This February, the South West Nuclear Hub Team delivered the first ever SWNH Showcase to our network. This event was a celebration of the work and relationships that make our growing membership network so special, and gave attendees timely insight into recent government decisions affecting the nuclear space.
Hosted in the iconic Great Hall in the Wills Memorial Building in Bristol, 110 people representing 40 companies were firstly brought up to speed on the role, activities and vision of the South West Nuclear Hub, as well as the ways in which companies can join the Hub as Members. Then, following a day spent discussing the UK’s nuclear strategy with the UK government, Dr Keith Franklin MBE, Head of Government Relations at UKNNL delivered an excellent keynote address, giving attendees great insight into the decisions and future of UK nuclear.
Session two comprised of “duet” style talks designed to demonstrate the three strategic pillars which underpin SWNH activities: Research, Innovation and Skills. These covered a mix of technical capabilities, examples of academia-industry collaboration and demonstrations of the opportunities available to potential members.
The afternoon gave attendees the opportunity to learn more about facilities and projects taking place through a poster session. The day closed with a South-West centric look at opportunities in nuclear with an informative panel session featuring Claire Corkhill (University of Bristol) Chris Turner, CEO (Chiltern Vital Group) Guy Esnouf, Director of Communications (Great British Nuclear) and Maddie Knight, Tritium Research Group Lead (UKAEA).
Overall, the day really captured the enthusiasm and engagement we are striving for with the great work taking place within the Hub network. We hope that the event delivered a clear insight into the benefits and outcomes that working with the South West Nuclear Hub can bring.
If you are interested in learning more about the Hub or would be interested in getting involved in this event in 2026, please do get in touch: enquiries@southwestnuclearhub.ac.uk.
We would like to thank all of our presenters, poster presenters and the SWNH team for their contributions to a fantastic day.