The NDA's commercial director spoke for the first time at a major decommissioning conference this week.

In the week when a report by the National Audit Office criticised the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority over delays in work and a £913m overspend, Kate Ellis said: "We are in the process of strengthening our approach to contracting: becoming better, more efficient, clearer, providing best value for taxpayers.

“This is about getting better at awarding the contracts but also, equally importantly, making sure the work performed is in line with those contracts and the costs agreed in them."

Ms Ellis was speaking at the Nuclear Industry Association’s (NIA) Decom2018 event, in London.

She joined the NDA in November and is responsible for the organisation’s procurement, contract management and commercial activities associated with cleaning up the UK’s civil nuclear legacy.

She told hundreds of delegates: "It is in all our interests that the supply chain is vibrant and successful, that procurement and contracts bring mutual benefit."

It is the first major event she has spoken at in her new role, and she took the opportunity to reveal to industry representatives how the NDA was transforming its procurement and contract management capabilities.

She said: "We are also identifying new opportunities to minimise the cost of decommissioning to the taxpayer. One way in which we’re doing this is generating revenue through our intellectual property in international markets.

“To date, there have been a number of revenue-generating agreements ranging in value, from £10,000s to millions.

“We are in the middle of exciting times across the estate.”

The two-day event, which welcomed delegates from around the world, covered topics on nuclear decommissioning, hazard reduction and waste management. It was held at London’s County Hall.

Exhibitions from the sector’s top organisations gave visitors the chance to network and learn more about opportunities in the nuclear decommissioning sector.

Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the NIA, said: "It was a pleasure to have Kate speak at our Decom2018 conference this week.

“The NIA’s 2017 Activity Report, published in December found that the nuclear industry provides over 65,000 jobs and £6.4 billion GVA contribution every year, with £1.6 billion of this contribution coming from the North West of England, home to the most complex decommissioning site in the world.

“Decom2018 is an important opportunity to showcase such the end of life benefits of nuclear power to the UK, and to set out the agenda for the future."