An influential business membership organisation has welcomed the appointment of Martin Chown as the new chief executive of Sellafield Limited.
Cumbria-based Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster (BECBC) – which has more than 300 members in the nuclear and wider energy sector – said it hoped Mr Chown’s commitment to communicating with Sellafield Ltd’s extensive supply chain would continue to create opportunities for business.
Mr Chown served as the organisation’s deputy chief executive and supply chain director before stepping up into the hot seat on February 1.
He led the introduction of a new supply chain strategy for Sellafield Ltd that aimed to save £1 billion by the end of this year, accelerate risk and hazard reduction by 25 per cent, and introduce changes to the bidding and contract process to ‘reduce the burden’ on supply chain companies.
BECBC executive director John Grainger, said the organisation was ‘delighted’ by his appointment, which followed a tough selection process.
“Since his arrival at the company in 2016 he has consistently extolled the virtues of a healthy and vibrant supply chain,” said Mr Grainger.
“His desire to have an open and communicative approach has meant that initiatives and changes at Sellafield Ltd that can mean business opportunity for our members has always been disseminated to the Business Cluster at the earliest opportunity.
“We look forward to continuing to work with Martin in his new role and congratulate him on being appointed to this position.”
Mr Chown replaces Paul Foster at the helm of the organisation charged by Government to manage the decommissioning and clean up efforts at the complex nuclear site in West Cumbria.
Sellafield Ltd has an annual budget of more than £2 billion, which is mainly spent in its supply chain.
Calls have increased for a greater share of work to go to Cumbrian-based companies, although Sellafield Ltd has stressed the work must be earned rather than assumed.
And the spotlight continues to shine brightly on the nuclear site, and Sellafield Ltd’s performance, after it was taken back into public ownership by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority in 2016.
