By Alan Irving

Last updated at 11:41, Thursday, 26 July 2012

“I’D like to see 10,000 people leaving Sellafield every day saying this is a great place to work and I’m part of the future.”

the TEAM: From left, Harold Ashurst, Jackie Coombes, Chris Abbott, Graham Campbell, Gary McKeating and Catherine Phelan

That’s a parting wish of Graham Campbell who, as general manager for Nuclear Management Partners (NMP), is retiring after heading up the international consortium’s off-site operations in Cumbria for the past four years.

He added: “At the same time nothing would give me greater pleasure than to see some major future life-changing projects approved – such as nuclear new-build and the geological repository and the obvious spin-offs for the community.”

From the day he arrived from Manchester to take up the challenging role, Mr Campbell stressed the importance of the American-led consortium being good neighbours.

“For us to achieve the primary objective, which is to create a centre of excellence at Sellafield, we couldn’t succeed without all the community stakeholders and everyone who works on site. I hope we have earned the trust of all our stakeholders.

“Here (at Westlakes), we’ve a small team and we work very closely together and for each other.”

Have their been a few bumps in the road on the way?

“Yes, I’d say. This has still got to be one of the biggest jobs in Europe – re-energising Sellafield, getting it up to the level of a world-class operation and being recognised as such.

“We’ve achieved a lot, we are confident we are delivering more or less what we said and there’s a lot more to do. Nothing was going to be 100 per cent easy.

“We often said when we won the job (NDA competition) that the first phase of the contract was probably going to be the most challenging as we learn and understand and get to know what’s on our plate.”

Site performance must make your own job more difficult or even easier?

“I said from the outset it was all about people, it still is. It’s up to us all, workforce, unions and the people who manage the site, to demonstrate we are achieving and delivering the plan.

“When workers leave the site, chat with their family and friends and start to give those messages there will be no better way to show NMP is doing things right.

“People are now saying ‘we can support this’. Obviously there are issues, always will be, but generally I’ve got a feeling that things are going better on the site, but it’s never going to be easy on this job.”

What of those early suspicions that new owners might come in with new ways of doing things might be looking to put profits before people?

“We are well aware of a view that the parent companies (through NMP) are only here to earn money. Of course we’re here to earn money because we are a private business but we do it the right way round.

“If we deliver then the money flows from that. Hopefully if we’re earning greater money it means we are achieving better results for our client.”

Money also flows back into the community from its own coffers.

Every year NMP gifts around £4 million towards West Cumbria’s economic development through Britain’s Energy Coast, as well as another half-a-million pounds a year over five years through Cumbria Community Foundation for smaller projects.

“Later this year we’ll have hit the £2 million milestone in conjunction with the Foundation, those are community projects which matter to people.

“There’s nothing better than to see things happening. One of the bigger projects is the Port of Workington expansion; the intent is to upgrade the port is so it can become more sustainable and grow business. Another good example is the Construction Skills Centre (Lillyhall) – again it’s long term for kids’ future.”

The Whitehaven News asked about one or two other projects which many would like to have seen progress more swiftly than they have such as Whitehaven’s Pow Beck community sports stadium.

Mr Campbell said: “I know Pow Beck’s had a little bit of a rocky road over the last year – the money we have ringfenced for that project is still there – but at the moment it’s going through an internal review and, whatever the outcome, we will be working with the local council and Britain’s Energy Coast to see what the options are and where it might go.”

What about Whitehaven’s other big regeneration project, Albion Square?

“Albion Square is very important for Whitehaven, the council and for Sellafield. The faster it goes, the better it will be for NMP and Sellafield.”

Does NMP deserve to have its contract renewed to run Sellafield?

“I think we’ve done enough to prove that we have met the task to date, we have the capabilities for the future. I am confident a contract expansion will be granted – but I would say that wouldn’t I!”

First published at 11:09, Thursday, 26 July 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk