KBR cuts ribbon on new Cumbria office

KBR has expanded its presence in the UK following the opening of a new office at the Westlakes Science Park, less than 10 miles from the Sellafield site.

KBR’s history with West Cumbria began in 2019 when the company was appointed the lead integration partner as part of the groundbreaking Programme and Project Partners (PPP) contract at Sellafield - the birthplace of the UK’s nuclear industry. PPP is a 20-year programme to transform major infrastructure delivery at Sellafield in the north of England - tackling the legacy of the site’s past, building a capability for the future, and creating a clean and safe environment for future generations.

As part of its Projects and Programmes team, KBR employs over 400 team members who are proudly supporting the mission at Sellafield. Around 200 team members are based in Cumbria, and another 200 in the Warrington area. Team members are working collaboratively to provide a wide range of expert capabilities, including programme and project management, project controls and commercial services, assurance management, and leadership in key areas including digital delivery and environment, health, safety, security and quality.

KBR is committed to having a positive impact in the local communities we operate in, and has already led the development of the PPP’s internship scheme which continues to provide rewarding early-career opportunities to people in West Cumbria, particularly those who have previously struggled to find sustained, quality employment. More recently, KBR has introduced an innovative Project Controls Academy to allow the partnership to address industry skills shortages and to ‘grow its own’, creating a sustainable talent development pathway that provides rewarding careers for people from the local community. The first graduates from the scheme are already supporting the delivery of some of the UK’s most significant major infrastructure projects and supporting Sellafield’s decommissioning. What’s more, KBR has partnered with MissionCX, a specialist commissioning firm, also based at Westlakes, to share its apprenticeship levy funding to create more rewarding local career opportunities.

“KBR is very proud to be part of this strong partnership with Sellafield and our supply chain partners. The PPP contract has provided us with a long-term opportunity to support the decommissioning of Sellafield, develop a talented nuclear workforce, and work alongside a world-class supply chain,” said Ian Hudson, KBR's Head of Nuclear.

“We are committed to providing local employment opportunities that come with transferable skills that could be used to do work elsewhere in the future. As an accredited Great Place to Work we work closely with supporting organisations, such as the Centre for Leadership Performance, adding value through active participation such as the Bright Stars Primary, Dream Placement and future leaders programmes.” Ian went on to say.

“In addition, our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) initiatives are a core part of our DNA, focusing on creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered to achieve their full potential, supported through our signatory of Women in Nuclear UK charter and through encouraging our people to join in and actively participate.”

As a proud longstanding member, KBR was delighted to have John Grainger, Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster’s Executive Director, cut the ribbon, given his pivotal role in bringing businesses to Cumbria.

Paul O'Shaughnessy , Vice President Programme and Projects, KBR UK, said: “ At KBR we do things that matter, our role as PPP’s lead integration partner allows us to support the delivery of critical national infrastructure, delivering a long-term programme of major projects and leaving a lasting legacy across West Cumbria.

“We partner with government and industry clients to provide purposeful and comprehensive solutions, by bringing together the best and the brightest, our team of teams is ready to handle projects and missions from behind the scenes that support our armed forces, safeguarding the UK’s national interests, to engineering the future of energy and energy transition. Whether at the bottom of the ocean or in outer space, our clients trust us to deliver the impossible on a daily basis.”

KBR’s overall nuclear workforce has grown rapidly from 182 people in 2020, to 322 people in 2021, and to over a 1,000 nuclear professionals today, including interns, apprentices and graduates supporting the UK’s leading nuclear programmes with valued clients that include the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and its subsidiaries including Sellafield Ltd and Nuclear Waste Services.