World nuclear chiefs arrive in Warrington

HUNDREDS of delegates from across the country are attending Nuclear UK – a key event in the International Festival of Business (IFB) – in Warrington today.
The event at the Park Royal Hotel, Stretton, consists of a strategic leadership forum aiming to promote ideas and innovations that will drive development of the nuclear industry in the future.
There is a stellar list of key industry speakers including Steph McGovern, of the BBC Breakfast programme, John Clarke, chief executive officer at NDA and Tim Chittenden, president of the Nuclear Institute.
Warrington, as the birthplace of the UK’s nuclear industry and the location of world-class nuclear engineering, research, training and project delivery expertise, is an appropriate location for the event.
More people are employed in the nuclear sector in Warrington than anywhere else in the UK.
The IFB is the largest global congregation of business events to take place this year, running across seven weeks this month and next, attracting business delegates and trade intermediaries from around the globe.
A Women in Nuclear breakfast seminar event is also set to take place today, prior to Nuclear UK, at which Dame Sue Ion, vice president of the Royal Academy of Engineering and expert advisor on the nuclear power industry will lead a panel of speakers and question and answer session.
The event is being organise by Warrington and Co., Warrington’s partnership for economic growth.
The headline sponsor is Britain’s Energy Coast and other sponsors include EDF Energy, National Nuclear Laboratory, Westinghouse and AMEC. Other event supporters include: Warrington and Co., Marketing Cheshire, Nuclear Industry Association, CBI, the National Skills Academy for Nuclear, Nuclear AMRC and the Nuclear Forum.
Cllr Terry O’Neill (pictured), leader of Warrington Borough Council said: “Warrington is very proud to be hosting this premier event. The UK is at the forefront of a global nuclear renaissance and that strength is underpinned by our heritage, experience and knowledge of the nuclear industry.
“We are also proud to welcome Women in Nuclear breakfast seminar which will precede Nuclear UK. It is the first time that such an event has been hosted in the North West”.
Steve Park, managing director of Warrington and Co., Warrington’s partnership for economic growth said: “Warrington was the first town to sign up to IFB and it is fitting that this event, which will be a national and international showcase of nuclear excellence, is being held in the town. The nuclear industry is driven by the engineering skills and nuclear base created here in Warrington. Over 4,500 people work in the nuclear industry here and that figure is set to increase”.