This week has seen the exciting announcement that Birchwood Park occupier Wood Nuclear, is set to be part of a multimillion-pound takeover by US-headquartered nuclear services firm, Jacobs.
The takeover, worth around £250million, will bring an additional 300 to 400 highly-skilled roles to the region over the next year. These new roles will join the already thriving employee base of 1,250 staff members based in Warrington and Knutsford across the existing Wood Nuclear offices, and 1,100 Jacobs staff based across its Warrington and Manchester offices.
Jacobs’ plans include investment in the UK’s largest independent nuclear research, development and testing facilities at Birchwood Park to provide capability such as remote handling, cyber, inspection technology and test rig facilities.
This expansion will allow the team across the North West to build on its current work supporting projects and programmes across nuclear and defence, transportation, environmental, buildings, and other sectors – helping clients tackle challenges like cleaner energy and air, security and resiliency, improved mobility and connectivity – for clients including Sellafield Ltd, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Environment Agency, Highways England, and Network Rail.
Clive White, Jacobs Critical Mission Solutions International Senior Vice President, said: ‘We’re delighted to bring the significant expertise of the Warrington and Knutsford Wood Nuclear team into Jacobs. The existing knowledge of the team, combined with the new investment in Birchwood Park, will secure the area’s status as a world-class nuclear hub and opportunities for local talent.
‘We look forward to making the integration process as smooth as possible for our teams and are excited to develop together as a business that is even better equipped to solve the problems of the future.’
Martin O’Rourke, Commercial Director at Birchwood Park, said: ‘We’re incredibly proud of having the UK’s largest cluster of nuclear engineering based here on the Park and this latest acquisition of Wood Nuclear by Jacobs is set to ensure our place at the heart of the Cheshire and Warrington Science Corridor continues to grow from strength to strength.
We are fully committed to supporting our occupiers by creating the best workplace environment to help attract the next generation of business talent, it’s a very exciting time for Jacobs and we look forward to supporting them with their development plans here at Birchwood Park; as part of the ongoing investment and success of the Warrington area.’
