2024 sees a changing of the guard at Nuclear Energy Components (NEC) based at Bradwell in the Hope Valley. The company has long-term contracts supplying the nuclear industry and in 2023 the company invested £280k in a new vertical machining centre and a lathe along with a new robot that will provide automatic loading and unloading of components.
Chairman, Vince Middleton will be retiring as a Director in December after 40 years with the business and Sales Director, David Greenan will be retiring at the end of September after 50 years having started as an apprentice in August 1974.
Matt Keeley is taking over from David as Sales Director, Matt joined the business in September 2018 as an engineering apprentice completing his Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing and engineering in February 2022 as he became the employee representative on the Board of Directors, which was when the business became an Employee Ownership Trust.
Quality Manager, Adam Hadfield was appointed as employee representative on the Board of Directors in March this year. Adam started with NEC in August 2017 as a degree apprentice doing Mechanical Manufacturing with the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre based in Rotherham.
Phil Longden continues as Operations Director and celebrates 40 years with the business this year, he is another member of the team that started with the business as an apprentice in July 1984. He spent a number of years in Quality Assurance before becoming General Manager in November 2018 and being appointed a Director in July 2019 following completion of an Executive MBA in Advanced Manufacturing with The University of Sheffield.
As the company prepares for this next chapter, NEC is now recruiting a General Manager (preferably from a manufacturing background) to oversee the entire manufacturing operation, ensuring that the plant runs efficiently, meets production goals, and maintains its exemplary standards of quality and on time delivery.
This includes managing staff, ensuring production targets are met, controlling budgets and maintaining high-quality and safety standards. The role requires strategic planning, efficient resource management, and the ability to lead and inspire the team to achieve company objectives.
The company is also continuing its investment in future skills with Charlie Hillier having just completed his year 1 apprenticeship and 2 apprentices starting full-time at AMRC Training Centre from September, including Jack Ottewell, who joined the business in August 2023, aged 16.