Hinkley Supply Chain

The Heart of the South West and West of England have launched a new business support service to enable small and medium-sized businesses take up the multiple supply chain opportunities from EDF’s new build of two nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point C. The service contract allocated £1million, jointly funded by the two LEPs, over a three year period.

It’s widely recognised that the economic opportunities created by Hinkley are vast, and this new service is here to make sure that local businesses are equipped to take advantage of these commercial contracts.

The LEPs have commissioned a consortium led by SWMAS Ltd working with the Somerset Chamber and Business West, and managed by the Economic Development Team at Somerset Council.

It’s part of the Nuclear South West (NSW) partnership which brings together the nuclear industry, LEPs, the education sector, local authorities and business support agencies. Nuclear South West aims to capitalise on the south west’s unparalleled strength and potential in the global nuclear industry.

The contract includes a Nuclear South West Inward Investment Service, which will work with firms from out of the region who are  working in the nuclear market to integrate into the local economy, stimulating employment and collaborating with local businesses.

The SME Business Support Service will build on the work of Somerset Chamber of Commerce and the Hinkley Supply Chain Team by focusing more resources on encouraging businesses to register as potential suppliers; working with EDF and their larger suppliers to release information on opportunities and matching this with local firms. The team will also support businesses at all levels of the Hinkley supply chain to help them develop their capability and capacity to supply the nuclear industry.

The two new services are part of the wider Hinkley Supply Chain Programme which already includes the Somerset Energy Innovation Centre and Private Sector support from the EDF Energy sponsored Hinkley Supply Chain Team.

 

Businesses wishing to find out more about the Hinkley Supply Chain programme should contact the Hinkley Supply Chain team on 01823 443425 or by visiting: www.hinkleysupplychain.co.uk

HotSW LEP funding: £1m

Total funding: £2m

Started: April 2017

This project forms part of the Nuclear South West strategy – a strong partnership between three south west LEPs (Heart of the South West, West of England and GFirst) the nuclear industry, local authorities, academic and skills sectors and business support agencies – generating £55bn of nuclear opportunities over the next decade

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    David Ralph

    Chief Executive

    David Ralph started as Chief Executive of Heart of South West LEP at the beginning of June 2018. Previously, he had spent 5 years as CEO of the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (D2N2) LEP from 2013 where he oversaw the development of the D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan and sector strategies, 3 Growth Deals with HM Government to deliver a £1billion capital investment programme, securing and implementing £200m ESIF programme, the Derby and Nottingham Enterprise Zone, the D2N2 Skills Deal and Time for Innovation programme, community fund and led the executive team to develop the HS2 East Midlands hub. He was also closely involved in the proposed North Midlands Devolution Deal and one of the key architects in establishing the Midlands Engine, chairing the officer steering group. Whilst in this role David was a NED of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, and Marketing NG, the Outer Estates Foundation and a Governor of Nottingham College and on the advisory Board of Nottingham Business School.

    Before the East Midlands, David was CEO of the Have Gateway Partnership working closely with local stakeholders including the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich and BT Adadastral Park across Suffolk and Essex and prior to that was Chief Exec of the Barton Hill New Deal for Communities programme in Bristol and the Nelm Development Trust in Norwich.

    David is a keen sailor, walker and trail runner.