Fit For Nuclear (F4N) is a unique service to help UK manufacturing companies get ready to bid for work in the nuclear supply chain.
F4N lets companies measure their operations against the standards required to supply the nuclear industry – in new build, operations and decommissioning – and take the necessary steps to close any gaps.
Following consultation with industry leaders and stakeholders along the supply chain, we are now launching the next evolutionary phase of F4N, with added services for participating companies and a new subscription-based operating model.
The new phase of F4N will continue to deliver the core areas of business excellence and sector-specific assessment and improvement, with new upgraded nuclear elements. To provide additional value and support, it alsos provide a range of support including.
- Events to help you engage with customers and decision-makers, discuss shared challenges, and network and share knowledge with your industry peers.
- Services to help you secure work with nuclear customers, including signposting to opportunities and tenders, and access to UK supply chain benchmarking data.
- Training to increase knowledge and understanding of nuclear sector topics, delivered with industry-leading skills partners.
If you have any questions about the F4N programme or would like an informal discussion about whether it is right for your business, contact the team at f4n@namrc.co.uk
Who can become F4N?
F4N covers companies which can supply mechanical engineering, control and instrumentation, electricals, and other manufactured components for nuclear plant construction and operation, as well as the specialised requirements of decommissioning.
Participating companies range from contract manufacturers with no nuclear experience aiming to take a first step into the sector, to established suppliers wanting to benchmark their position and drive business excellence.
F4N is designed for businesses with 10 or more employees or with a turnover of £1.6 million and upwards, as the principles of the programme are more difficult to apply to microenterprises. Microenterprises with the potential to offer a niche product or service to the civil nuclear sector should still get in touch to discuss how F4N can help.
Companies now enter F4N as part of a cohort – see below for details.
How to join F4N
From 2024, F4N is moving to a cohort model, with a number of companies starting their F4N journey at the same time, and sharing good practice and lessons as they progress together.
In a two-stage process, you will first be asked to complete a capability questionnaire, covering all elements of your company’s operations.
We will review this to see if F4N is right for you. If it is, we will then invite you to complete a more detailed business excellence self-assessment, covering six categories of business operation and performance.
Successful companies will then be invited to join the first cohort, and you will start your 12 to 18 month journey to F4N granting.
You will be charged a flat fee to take your company through the journey to F4N granting. This gives you access to all events and other services, with additional training courses offered on a pay-as-you-learn basis.
To begin, go to the programme portal at f4.namrc.co.uk
Impact
More than 1,000 companies have now completed the online F4N assessment, with most receiving ongoing support and development from our team of industrial advisors. More than 100 are currently granted F4N after putting their action plan into practice – see our directory of F4N companies for details and case studies, or F4N Connect for a fully searchable database of nuclear-ready suppliers.
To the end of June 2024, participating companies have reported that the F4N programme has helped them win more than £2.16 billion worth of new contracts in nuclear and other sectors, creating or safeguarding 3,590 jobs, and leveraging over £65 million additional private investment.
In partnership with the 
We have also developed a Fit For Hydrogen + CCUS programme, with a 
