributions of the facility to the Sellafield site, wider nuclear sector and its engagement with local communities.

During his tour, Mr Hutton observed various teams working on ground-breaking projects — the centre is known for its innovative approach, mixing strict safety protocols with creative problem solving. He said: “It has been a really uplifting experience spending an afternoon at the ECOE. There is a positive atmosphere and the sense of pride in what it does, and a sense of belonging. You can see that all of the staff here feel part of something. They clearly feel empowered to try things differently, but with the interests of the wider company in mind. They are not restricted by the necessary rules and requirements found on site. There is real passion at the ECOE which I would like to see replicated across Sellafield.”

A key highlight of Mr Hutton’s visit was the socio-economic team’s efforts, including their engagement with local schools and training programmes aimed at upskilling the workforce and supporting future generations. Technological innovations at the Centre were particularly impressive, with advancements in 3-D printing, virtual reality (VR) for safety training, and the use of drones and robotic technologies like Spot the robotic dog, reflecting new operational standards within the industry.

Craig Branney, Sellafield’s head of off-site developments, described the importance of the CEO’s visit, which provided an opportunity for staff to showcase their achievements and for the organisation’s leadership to affirm their support for these initiatives.

He said: “The visit was a testament to Sellafield’s commitment to continuous improvement and excellence. There was a genuine interest from Euan about all of the projects that everyone is working on and I know that was appreciated by the team. He is incredibly supportive of what we are doing at the facility and can see the benefit which we really appreciate.”

Claire O’Connor, socio–economic lead, said: “It is not often that you get the opportunity to talk about the work that you do and it was great to have Euan come in to our bay and hear what we are doing with schools, apprentices, cared for children, foster children, and upskilling — the list goes on. Euan really took the time to understand the work that we do and asked questions. Knowing the CEO of your company sees the value in your work does give you that little extra boost.”

The ECOE remains a cornerstone of Sellafield Ltd's strategy to enhance nuclear safety and efficiency through innovation, while also making significant contributions to the socio-economic well-being of its surrounding communities.