17
FEBRUARY 2009 futures
futures IN THE WORKPLACE
NDA launches
skills strategy
Will Jonathan
make it to the
Dragon's Den?
A
WEST Cumbrian businessman will
find out soon if one of his company's
inventions will appear on TV.
Jonathan Froggatt, director of Housetech
Solutions, has applied to take part on the
next series of the BBC's hit show Dragons
Den.
Jonathan is hoping to be able to
showcase his wireless thermostat, which
regulates the amount of time a household
radiator is on. The device can be controlled
by a computer.
The idea has already received high praise
from Parliament, with Conservative leader
David Cameron describing it as "Simple but
brilliant".
The idea has been patented and has
been passed onto Ed Miliband, secretary of
state for energy and climate change.
Mr Froggatt said: "It was nice to have
praise from David Cameron. He was the
one who passed our product idea onto Ed
Miliband.
"It is an exciting time for us. We are
confident our product can be a big hit and
save people a lot of money.
"We have worked out that the device,
which is really simple, will save people up
to 35 per cent on their current energy bills.
"We applied for Dragons Den as a laugh
and we are waiting to hear back from
them. Hopefully we will be successful."
The thermostat would allow home
owners to regulate which radiators in the
house are on and can turn other off to save
energy.
The idea, which was thought up in
Denmark by Lars Jensen, the brother of
Jonathan's business partner, and was trialed
in Scandinavia for 18 months before it
came to England.
Jonathan said: "It has been selling well
over there so we decided to bring it to
England. We have not sold loads but we
have been showing companies and some of
them are interested in buying them from
us."
Energy firm EDF is one of those
interested in the thermostats, which are
individually charged at �69.
Unique �80m contract secures more than 100 jobs
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
A
WEST Cumbrian nuclear company
has clinched an �80million contract,
securing the future of more than 100
jobs.
Doosan Babcock Energy, based at
Westlakes Science Park near Whitehaven,
will design and build the Separation Area
Ventilation (SAV) project at Sellafield under
the deal. The scheme is a key part of the
decommissioning of historic areas of the
site.
The contract is the first significant win by
the company since it established a
permanent base in west Cumbria.
Mark Watters, the company's nuclear
director for Cumbria, said: "We look
forward to delivering the project, which
will benefit our growing Cumbrian
workforce, the subcontractors and local
supply chain.
"This is a landmark project for the
company, which, along with our other
projects at Sellafield, allows us to further
develop our commitment to the area in
terms of employment and community
support."
The SAV project will be undertaken over
the next three-and-a-half-years and
involves the design, manufacture,
construction and commissioning of a new
ventilation system and 120 metre high
concrete stack. Subcontractors will include
Kier Construction, Balfour Kilpatrick, Jacobs
Engineering, Senior Hargreaves, Bierrum
International, and Shepley Engineers.
Doosan Babcock employs more than 100
people in West Cumbria and has had a long
association with the site. It was involved in
the construction of the Thorp reprocessing
plant in the 1980s and has delivered more
than �100million of work on Sellafield in
recent years.
The company is a leading energy services
company operating in the thermal power,
nuclear, oil and gas industries and designs
and constructs advanced steam technology
for the power industry. It employs about
5,000 people across the world.
HERE'S
HOPING:
Jonathan
Froggatt
from
Mosser
with his
wireless
central
heating
thermo-
static
control
Kevin
Murphy
M
ANCHESTER'S Museum of
Science & Industry was the
impressive venue for the
launch of the NDA's National
Skills & Capability Strategy.
The NDA has a key role to play in
acting as the catalyst to lead the
development of sustainable world-class
nuclear skills by developing excellent
people, skills and facilities operating to
the highest quality standards.
The strategy is of great importance to
West Cumbria and many examples of
good practice already exist in the area.
By working in partnership with a host
of industry, community and learning and
training partners, the strategy aims to
both develop and deliver skills solutions.
In many respects the NDA acts as an
enabler by supporting initiatives that help
employers and individuals maximise
their potential irrespective of where they
may be in their careers.
As well as launching the strategy itself,
the event in Manchester showcased
examples of good practice.
Three Cumbrian initiatives were
featured; the development of Energus at
Lillyhall, a foundation degree in nuclear
decommissioning run by Sellafield Ltd
and an NVQ in nuclear technology for
workers at local construction company
Stobbarts Ltd, � and no doubt more
examples of the positive work underway
in the area will come to light as the
strategy develops.
Speaking at the launch, NDA chairman
Stephen Henwood said: "We have the
opportunity to make a positive difference
and develop a skills heritage that we can
be proud of, both now and in the future,
and make the creation of that world-class
workforce a reality."
The NDA's strategy builds from
encouraging students to think seriously
about a career in the likes of science and
engineering, through workplace skills
training to higher education
qualifications and beyond.
Full details can be found on the NDA's
website at www.nda.gov.uk/
strategy/criticalenablers/skills.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: NDA chairman Stephen Henwood speaking at the launch of the Skills
and Capability Strategy in Manchester's Museum of Science & Industry
Displays at the launch


We have the opportunity
to develop a skills heritage
and make the creation
of that world-class
workforce a reality
Stephen Henwood

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