BNMS Annual Spring Meeting 2025
We had a fantastic time at the British Nuclear Medicine Society (BNMS) Annual Spring Meeting in Glasgow last week!
Our Scientific Officer, Amin Choudhury, Head of Commercial, Steve Barker and Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Melissa Gilbert all attended the event. It was a great opportunity for our team to connect with professionals and showcase our capabilities in the nuclear medicine sector. Amin was able to attend insightful presentations and talks focused on the latest research, innovations, and practices, while also strengthening our relationship with existing clients.
We also had the opportunity to deliver a poster presentation on our work on the Medical Radionuclide Innovation Programme (MRIP) funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). This programme aims to identify the engineering and regulatory requirements for safely producing 212Pb-based radiopharmaceuticals within UK hospital settings.
We really enjoyed this year’s Spring meeting and already looking forward to the Autumn meeting!
Declan Martin
Introducing Declan, one of our Senior Mechanical Design Engineers! We asked Declan a few questions to get to know more about his role at CAN and what is on his bucket list!
What does a typical workday look like for you?
My day can vary wildly depending on the projects I’m working on. I may be involved in large projects as a package delivery lead, managing the teams’ output or running smaller, more intimate projects, getting directly involved with developing design solutions and interfacing directly with customers. Some of my time is also dedicated to line manager duties, ensuring my reports have all the support they need and assisting in their professional development. I enjoy getting involved in drawing and CAD work wherever possible and tackling new and existing challenges on a day to day basis.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt from your career so far?
During my time in engineering, I’ve learned to never take things on face value and to always ask questions and analyse even the simplest aspects of a design as sometimes the obvious is often overlooked.
What is your proudest professional achievement to date?
Since joining the company, I feel I have made a sizeable impact on all the projects I’ve worked on, but my proudest achievement was leading a particularly difficult project that included various design and time constraint issues, over the finish line in a short space of time.
What is on your bucket list?
I’ve always wanted to learn to fly planes and equally have a desire to jump out of one (with a parachute) one day. Other than that, there are a few places such as North America and Canada I would love to go skiing.
If you could have dinner with one historical figure, who would it be and why?
Maybe not particularly historical but I would love to have dinner with Rik Mayall just because he is one of my all-time favourite comedians and it would be fascinating to hear about his life and listen to his jokes.
Interested in working for CAN? Check out our latest vacancies here: Vacancies – Cyclife Aquila Nuclear | EDF Group
Mental Health Awareness Week 2025
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week. Mental health has commonly been referred to as a taboo subject, but this campaign helps to break the stigma of talking about mental health and promotes open conversations. In England, it’s estimated that about 1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health problem at some point each year1. Research shows that adults are feeling lonelier, with 7.8% of adults in the UK feeling lonely ‘always or often’ in 20242. These statistics highlight the importance of mental health support, whether that is support from your GP, community or workplace.
This year’s mental health awareness week campaign theme is ‘Community’ which aims to highlight the importance of having people around you to talk to. Communities connect and support us, giving us a sense of belonging and purpose. For example, a workplace can be a community and ensuring employees are supported with their mental health in the workplace is fundamental. In 2022, mental health was the 5th most common reason given for sickness absence, accounting for 7.9% of occurrences3.
At CAN, we ensure that we are always supporting our employees. Last year, we hosted a number of initiatives that aimed to improve mental wellbeing in the workplace. In June, we hosted a self-care meditation session, in October and on World Mental Health Day, we hosted a ‘Tea&Talk’ event where employees met for some tea and cake and had the opportunity to have open conversations about mental health and what other things that we, as a company, can do to support, which was incredibly insightful. We also have mental health first aiders on-site who are available to provide support to anyone who needs it.
This year, to commemorate Mental Health Awareness Week, we sent out a number of resources to our employees on mental health topics, including helplines and recommended apps (some of which are a part of our benefit scheme). We also participated in ‘Wear it Green’ Day, where we encouraged our employees to wear Green to show their support and raise awareness of this campaign.
As a company, we pride ourselves on the support we give to our employees, but we are always working on ways in which we can continuously improve.
- McManus S., Bebbington P., Jenkins R. and Brugha T. (2016) Mental health and wellbeing in England: Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2014. Available from: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/adult-psychiatric-morbidity-survey/adult-psychiatric-morbidity-survey-survey-of-mental-health-and-wellbeing-england-2014
- (2024a) UK measures of national well-being dashboard. Available from: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/articles/ukmeasuresofnationalwellbeing/dashboard
- Office for National Statistics (ONS), released 26 April 2023, ONS website, article, https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/labourproductivity/articles/sicknessabsenceinthelabourmarket/2022
Paul McKenna
Introducing Paul, our Workshop Supervisor! We asked Paul a few questions to get to know more about his role at CAN and what is on his bucket list!
What does a typical workday look like for you?
I don’t really have a typical workday because of the nature of my role. It varies depending on the type and stage of the projects and activities. But, all work days start with tea, I don’t function well without it.
I can be working at Twyford in my office sorting paperwork of various types. Typically, planning workshop and staff allocation; planning of more complex tasks and preparation for installs, working on-site is a completely different kettle of fish. My start time can be anywhere from 6am onwards. If I am driving to a site, or travelling abroad, it can be much earlier. I usually aim to arrive on site about 7am. Clearing security is the first job of the day. I then meet with the client and try to iron out any issues that have arisen. I brief the team and then we get to work.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt from your career so far?
Good judgment comes from experience, and most of that comes from bad judgement.
What is your proudest professional achievement to date?
It will always be getting an apprentice through their time and watching them qualify as a professional. Then hopefully, watching them develop their skills and make use of all they have been taught, whilst integrating the use of new technologies into their arsenal of knowledge.
What is on your bucket list?
That’s a good question. Where do I start?
I want to learn to fly and also free fall parachute. They have always been topped my list, but there are a few others:
- See more of the world.
- Fire a Bofors gun.
- Take my grandson to watch Arsenal
- Own an Art Deco “White house”
If you could have dinner with one historical figure, who would it be and why?
There are so many historical figures that intrigue me for various reasons. King Richard III, what happened to the princes in the tower? Barnes Wallis, Tessla, Wolfe Tone to name but a few.
But the one person that I would love to have dinner with would be Leonardo DaVinci. His ideas and principles of engineering are incredible. The practical application of design is amazing. Some are far fetched for the time, but visionary for future development. Even simple machines like his mechanical marching drum are works of art in themselves.
I would like to get a feeling for the man and how his mind worked. What drove him along the path of discovery/innovation? What obstacles he faced and overcame. How did he research his chosen subjects? Did he draw on more ancient knowledge that we are unaware of today? It would be a case of too many questions, not enough time.
Interested in working for CAN? Check out our latest vacancies here: Vacancies – Cyclife Aquila Nuclear | EDF Group
Introducing our brand new newsletter…
Earlier this month, we launched our brand-new Cyclife Aquila Nuclear newsletter!
The newleetter will be your go-to source for all the latest news and updates from the business. Each edition will feature:
- Company News
- Project Updates
- Exciting Job Opportunities
- Upcoming Initiatives and Partnerships
We are incredibly excited to grow our community, share key achievements and keep you up to date with all things CAN!
You can sign up using the form here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e5HVGzV2
A greener pathway? Nuclear is the answer…
Written by Steve Barker, Head of Commercial
Having worked in nuclear for 8 years and having had the benefit of learning about it at a young age, the path to a sustainable future is clear to me, we need to be utilising energy sources with minimal environmental impact. Whilst renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are essential, nuclear power also has a crucial role to play in the transition to a greener world.
It’s already proven that nuclear generates electricity that produces virtually no carbon emissions during operation, making it one of the cleanest energy sources available. As we look to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, nuclear energy offers a stable, reliable alternative that complements fluctuating energy sources such as wind and solar. Unlike renewables, which are dependent on weather and daylight and therefore have limited availability, nuclear energy provides constant power around the clock.
Then consider that advances in nuclear technology, including small modular reactors (SMRs) and ongoing research into nuclear fusion, are moving nuclear energy into a new era of safety and efficiency. These technologies address traditional concerns about waste and safety and will provide a cleaner, more adaptable energy source for different locations around the UK. SMR plants have a smaller footprint and can be deployed close to demand centres, reducing transmission losses and increasing energy security.
Regardless of your opinion on nuclear power, the stakes are high in the climate crisis. With what scientists are forecasting, ruling out low-carbon options like nuclear power could have devastating consequences for us.
I’ll continue to advocate that utilising nuclear energy together with renewables improves our chances of a sustainable, low-carbon future. And given these potential benefits, the question is not why nuclear energy should be considered, but why it is not already at the centre of our sustainability effort?
Our brand-new annual magazine – CAN Fusion!
We are thrilled to announce our brand-new annual magazine, the CAN Fusion Magazine! Packed with exciting news, project updates, employee interviews, and our goals for 2025, this magazine reflects our incredible journey from 2024 and looks forward to what is to come this year.
Thank you to our colleagues who helped write some of the articles and also our amazing design team, The Glow Studio!
We are incredibly excited to share last year’s highlights and achievements with you all.
You can access the magazine here: CAN Fusion Magazine 2024-2025
CAN becomes a member of the American Glovebox Society (AGS) and joins the Technical Standards Overview Committee (TSOC)
As part of the continual development of one of our core specialisms, Gloveboxes, CAN have recently joined two organisations to further our capability and contribution to the discipline.
The National Nuclear Glove Box Forum (NNGF), part of the Nuclear Institute, is the working group for UK experts to share learning and relevant good practice on matters relating to glove box containment systems. CAN are not eligible to join (membership is limited to glovebox operators only) however, alongside the introduction of the new UK Alpha Resilience and Capability (ARC) programme standards a sub-forum for users of the standard has been set-up. As CAN are already embracing the implementation of these standards on live Projects, it was clear that we should join the (Technical Standards Oversight Committee (TSOC). Our Containment TAC group recently participated in the first TSOC meeting, to engage with the wider community around the exciting step change in approach to special nuclear material (SNM) glovebox supply that the ARC standards layout. Participation will allow us to be part of the conversation, sharing Learning from Experience (LFE) and providing input into the direction of the new UK industry standard for gloveboxes.
Similar to the NNGF, the American Glovebox Society (AGS) are the principal US glovebox organisation and owners of a number of guidelines/standards that present best practice in America. While CAN may not be as intimate with the US industry standard, the AGS present a huge resource of knowledge and experience that we can benefit from. Becoming a member is the first step towards enhancing the breadth of our knowledge and allowing us to widen our range of experience that we can draw on to the benefit of projects.
You can find out more about of our previous projects here, including our gloveboxes: Case Studies – Cyclife Aquila Nuclear | EDF Group
CAN X UKNNL Team Building Session
Last week, employees from CAN and Cyclife UK attended a team-building workshop with colleagues from United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory (UKNNL) at the Park Royal Hotel in Warrington!
The workshop provided an opportunity for the project team members to get to know each other and build connections outside of the workplace. Events like this provide our team with the opportunity to strengthen client relationships and build lasting partnerships for future collaborations.
Thanks again to UKNNL and Cyclife UK for a fantastic day!
Emma Downey
Introducing Emma, our Marketing Manager! We asked Emma a few questions to get to know more about her role at CAN and what is on her bucket list!
What does a typical workday look like for you?
We’re really lucky to have a varied workday, although it usually always starts with a cup of tea and a quick check of emails! My favourite kind of day is usually filled with a mix of creative projects, analysing analytics and a few meetings thrown in to mix it up.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt from your career so far?
For me, it has been work/life balance – after dedicating my 20s to my career and working long hours and weekends, I soon realised that rest, socialising and fun are important tools to make you more creative, fulfilled and focused on your work. I’ve worked for CAN for 18 months now and they really encourage you to ensure you prioritise your mental wellbeing.
What is your proudest professional achievement to date?
I’ve had some really amazing opportunities, I think running my own business was a real highlight in my career to date – it was enormously challenging but we also achieved so many exciting things!
What is on your bucket list?
A million things! I’m expecting my first child in May and I would love to take her on some amazing trips around the world, I love travelling and think it would be so much fun to see the world through her eyes. I’m not into adrenaline sports though, so there’s no wing-walking or sky diving on my bucket list!
If you could have dinner with one historical figure, who would it be and why?
This is so tough! I can’t pick one so I will give you three: Frida Kahlo, Jane Austen and Marie Antoinette – what a dinner party that would be!
Interested in working for CAN? Check out our latest vacancies here: Vacancies – Cyclife Aquila Nuclear | EDF Group