Responding to the announcement, Prospect assistant general secretary Mike Clancy said:

“This is welcome news. Sellafield makes up the most complex nuclear organisation in the world so good relations between the management and the workforce will be key to its successful future.

We have already been involved in regular dialogue with the Nuclear Management Partners during the lengthy competition period and look forward to building on that relationship. We have already enjoyed a long working relationship with the UK company Amec.

“Staff want a partnership that looks beyond the gates of the Sellafield Ltd sites and is willing to invest in local communities and to promote employment opportunities for local people. As far as Sellafield is concerned our members are looking for investment in new commercial opportunities, such as fuel reprocessing, new build, as well as investment in staff.”

Prospect is the UK’s largest union in the nuclear industry representing over 15,000 scientists, engineers and professional staff. As the successful bidder the Nuclear Management Partners will manage and operate:

• Sellafield, West Cumbria – the reprocessing and decommissioning site
• Risley, near Warrington, Cheshire – which provides specialist technical support
• Capenhurst on the Wirral – which undertakes decommissioning work.