Case Study
Great British Energy - Nuclear Technical Specialist
Arup Sector: Nuclear New Build
Location: Remote Status: Complete (May 2014 – June 2025)
Owner: Jonathan Scott
Project Overview
Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) commenced a significant procurement exercise to engage Technology Partners for the purposes of deploying Small Modular Reactor technologies under a UK development project. The GBE-N timeline was hugely ambitious and required down selection of the tenderers from an initial list of six to a preferred bidder incorporating technical evaluation from Suitably Qualified and Experienced Persons (SQEP).
The Challenge
The scale of the procurement exercise, coupled with GBE-N’s relative immaturity as a newly formed organisation, required dedicated support from the supply chain. Arup provides a range of technical specialist services to GBE-N including the evaluation of the potential technologies and organisational development of GBE-N and future Development Companies.
Arup engaged Acuity Engineering for the purposes of providing specific technical expertise to their services.
Our Approach
Utilising the broad experience at Acuity, we were able to complement the Arup advisory team with skillsets and experience to enable evaluation of questions from the technical volume of the technology procurement tender. We built a strong relationship with the Arup team and key stakeholders from GBE-N which resulted in further support beyond the technical procurement exercise.
Results & Impact
Our close relationship with Arup enabled this support to continue through the interim and final tender phases ultimately concluding in the announcement of Rolls-Royce SMR as the Preferred Bidder.
Throughout the procurement process Acuity provided specialist input to the procurement negotiation phase and development of position papers on organisational development and contracting strategy, complementing the value from our technical evaluation support and enhancing value from the relationship.
In addition to having a direct impact to a historic procurement exercise that gives the UK a real foothold for SMR development, Acuity demonstrated the ability to draw on our collective knowledge and experience and add value to an ambitious and challenging process.
Following our services to Arup and GBE-N we have further enhanced our understanding of market leading SMR technologies and Government strategy for development of the UK’s first of a kind SMR deployment, a learning experience which we look forward to putting into practice as the market develops.
Trusted Engineering Consultants
Acuity Engineering, Corby Enterprise Centre,
London, London Road, Corby, NN17 5EU.
Registered in England & Wales, no. 14796533. VAT reg no. 438503787.