Innovation & Suggestions
The contractor / supply chain innovation & suggestion scheme
One of the key NDA drivers is to accelerate and reduce the cost of decommissioning through innovation. The NDA recognise that this cannot be delivered by the Tier 1 Contractors alone but requires proactive input from the entire supply chain. As a result the NDA have committed to:-
- Encourage contractors to be innovative in order to deliver their mission more effectively including improvement in safety, security, environment and socio economic conditions.
- Ensure good practice is shared between Contractors for the benefit of the UK wide decommissioning and clean up mission.
The NDA recognise the contribution of the supply chain and is constantly looking at “how to best encourage and reward innovative ideas”. The NDA strategy is that, where appropriate, it will enable IP developed under contract to remain with the contractor where this will encourage further development and exploitation provided it has a royalty free licence to exploit the developed IP across all NDA sites.
Sellafield Ltd has recognised the importance of innovation and has a successful suggestion scheme in operation for its own employees. Recognising the very important role that the supply chain can play in improving its business performance through innovation, Sellafield Ltd has been working with the supply chain to develop proposals which will foster innovation via a ‘contractor & supply chain innovation & suggestion scheme’
The developed scheme has been discussed and developed in partnership with sections of the supply chain.
Call for innovation and suggestions
Benefits to Contractors
As well as fulfilling the contractor’s obligation to deliver Innovation to Sellafield Ltd, participation in the scheme will provide significant added value to the contractor by:
- Promoting a culture of innovation within supply chain companies which will benefit other businesses.
- Allowing companies to re-invigorate their own Innovation/Suggestion schemes by publicising the Sellafield innovation initiative.
- Raise the profile of participating companies within Sellafield, thus improving their competitive position when tendering for Sellafield work.
- Recognition of participation in the Sellafield scheme by supply chain companies can be used as examples of best practice when tendering for other work.
- Promotes closer relationships between Sellafield Ltd and participating contractors.
- Provides a mechanism to formally record the submission of a subcontractor’s idea.
A key feature of the scheme is that the supply chain companies are in total control as to how they wish to exploit ideas which they or their employees generate. The company may or may not decide to invest and develop ideas before submission. Attempts have been made to minimise the contractors’ costs of operating the scheme by placing much of the scheme administration with Sellafield Ltd.
Contractors’ interests are protected by ensuring all communication of ideas is between commercial departments of Sellafield Ltd and the supply chain Companies. This allows opportunity for early exchange of ideas or documents in a formal manner. The initial point of contact in all cases is the Sellafield Supply Chain Chain Innovation Manager Stuart Wilson
Sellafield Ltd have introduced a contractor/supply chain innovation & suggestion scheme
