Blackburn move to power nuclear engineer’s growth

The world’s third largest nuclear engineering company has moved its UK headquarters into new premises in Blackburn.

Assystem, listed on Euronext Paris, holds key contracts in nuclear new build, defence and nuclear decommissioning in the UK.

The business has 500 staff working across six sites in the UK and 70 staff will be based at Blackburn at its new Innovation Park HQ. 

The business says the move “aligns” with its growth ambitions, focused on supporting the increasing demand for digital maintenance products and the development of nuclear new build in the UK. 

Assystem also works in the defence sector on a number of contracts with Rolls Royce and contracts within the AXIOM framework supporting the decommissioning at Sellafield.

Its UK teams are also at the forefront of the development of fusion energy through r work on the ITER project in France, the world’s largest research and development nuclear fusion project.

The nindependent engineering group and has been a key industry participant for more than 50 years.

It is involved with a range of sophisticated nuclear engineering projects, providing its engineering expertise to clients such as UKAEA, BAE Systems and EDF.

Its Blackburn operation also includes a new lab to enable the business to fully deelop its capabilities in remote inspection and machine vision.

David Price, head of business unit at Assystem, said: “This move to Blackburn is a positive and exciting step for Assystem in the UK.

“It marks the beginning of a new phase for the business, which is now focused on developing our digital offer, being at the forefront of supporting nuclear new build in the UK and continuing to deliver excellent value and service to our existing clients. 

“We are also pleased to retain our headquarters in Lancashire having been previously sited in Preston.”