Steps for STEM Challenge
International Day of Charity 2025
Last Friday marked International Day of Charity, and to celebrate, we proudly partnered with our sister company, Cyclife UK to raise funds for our chosen charity: The STEM Generation Charity.
The STEM Generation Charity is dedicated to empowering young minds through Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. Their mission is to raise the standard of primary science education in the UK, equip children with STEM skills early to prepare them for a science-based economy, and promote diversity and inclusion in STEM fields.
To support this wonderful charity, we launched our ‘Steps for STEM’ challenge. We challenged our employees to walk or run 350 miles (the distance between Cyclife UK’s headquarters in Workington, Cumbria, and Cyclife Aquila Nuclear’s in Twyford, Winchester) within one week.
We’re thrilled to share that not only did our teams rise to the challenge, but we surpassed our goal!
🚶➡️ Total miles walked: 649
💰 Total funds raised so far: £130
This initiative was a fantastic opportunity to give back to a cause that truly resonates with our values and industry, encouraging young people to pursue a STEM career that could one day lead them into the nuclear industry. A huge thank you to everyone from CAN and CUK who participated and donated!
If you’d still like to contribute, donations are welcome via our GoFundMe page 👉 https://lnkd.in/e8e_W4uU
Mike Dunn
Introducing Mike, one of our Engineering Managers! We asked Mike 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?
Every day is different with new challenges. I balance engineering management for the delivery of complex nuclear containment integration projects with people management and development. The engineering management provides the opportunity to engage with engineers and project delivery teams both internally and within our client or supplier organisations to find solutions to technical and commercial problems. People management allows me to work with a team of engineers to develop our capability and ensure we can meet our current and future demand across a range of projects in the capability areas and markets we deliver to. My role includes a lot of different internal and client meetings, document reviews and project planning / management, but the best part is engaging with people to collectively solve problems and deliver successful outputs to our clients.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt from your career so far?
I have worked across a range of industries, including Nuclear, Rail and Mining. Both in the UK and Australia. One common element from all the most successful projects is that stakeholder engagement and communication is key. Most engineering challenges can be overcome but if we do not understand out client’s requirements and objectives, or their processes and key stakeholders, the engineering solutions may not hit the mark with what is needed or there may be other ways to more effectively delivery what is needed. Collaboration and good working relationships is also a major part of that, both internally to our organisation and with the clients and suppliers.
What is your proudest professional achievement to date?
Not directly related to my personal career achievements, but I have been a school mentor and a mentor for the IMechE. Some of the school students I helped went on to complete engineering apprentices and other engineering roles. I helped the IMechE mentees work towards their own professional development. I certainly had help and support along the way from a lot of people, so it is good to do the same for others.
What is on your bucket list?
I have been fortunate enough to have lived in Australia for a number of years, so I ticked off a lot there. Including traveling 20,000kms in a caravan for 6 months. Cycling around Uluru and seeing Aboriginal art from thousands of years ago was a highlight. Having moved back to the UK there are a lot of places I want to travel to, and I think Scandinavia would be next. Snowboarding in Canada is also high on the list
If you could have dinner with one historical figure, who would it be and why?
There are quite a few to choose from. Probably not quite a historical figure, but one would be David Attenborough. He has so much experience from his career travelling the world. Although being a drummer it would have to be John Bonham from Led Zeppelin. There would be quite a few stories, and I’d drag the drum kit along for a lesson too.
Interested in working for CAN? Check out our latest vacancies here: Vacancies – Cyclife Aquila Nuclear | EDF Group
International Self-Care Day 2025
Happy Self-Care Day! ❤️
Today is International Self-Care Day, self-care is essential for improving mental health and overall well-being. This campaign is a wonderful way to raise awareness about the benefits of managing mental and physical health effectively and to inspire people to do things that make them happy.
Examples of practicing self-care include:
🧘♂️ Meditation and mindfulness
🎨 Journaling, drawing or painting
🏃♂️ Exercising
🍃 Connecting with nature
💬 Speaking to friends and family
At CAN, we believe that self-care is a fundamental practice, especially in the workplace, so we encourage our employees to do things that make them feel better, whether that is taking frequent breaks, enjoying a walk outside, or opening up to colleagues. As part of our benefits scheme, we offer access to apps that provide mental and physical health support, such as tips on mindfulness, meditation, mood improvement, exercise, diet advice, and burnout prevention.
Last year, we invited a yoga and meditation instructor to come and lead an outdoor mindfulness sessions for our employees. It allowed us to unwind and relax during our lunch break and go back to our desks feeling refreshed, calm and ready to finish the day. The feedback that we received from the team was great and we will continue to host sessions like this in the future. Then, this year for World Health Day, we invited a cardiac nurse from Heartbeat charity to host a ‘Healthy Heart Check’ workshop. The nurse took blood pressure readings, and a blood sample to check for diabetes. She then gave confidential advice based off of her findings. This initiative was fantastic with lot of sign-ups, it also really highlighted the importance of looking after your body and heart.
Make sure that you are practicing self-care today and all year round!
CAN win BNMS Preclinical Prize for Poster Abstract Presentation
We are pleased to share that we have won the preclinical prize for our abstract and poster presentation at British Nuclear Medicine Society (BNMS) Spring Meeting in Glasgow this year! 🏆
The award is given to company’s who’s presentations and posters focus on all aspects of research that is before clinical involvement, or biological studies that help understand clinical studies. This can include:
· New radiochemistry – without a GMP component (whereas improvements or GMP of existing radiochemistry is more like radiopharmacy)
· In vitro mechanistic biology of new/existing tracers or therapeutics
· In vivo animal imaging of new tracers or existing tracers or therapeutics where mechanistic understanding is enhanced
· Physics/radiobiology in preclinical imaging/therapy
It is fantastic that the BNMS and the industry recognise our contribution to the field and we hope to continue to be impactful as our Nuclear Medicine portfolio continues to grow.
At the Spring Meeting, our Scientific Officer, Amin Choudhury presented our development of our state of the art Hot Cell design, as part of the Medical Radionuclide Innovation Programme (MRIP), for the manufacturing of theranostics, namely Pb212 in the UK hospital environment. This had a high element of innovation and the journey taught our business an incredible amount. CAN were proud to present this topic and we are delighted that the BNMS recognised our commitment as well.
A special shout out to Paul Adlem, Dave Barker and Sam Rickson on their contribution.
Read more about what we do in Nuclear Medicine here: Nuclear Medicines – Cyclife Aquila Nuclear | EDF Group
Representing Cyclife in the UK: Attending Key Industry Events
What does collaboration and teamwork mean to you? 🤝
For us, it’s all about great communication, sharing ideas and combining expertise. At CAN, one of our core values is to ‘Act Collectively’, and this is reflected in our ability to work closely with our sister companies from the Cyclife Group.
This year, together with our sister company Cyclife UK, we have attended a series of key industry events and exhibitions across the nuclear sector, giving us the perfect opportunity to showcase our combined capabilities, integrated offering and innovative solutions including waste management, decommissioning, design, building, and manufacturing equipment. Collaborating and exhibiting with colleagues from Cyclife UK helps us build a stronger Cyclife presence across the UK’s nuclear sector.
So far, we’ve attended:
- Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) DECOM25 event, followed by Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) Supply Chain Event
- Team Building Workshop with United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory (UKNNL)
- Nu-Tech’s Engineering and Technology Solutions Exhibition
Upcoming:
- Nu-Tech Engineering and Technology Solution Exhibition – September 2025
- European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) – October 2025
A big thank you to everyone we’ve connected with at these events so far this year. Keep an eye out on our LinkedIn pages to see what other events we’re attending: Cyclife Aquila Nuclear: Company Page| LinkedIn
Want to know more about our Multi-Functional Cell?
Now is your chance to find out more!
📍 Based at our premises in Twyford, Winchester, we created the MFC, a dynamic demonstration tool for nuclear and nuclear medicine clients who want to experience using a shielded facility ‘hands-on’.
The MFC allows our clients to:
✅ Test their own process or equipment inside the cell
✅ Trial usability under realistic conditions
✅ Evaluate the ease of operation and maintenance.
We are proud to offer this unique facility as part of our commitment to the nuclear industry!
🎥 To discover more, watch the video below or head over our designated MFC page: Aquila Multi-Functional Cell – Cyclife Aquila Nuclear | EDF Group
Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day!
International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) is usually celebrated on 23rd June and is dedicated to recognising the outstanding achievements of women in engineering worldwide. It aims to inspire young girls and women to pursue careers in the engineering industry, highlighting the importance of diversifying such a male-dominated industry, with 2024 figures indicating that in the UK, only 15.8% of engineers are women.
INWED’s roots date back to 1919, following the end of the First World War. During the conflict, many women entered engineering roles. They were determined to continue their careers in the field, and that’s when the Women’s Engineering Society was formed.
The theme for this year is ‘Together We Engineer’, which signifies collaboration and support. At CAN, we are very proud of our amazing female engineers who contribute to our success through their innovation, creativity and diverse perspectives. We will continue to empower and support women, creating a workplace where everyone can thrive, no matter their gender.
Join us today as we celebrate INWED 2025 by spotlighting a couple of our female engineers, Holly Burnett and Charlotte Webber!
Holly Burnett
Mechanical Design Engineer
What do you like most about being an engineer?
Charlotte Webber
Mechanical Design Engineer
What do you like most about being an engineer?
“The thing I enjoy the most about being an engineer is having the opportunity to learn about new technologies and how these advancements can be utilised within engineering. Another aspect of the role that brings me satisfaction is having the ability to problem solve and come to a successful solution in a team setting. For my role at CAN, this means understanding client requirements and forming engineering solutions and tender responses based on customer needs.”
CAN attended and presented at the MRIP Celebrations and Insight Event!
What a brilliant day at the Medical Radionuclide Innovation Programme (MRIP) Celebration and Insights Event!
On Tuesday 17th June, at St Thomas Hospital, CAN representatives, Paul Adlem, Amin Choudhury, Sam Rickson and Chris Davey had the privilege of attending the fantastic event focused on nuclear medicine. Amin proudly delivered a presentation on CAN’s involvement in the MRIP project to the distinguished audience.
The presentation standard was exceptional – from King’s College London’s pioneering research to Urenco’s innovative approaches, and the impressive triple presentation from UK National Nuclear Laboratory. Witnessing the collaborative work across institutions like NPL, Queen Mary University London, The Dalton Cumbrian Facility, and UKAEA was particularly inspiring.
The event provided a great opportunity to meet so many extraordinarily knowledgeable professionals advancing the frontiers of nuclear medicine. The groundbreaking ideas and processes shared throughout the day were genuinely inspiring, and it’s been an honour to be part of this community working under the auspices of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s programme.
Days like these remind us why we’re so passionate about this field. The potential to make a real difference in medical treatments, whilst advancing nuclear science, is truly motivating.
Click here to learn more about our work in Nuclear Medicine: Nuclear Medicines – Cyclife Aquila Nuclear | EDF Group
We are thrilled to announce that our Monitored Professional Development Scheme (MPDS), has been accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)!
Our recent accreditation with the IMechE by the IMechE’s Professional Development Standards Committee (PDSC) is not only a testament to the months of hard work and commitment by our Professional Development Scheme (PDS) team but also a significant milestone that brings lasting benefits to both the company and its employees. This will directly benefit our colleagues by providing access to in-house IMechE professional development tools, support and feedback that is critical in successfully applying for professional registration; through tailored workshops, one-on-one guidance, and overall process guidance, our engineers will be fully supported in benchmarking their skills against the UK-SPEC and completing their professional registration journeys.
For the business, this accreditation lays the groundwork for a stronger, more capable workforce; it enables us to upskill our engineers efficiently, better equipping them to meet evolving challenges. At the same time, it enhances our credibility in the eyes of clients and industry partners by demonstrating a clear commitment to professional development and engineering excellence. By embedding this direct IMechE support into our operations, we’re creating a culture that values growth, fosters excellence, and positions us for long-term innovation and success.
A huge well done to everyone involved – what a fantastic achievement!
Its Volunteers Week!
Volunteers’ Week was first established in 1984, by what was then known as Volunteering England. Launched in 1984, this initiative has been running for over 40 years, providing organisations and communities a platform to thank current and past volunteers for their invaluable efforts.
At CAN, we are incredibly proud of our employees who actively volunteer with various charities and organisations in their spare time. Volunteering offers a chance to give back to the community and make an impact. It also equips individuals with key skills that aid in personal and professional development whilst creating positive change.
To celebrate Volunteers Week, we have spotlighted a few of our employees who have dedicated their time to volunteering. We asked them a few questions regarding their volunteer experiences and what it means to them Today, we’re hearing from Ben Wigmore, Keith Strong, Renu Amin and Ian Cullington.
Ben Wigmor
e
Principal Mechanical Design Engineer
What is your name, and your volunteer role?
My name is Ben Wigmore, and I volunteer as an Assessor, supporting Professional Review Interviews.
What Charity/Organisation/Group do you volunteer with?
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
How long have you been volunteering with them?
Since April 2024.
What have you enjoyed most about your time volunteering ; do you have any stories?
Mechanical Engineering is a surprisingly broad discipline, and I enjoy being given an insight into these different areas by applicants. Particularly when assessing Chartered Engineer applicants, I find out a lot about novel and state of the art developments going on in different industries. I also enjoy being able to support many engineers in their ambitions to become Professionally Registered. Professional Registration is an aim many engineers aspire to and is an important milestone in their careers, and I am privileged to be involved in that journey for many applicants.
What would you say to anyone who is thinking about volunteering?
For many people in today’s modern society, spare time is often a luxury. However, many volunteering opportunities are flexible and can fit around most individuals’ lifestyles. Being an assessor is great as I get to pick when I want to support interviews and can attend them virtually from home. It’s also very gratifying to help others and great to broaden your own knowledge at the same time.
Keith Strong
Principal Mechanical Design Engineer
What is your name, and your volunteer role?
My name is Keith and my role was providing the venue to raise money for the organisation and dealing with the legalities, authorities, councils and complainants.
What Charity/Organisation/Group do you volunteer with?
Char’s Fund via Onionfest. Char’s Fund was set up to honour the life of a Girl (Charlotte) who died on the beach in the Boxing day Tsunami in Thailand as a living memorial.
‘The charity set up a memorial on the island where she died. It also paid for Clothing and Books and Food to allow children to attend school who were orphaned on that island by the Tsunami. The life choices of these children without school were likely to be Crime, Drugs and Prostitution.
In the end we raised about £150,000 and took 25 children through the whole schooling system and beyond through university. Making a big difference to them and other islanders’ lives.’
The Music festival run on my farm was called Onionfest, which was derived from Charlotte’s nick name: Charlotte -> Shallot->Little Onion-> Onion(fest)
How long have you been volunteering with them?
Approximately 10 years.
What have you enjoyed most about your time volunteering ; do you have any stories?
One year the start of the festival was delayed because of a power cut, during that time I got a visit from the council’s environmental noise abatement officer. He arrived in his van, and I steered him away from the individuals setting up the event. He said there has been 15 complaints about the noise from the festival. “We have a power cut and the music should start in about an hour!” It’s like that then he said and went away realising the validity of the complaints.
The most enjoyable part was not only the knowledge of really making a significant difference, but enjoy seeing the young team I was involved with grow in a really positive way as individuals and make good life choices and journeys. Also the feedback from Individuals who benefitted from the purpose of the charity was amazingly positive and life affirming.
What would you say to anyone who is thinking about volunteering?
Find something that means something to you, follow your heart and be prepared that many will not agree with your choices. Communication within family, groups, especially volunteers is essential to avoid destructive cliques and opinions as everyone approaches and gives their ‘valued’ time with and from different perspectives and goals.
Renu Amin
Mechanical Design Engineer
What is your name, and your volunteer role?
My name is Renu and I have completed a number of voluntary work over the years.
What Charity/Organisation/Group do you volunteer with?
I have volunteered with IMechE Southampton Area Committee, Meon Valley Repair Café, CRY and Naomi House charity shops and Macmillan.
How long have you been volunteering with them?
I have volunteered with IMechE since September 2023, at Meon Valley Repair Café, I volunteered from November 2022 to December 2023 and in July 2020, I volunteered at CRY twice a week for a year and at Naomi’s House, I volunteered once a month from September 2020 – November 2024.
What have you enjoyed most about your time volunteering ; do you have any stories?
The IMechE Southampton Area Committee is actively working amongst the industries and technical institutes within the South-West region of Hampshire to attract, inspire, and mentor new, as well existing, members of IMechE through a variety of events. I found meeting people from different industries, sharing ideas and encouraging students and young engineers for IMechE membership, was rewarding.
At Meon Valley Repair Café in Bishop Waltham, the group offered repair work of various broken household items for free. It was a pleasure to help people not only to save their money from an expensive repair but also save items from being thrown in the bin.
At the CRY and Naomi’s House Charity shops, I helped with various activities like shorting out donations, assisting costumers on shop floor and at till, etc. I enjoyed serving the community in a unique way. It was an opportunity to promote and support reuse of goods as a part of sustainability. Finally, I attended the Macmillan Cancer Support half marathon charity event in 2022 & 2023 and raised money.
What would you say to anyone who is thinking about volunteering?
I would say being a volunteer is an unusual experience one should have at least once to be selfless, give back to the community, expand your network, and develop new skills.
Ian Cullington
Draughtsperson
What is your name, and your volunteer role?
My name is Ian and my volunteer role is a driver.
What Charity/Organisation/Group do you volunteer with?
Sporting Bears Motor Club and Teddy Bear Run.
How long have you been volunteering with them?
Approximately 12 years.
What have you enjoyed most about your time volunteering ; do you have any stories?
What we do takes several forms. With both organisations we raise money for children who are suffering from life limiting conditions, or who have experienced a close family bereavement for example. We raise money for children’s families directly, or for mostly small local children’s charities.
We use our cars for weddings and proms in exchange for donations to pay for bespoke care packages and assist children directly by paying for new mobility equipment, special seating for example.
With the Sporting Bears, we take people on ‘Dream Rides’ for approx. 10 miles in exchange for a donation, 100% of which goes to the relevant charity we’ve chosen for that event. Our donation is our time, wear and tear on the car and fuel. We do this at various events such as the Classic Car Show at the NEC, CarFest and many smaller events all over the country, such as locally at QE Country Park on June 1st and Concorde Classics in Eastleigh in September.
We also run closed events to take out the children and their families from the charities we support, these are the most rewarding and special.
I have regularly had adults and children alike whooping and screaming with joy at a little bit of acceleration and handling perhaps they don’t normally experience, all within the law! Passengers and parent have literally been quoted as saying, we have given them the best day of their lives!
What would you say to anyone who is thinking about volunteering?
Do it! I am lucky, I am doing something I enjoy, but even when I don’t drive, and help with the marshalling, or educating the public at events, the sense of wellbeing is as satisfying as any paid work I have ever done, it helps me sleep well at night. The fact I am always surrounded by many very generous people working for our organisations, who I can call good friends, is also very fulfilling. The best thing though, is the smiles we put on people’s faces, by something as simple as taking them for a ride, or to experience a car they have never experienced before.