Cammell Laird strengthens Energy Division with £1.5m investment

Birkenhead-based shipyard and engineering services company Cammell Laird is ramping up its activity in the energy sector by investing more than £1.5m in its facilities and appointing a

leading nuclear sector engineer.

John Eldridge, one of the most experienced figures in the UK nuclear industry, has joined Cammell Laird from Sellafield Ltd which operates the nuclear reprocessing plant in West Cumbria. He has a track record of more than 40 years working on the design, construction, commissioning and operation of nuclear facilities.

Cammell Laird CEO John Syvret CBE said the company is now making ‘serious progress’ in its campaign to position itself as one of the prime locations in Britain for the manufacture of modules for the multi-billion pound new build and decommissioning programmes (see notes to editors). The current spend on the UK’s £70bn decommissioning programme is around £3bn a year and the new nuclear power plant programme is estimated to be worth £100bn.

“John brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team - he said - His knowledge will help us forge closer links with the nuclear industry enabling us to present innovative solutions to complex engineering challenges. In terms of our investment we have spent more than £1.5m in renovating one of the large workshops near the construction hall. The refurbishment has seen six cranes overhauled and a new roof, floor, electrics and lighting installed. It will provide a world-class facility to test and assemble modules and rigs for our nuclear clients.”

Mr Syvret said the workshop investment and appointment of Mr Eldridge demonstrated Cammell Laird’s ability and desire to grow in the nuclear sector.

 “We are ideally placed to service the considerable demands and needs of the nuclear industry over the next 30 years - he said - We believe the nuclear sector can ignite job and wealth creation at Cammell Laird for the benefit of Wirral, Merseyside and the wider North West. We are already working with Liverpool and John Moores universities looking at developing the skills that will be needed to grasp the stellar opportunities in this multi-billion pound industry.”

Mr Eldridge said finding and developing innovative solutions will be fundamental to Cammell Laird’s future work in the nuclear sector.