Industry centre for cyber security is coming to Cumbria

Dubbed the Operational Technology Engineering Centre (OTEC), the project from Sellafield Ltd's is set for completion next month at the iSH Enterprise Campus.

The facility, headed by Dave Jones and supported by his 200-strong team, aims to be the epicentre for operable technology cyber security in the UK, heralding new opportunities for the wider community.

Additionally, Sellafield say the centre will play a crucial role in tis commitment to creating a safer, cleaner future for generations to come.

Dave Jones, Sellafield’s head of Operational Technology Group (OTG), said: “I want West Cumbria to be the centre of OT Cyber Security for the country. 

"The plan for Unit 18 is part of that vision. We are developing an industry leading operational technology service.

“Some of the most skilled people involved in nuclear decommissioning on the planet work in our team. 

"So how do we upskill the next generation who are going to take that journey on and develop them so they have the knowledge and capability to work across multiple facilities?”

Emerging as part of a major advance for the fresh enterprise campus, the project is being facilitated by Cumberland Council at Leconfield, Cleator Moor.

The campus is poised to serve as headquarters for the Industrial Solutions Hub (iSH).

The iSH is set to leverage nuclear decommissioning expertise from Sellafield and the wider supply chain to enable business growth and diversification through cross-sector collaboration.

Up to 70 staff will work at Sellafield’s Operational Technology Engineering Centre (OTEC) when it opens next month.

Mr Jones has begun the transition by moving part of his team’s operations to Sellafield’s Engineering Centre of Excellence which shares the same Leconfield campus site.

Mr Jones added: “Working at the Engineering Centre of Excellence has been a massive success for us. We have regularly had 40 of our team working there. 

“What we have developed there are properly-configured workstations which are what is needed for professional control systems engineers. 

“We have used the Engineering Centre of Excellence as a pilot to start applying the standards that befit a professional engineer and we are developing Unit 18 based on what we have learned there.

"This will enable us to create even more technology-centric specialist groups. 

“It has improved our knowledge management and, through sharing, we are understanding better when and where we have any spare capacity.

“Because we are away from the main plant it also gives engineers time and space to work on bigger work practices and projects and to innovate, rather than getting distracted by being asked to sort other day-to-day tasks. 

“Our future development will also enable us to set the standards for instrumentation. Over the last 10 years we have seen the industry move from dumb instruments to smart instruments. 

“To help the Sellafield site, we are investing in a new instrumentation test centre which will improve calibration, enhance craft skills, and enable more engagement with supply chain partners.

“We have seen great teamwork at the Engineering Centre of Excellence. We have had engineers working really well with people they have never met before to develop innovative solutions which help drive the organisation forward.

“We will also have the opportunity to train crafts people on new technology like we have had there.”