Our tendering team is an integral part of our business. They are responsible for winning new business, identifying opportunities and presenting them to internal stakeholders. They also respond to requests for information and coordinate input from engineering, sub-contract partners and internal departments to produce the most compelling bid response. Each member of the tendering team will manage a tender however, they work together so that the responses are comprehensive and to a high standard which provides a great opportunity to learn from each other. They are always reviewing their processes to improve ways of working and develop their strategy. The team is made up of our three Senior Proposal Engineers, Dave Collings, Daniel Pettinger, and Iain Moore.

We asked each of them to tell us about their role:

Dave Collings
“What I love is that the role requires us to exercise a wide range of skills and technical knowledge while also collaborating with subject matter experts from across the business. We’re empowered to develop long-lasting relationships with our supply chain partners to create high-quality proposals. What I really admire is that CAN invests in our professional development, meaning we’re fully supported in achieving career goals and progression. Perfect for someone proactive, driven and ready for a challenge!”

Daniel Pettinger
“I joined the company last January and it’s been a steep learning curve since my background is in tendering automated materials handling and warehouse storage systems; so, I am in a totally different world. I would say the best thing about joining CAN has been the people; the team have been really supportive, and everyone pulls together to reach our common goals. On a day-to-day basis the role is quite varied, the most important part of the role is taking ownership of the end-to-end tendering process in order to bid for new business, this requires pulling together input from a variety of different departments and internal experts, engaging with our supply chain, and no two tenders are truly alike; there are different phases to the tender process and because CAN are designing bespoke engineering solutions across a range of nuclear sectors, our offering is always unique.”

Iain Moore
“I joined CAN in January 2024 as a Senior Proposals Engineer. This role introduced me to the nuclear industry as I have previously worked in the Rail, Defence, and Oil and Gas industries. A key part of the role involves managing the tendering process from opportunity identification/assessment through to the proposal submission. A typical day can include liaising with customers and supply chain, identifying/assessing opportunities, planning/developing proposals, collaborating with in-house experts to create proposals tailored to each customer and their unique requirements. I really enjoy the role as each opportunity has a different set of challenges that not only keeps things interesting but also promotes personal and professional growth.”

Last week, CAN attended Nuclear Industry Association’s DECOM25 event and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s (NDA) Supply Chain event!

Our team joined representatives from Cyclife and Cyclife UK and exhibited at the two events, showcasing our comprehensive capabilities in nuclear decommissioning, defence, science-based projects, and power generation.

The event provided valuable networking opportunities with NDA group companies and key decision-makers. We gained cross-sector insights from JET, Oil & Gas, AWE, and Space decommissioning projects and learned about the latest developments in digital innovation and robotics for enhanced safety.

As a key supplier to the nuclear industry, Cyclife Aquila Nuclear’s presence at both DECOM2025 and the NDA supply chain event reinforced our position as a vital partner in nuclear decommissioning, defence, science-based projects, medicines, and power generation. Our exhibition presence at both events provided valuable opportunities to showcase our capabilities and engage with current and potential clients.

Key highlights from the events include:

Industry Updates and Opportunities

We gained firsthand insights into NDA group updates and strategic direction, an understanding of upcoming decommissioning projects and supply chain opportunities, and exposure to digital technological innovations shaping the industry’s future.

Cross-Sector Learning

We acquired valuable insights from parallel industries facing similar decommissioning challenges and were able to gain a greater understanding of emerging technologies and methodologies that could enhance our service offering.

Strategic Relationships

During the conference dinner (sponsored by KBR and Frazer Nash Consultancy), we formed relationships with decision-makers and potential clients and strengthened relationships with existing clients.

Future Focus

At both events, we saw the industry’s future plans, including digital capability development and robotics applications for enhanced safety and efficiency, an understanding of workforce development needs and skills requirements, and knowledge of upcoming opportunities in front-end nuclear expansion.

Exhibiting at these interconnected events demonstrated our commitment to the industry and reinforced our position as a trusted supplier across the nuclear sector. The events provided an excellent platform to showcase our expertise while gathering valuable market intelligence to inform our future service delivery and business development strategies.

At the end of 2023, we were awarded a significant contract to design and build a facility to manufacture radioactive power cells to provide a vital source of energy for future space missions. The production process will be housed in a high integrity glovebox suite to ensure the highest levels of safety and cleanliness.

What is a glovebox?

Gloveboxes are containment systems. Their purpose is to protect operators and the wider environment from a potentially harmful material and to protect the material from potential contamination from operators or the outside environment.

An example of both scenarios occurs in the field of nuclear medicine for the production of radioisotopes for diagnostics and therapy in cancer treatment. In the case of nuclear medicine production, the operators must be protected, while the product inside the glovebox must be manufactured in a sterile environment. Gloveboxes and containment systems are used throughout the nuclear and pharmaceutical industry.

NNL programme of work

 The UK Space Agency and  National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) are to collaborate on the world’s first space battery powered by Americium-241.

NNL’s work, commissioned and funded by the UK Space Agency, will be delivered in a new £19 million laboratory in Cumbria equipped with next-generation equipment and technology. It will deliver a sovereign supply of fuel for space batteries in the context of a global shortage, enabling the UK and its partners to pursue new space science and exploration missions.

Atomic space batteries, also known as Radioisotope Power Systems (RPSs), release heat as the radioactivity within them decays. The heat can be used directly to prevent spacecraft from freezing and it can be converted into electricity to power onboard systems. The batteries go on working for decades, without need for maintenance over the many years in which a spacecraft could be travelling.

National Nuclear Laboratory – a look at our Central Laboratory – https://youtu.be/d67TxfPzls0 

About NNL

As the UK’s national laboratory for nuclear fission, NNL is harnessing nuclear science to help solve some of the world’s biggest challenges. NNL’s work is channelled into four strategic areas: Clean Energy, Health and Nuclear Medicine, Environmental Restoration and Security and Non-Proliferation. These four Focus Areas are the cornerstones of NNL’s ambition, shaping what it delivers to customers and for UK society, and how it invests in our future. At a time when society is waking up to acting on the environmental crisis our planet faces, it is impossible to overestimate the scale of the challenge ahead for the UK in reaching net zero by 2050. Without nuclear, the UK will not meet this target on time. And without NNL’s work, the UK nuclear sector cannot deliver what is required. NNL is custodian of a unique set of facilities and capabilities that enable groundbreaking nuclear research and development – including four world-leading laboratories in the North West of England. The most important asset for NNL’s future success, however, is its people. NNL is fortunate to be gifted with some of the most creative and inspired scientific minds in the nuclear sector, in the world. Everyone in NNL’s workforce is here to deliver environmentally and financially sustainable solutions to the major challenges of the 21st century, with the support of customers and partners in government, academia and the supply chain.

© Cyclife Aquila Nuclear – CAN NNL Glovebox Team

Matt Fowler achieves his Chartership in Engineering with IMechE

At CAN we ensure that our employees are reaching their full potential, so we invest in their professional development by offering memberships to a range of professional bodies such as APM, CIMA, CIPD, IET, IMechE and NI. Being a part of a professional membership provides our employees with the opportunity to network with like-minded people, have access to industry resources, gain mentorship and career guidance and achieve professional recognition and credibility.

Congratulations to Matt Fowler, one of our Engineering Managers who recently achieved his Chartership in Engineering with IMechE! This achievement is a testament to Matt’s hard work, dedication to continued professional development, and personal growth as an engineer. We are extremely proud of Matt’s progression at CAN and look forward to seeing him continue to grow.

We asked Matt a few questions about his chartership and the importance of being a part of a membership body like IMechE…

Why is being a part of a professional membership so important and how was it helped you in your job role?

In October 2024, I became a Chartered Engineer, achieving full membership of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), having previously been an associate member since 2014. Maintaining this professional membership is important to both my professional development and career aspirations for several reasons:

Access to Knowledge and Best Practices – The IMechE provides access to the latest research, case studies, and industry best practices. This is particularly valuable for staying on top of innovative technologies, methodologies, and regulatory changes. As an Engineering Manager these resources help me understand emerging trends in engineering processes, tools, and leadership approaches, allowing me to implement strategies that will increase engineering throughput, quality, and efficiency.

Networking and Collaboration – Professional membership of an organisation such as the IMechE grants access to networking events both in London and across the various regions of the UK. These events provide an excellent opportunity to meet with and learn from fellow professionals, which ultimately leads to new connections and collaborations that you would otherwise miss out on.

Career Development and Growth – Membership of a professional organisation offers access to certifications, training programs, and workshops that help you stay current with technical skills as well as leadership capabilities. For example, the IMechE supported me through the application process to becoming Chartered, which has boosted my career and coincided with a promotion into Engineering Manager.

Advocacy and Credibility – Being affiliated with a respected professional body lends credibility to your work and signals to stakeholders that you are committed to maintaining high standards. It also provides a collective voice for advocating for the engineering profession and influencing policy changes.

Staying Motivated and Inspired – Lastly, being part of a community of like-minded professionals helps to foster a sense of belonging and purpose. It provides ongoing motivation to push the boundaries of what is possible in both engineering practice and leadership. This is particularly relevant to the current phase of my career as I am now looking to give back to the community by volunteering at events that shaped my education, such as Formula Student UK, to try and inspire the next generation.

Please share your experiences of becoming a chartered engineer

Becoming a Chartered Engineer is a lengthy process, there’s no two ways about that!

In my experience, the key to achieving Chartered status is consistent and experienced mentorship, whether that be via a colleague or a regional IMechE outreach officer. I was incredibly lucky in the fact that I benefited from both; firstly, from the professional development scheme at Cyclife Aquila Nuclear and secondly from Steve Acott at the IMechE.

While the application process is long and the application itself is tricky to write at times, the sense of satisfaction once completed was incredible; I would highly recommend pursuing CEng/IEng/EngTech if that is something that is relevant to your career.

Keith Strong: Stirling and Hot Air Engines

At CAN we are truly proud of our workforce and love hearing about the achievements that they have outside of the workplace. One of our Principal Engineers, Keith Strong, has a passion for Stirling Engines and has co-written a book all about them! The book was published in 2005 and has become one of the most accessible and leading worldwide sellers in the subject area. You can find a copy of his book here: ‘Stirling and Hot Air Engines: Designing and Building Experimental Model Stirling Engines’  ISBN 186126688X.

Keith’s knowledge and experience is truly impressive, therefore, we asked him to share his insight and give a presentation to CAN employees. Keith’s presentation started with an introduction of the history behind the Stirling cycle and the early machines that the Scottish Dr Rev Robert Stirling patented in 1816. It was interesting to note that the patent didn’t initially recognise the Stirling cycle and the patent office crossed out Stirling and put Steam in its place. It only took 100 years to get that changed. Keith then introduced his varied and extensive background in engineering ranging from Space and Subsea, to Automotive and Viking ships.

In his presentation, Keith examined what an internal combustion engine is, namely Petrol, Diesel, 2 stroke, Jet, Gas turbine, Rocket and Radial and that Stirling engines are classed as external combustion engines along with Steam, and by proxy some electric vehicles when the electricity is generated from burning fuel.

He then moved on to look at non-combustion energy, harvesting in the form of Thermal Electric, Peltier, Solar panels and Solar Stirling showing a 2GW solar Stirling facility. Keith then explained that some applications of Stirling engines have powered submarines, which help significantly in improving their stealth capabilities.

Keith explained that the Stirling cycle can be used not just as a means of producing shaft power as a prime mover, but can also be driven by a motor and act as a heat pump, which led onto his explanation of the Cryocooler variants of the Stirling cycle. He spoke about the pressure temperature exchanges followed by the Carnot cycle. In this section, we got a glimpse of some of the space applications and possibilities of the Stirling cycle machines.

Keith then showed us a liquid piston version of the Stirling engine called a Fluidyne engine which was a remarkably simple, practical and cheap use of the cycle.

Of the 25 variants we were shown, the primary ones included Alpha, Gamma, Beta, Low Temperature differential, Fluidyne, Thermo Acoustic and solar Stirling.

Nuclear applications around the Stirling cycle typically were power generators, where the heat from a nuclear fuel provided the heat source and the Stirling engine side harvested that heat energy and turned it into electricity, perfect for space missions where there is likely to be no solar activity. Examples of these missions are ‘beyond the solar system and deep space’, missions to planets and moons where the ‘sun doesn’t shine’ such as the largest moon of Saturn, Titan. The talk finished with a précis of Stirling applications and advantages that could be used in conjunction with nuclear applications and highlighted remote non photovoltaic solar energy harvesting (Space, Remote, Subsea and Subterranean) which turns out to be more efficient than photovoltaics.

Stirling nuclear applications possible included:

• Self-starting temperature control with non-human interface, automated heat energy transfer.
• Cryogenic levels of cooling, minimal moving parts possible.
• Reliable and long-lasting high-energy transfers.
• An alternative non single point of failure or as a backup generation capacity.
• Works at almost all temperature ranges, Hot & Cold, Hot & Hotter or Cold & Colder.
• Reversible and generative heat control can heat or cool or extract energy from many systems.
• Allows collecting of energy from low grade heat sources.
• Robust and simple, reliable in harsh environments.
• Does not need computers or electronics to function.

It was great to see how many people attended Keith’s presentation; he received some really positive feedback, our employees appreciated discovering something new and interesting that a lot of them hadn’t heard much about. If we ask nicely, we may be treated to further talks on wave propulsion, wing in ground effect hovercraft, designing in space and even Viking ship design!

Thank you to Keith for sharing his knowledge with us all and hosting an insightful presentation and learning session.