A West Cumbrian company is helping to provide specialist training as part of the Project Academy for Sellafield.

Cumbria Operation and Maintenance Services has developed a course in pre-operations and commissioning, which they are providing to prospective project professionals in the area.

The Cleator Moor-based company specialises in pre-operation, engineering and maintenance and was co-founded by Dave Garratt and Cliff Woodman in 2014.

Dave worked at the Sellafield site for more than 30 years and Cliff spent many years in the pharmaceutical sector.

Andy Smith, pre-operations capability lead from Sellafield Ltd, said: “It’s great to have Cumbrian companies helping to develop the next generation of project professionals, not only for Sellafield, but the UK.

“This is a great example of collaboration between supply chain and Sellafield Ltd in both development and delivery, drawing on the skills of both to produce something better than either could have achieved alone.

“The expertise that exists in COMS shows that Cumbria and the UK remain at the forefront of project education and skills.”

Cliff added: "We are proud to be supporting the Project Academy for Sellafield and the University of Cumbria in the development and delivery of the course.

“It has allowed us to couple our pre-operations and engineering expertise with our training capability to produce a quality product to support project delivery on Sellafield site – and hopefully beyond.

“Also, through our success on this contract, we are very pleased to have been recognised as a competent and leading supplier of operations, maintenance and engineering services to Sellafield Ltd.”

The Project Academy for Sellafield is the first of its kind in the UK.

It was launched three years year ago to help increase project capability across the country, and now has more than 1,300 students on its books.

It is delivered by the University of Cumbria, which secured the contract in 2016, along with six partners.