Two Workington-based companies, McMenon Engineering Services and TIS Cumbria, have formed a collaborative partnership – the North West Energy Coast Alliance.

Forming the partnership has helped them win a long-term contract on the Programme and Project Partners’ fabrication and manufactured equipment framework which is a key programme of work at the Sellafield site.

The alliance was announced as one of the Programme and Project Partners goods/services agreement framework suppliers. The contract will allow the alliance to tender for fabrication and machining work.

McMenon Engineering Services from Workington, West Cumbria has a 75-year engineering and manufacturing heritage with exports to over 50 countries and were looking to diversify into the nuclear and renewables industries.

And what better way to do that, than by collaborating with an already trusted supply chain partner in TIS Cumbria, who has more than 25 years of experience in the nuclear sector.

Duncan Elliott, Programme and Project Partners managing director, said:

It’s great to see two local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) uniting in this way and I’d like to congratulate everyone involved in the joint-venture, welcome to the team.

The Programme and Project Partners approach is all about collaboration, innovation, transformation and harnessing opportunities, and that’s exactly what we’re seeing with the partnership between McMenon Engineering Services and TIS Cumbria.

We look forward to working with them to deliver our major nuclear decommissioning projects alongside all of our supply chain partners.

The fabrication and manufactured equipment package was the first goods/services agreement to be awarded by the Programme and Projects Partnership as part of a major framework spanning the next 18 years.

McMenon Engineering Services chief executive officer, Anand Puthran said:

SMEs are the heartbeat of the local economy and joining the two together to allow us to compete with the bigger firms seemed a natural progression.

We are two independent SMEs based in the West Cumbrian community and we want the community to benefit from our success in terms of opportunities, skills, engagement and employment.

With a drive to push some of their success back into the West Cumbrian community, the alliance already employs a high percentage of skilled staff from the area. And they believe that the success of winning the Programme and Project Partners contract is a stepping stone to allow them to invest further, with apprenticeships high on the agenda, alongside bringing skilled local people back into employment.

They have a strong focus on using the West Cumbrian supply chain to help maintain and build their spend profile within the county.

Supporting education establishments across the area is another key responsibility the companies fulfil, aiming to raise awareness of science, technology, engineering and maths topics in West Cumbrian schools and colleges.

Joint owners of TIS Cumbria Tony O’Pray and John Bragg said:

The commitment of the alliance between TIS Cumbria and McMenon Engineering Services over many years has matured, enabling our two West Cumbrian SMEs to sit equally beside our prime suppliers in the UK.

We would like to thank the Programme and Project Partners project team for their confidence in recognising the capabilities of our West Cumbrian alliance and we hope this success will be reflected out into the local community.

Luke Richardson, head of social impact for Programme and Project Partners added:

A core aspect of our strategy is the impact we can have in West Cumbria. This story showcases a fantastic example that local businesses can win work with us but more so, the power and benefit of local SMEs collaborating.

The UK has condemned Russia’s unprovoked and barbaric invasion of Ukraine in the strongest terms.

Abuses and violations of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law are escalating dramatically. Russian air strikes and artillery have been used indiscriminately, damaging civilian infrastructure, and leaving hundreds dead. As my Prime Minister has said, “There are few things more depraved than targeting the vulnerable and defenceless”. The UK is one of 41 countries that have referred Russian atrocities in Ukraine to the International Criminal Court. Those committing war crimes will be held to account.

Russia is matching its aggression abroad by drastically escalating repression at home. Since the invasion began, Russian authorities have arrested nearly 15,000 anti-war protestors. New legislation criminalises the dissemination of information about the Russian armed forces that the authorities deem to be ‘fake’. Those found guilty could face 15 years in prison. Furthermore, the independent radio station Echo Moskvy has been shut down.

This new wave of repression is only the latest chapter in a long-standing campaign designed to silence dissenting voices, to curtail freedom of expression and to erode other rights and freedoms in Russia.

Russian civil society organisations have been threatened and harassed. Two of Russia’s oldest NGOs, International Memorial and Memorial Human Rights Centre have been closed. The absence of these organisations will be sorely felt by people throughout Russian society whose rights and freedoms are increasingly under attack.

Political opponents face equally grave threats. Opposition figure Alexey Navalny remains arbitrarily detained on the basis of politically motivated charges, and in contravention of a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights. He must be released immediately.

Religious minorities and LGBT+ persons face repression across the country. In Chechnya, there are ongoing reports of arrest, torture and extrajudicial killing of LGBT individuals.

We call on Russia, a member of this Council, to live up to its responsibilities and to fulfil its international human rights obligations. If Russia continues to disregard the rights of those in and those beyond its border, this Council must respond.

Thank you.