Collaborative areas identified by Nexia Solutions and Imperial College include the development of undergraduate and master's courses to feature a nuclear science and engineering component. The collaboration will also look to boost support for undergraduate students via bursaries, awards and vocational placements at Nexia Solutions.

The National Nuclear Laboratory will secure, safeguard and develop the key scientific and technical skills required by the nuclear industry in the UK. The collaboration with Imperial College will create opportunities to gather the best skills together for the benefit of the nation. Nexia Solutions and Imperial College will work closely to secure funding from third parties to support the collaborative programmes.

Welcoming the new agreement, Dr Peter Bleasdale, Managing Director of Nexia Solutions said: "We are thrilled to have concluded this pioneering collaboration with Imperial College, a world renowned and prestigious centre for learning and research. Nexia Solutions will continue to develop links with academia to make sure the UK shares and benefits from best practice and the latest advances in technology."

Professor John Wood, the Head of Imperial's Faculty of Engineering said: "The Government has indicated that it wishes to retain the UK's nuclear science and research capabilities and Nexia Solutions will be at the forefront of this strategy. This agreement lays the groundwork for our two organisations to work together on research projects and provide valuable industry experience for some of our country's brightest graduates."

Dr Bleasdale and Professor Wood signed the agreement in Imperial's Faculty building on November 22, 2007.

Ends

For further information, please contact:

Peter O'Brien, Nexia Solutions Communications
01925 832074
07801 856257
peter.o'brien@nexiasolutions.com

Notes to Editors:

Nexia Solutions

• Nexia Solutions Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of British Nuclear Fuels plc (BNFL).
• The business specialises in providing customers with tailored solutions by applying the right level of technical innovation and intellectual support.
• Nexia Solutions provides a core offering of technology services and solutions across the full nuclear fuel cycle primarily in the UK, but with an increasing overseas market.
• Main UK customers for Nexia Solutions services include the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), British Nuclear Group, Westinghouse and British Energy plc.

Nexia Solutions is a business focused on delivering technology services in four main areas:

1. Operating Plants - Maintaining licence to operate and improving plant performance
2. Decommissioning and Clean up - Supporting cost reduction and programme acceleration
3. UK Nuclear Strategy - Assisting UK nuclear policy development and implementation
4. Laboratory Management - Managing multifaceted laboratory facilities on several sites

Nexia Solutions manages four strategic research Alliances on behalf of NDA based at:

- University of Manchester Radiochemistry
- University of Manchester Materials Performance
- University of Sheffield Immobilisation
- University of Leeds Particle Science and Technology

• Nexia Solutions comprises 60 technical capabilities in total, with 29 unique to the UK.
• Nexia Solutions operates some of the most advanced and unique nuclear technology facilities in the world.
• Nexia Solutions and the British Technology Centre will be at the foundation of the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL).

Imperial College:

• Imperial College was established in 1907 in South Kensington, London
• In July 2007, it was granted a new royal charter declaring it an independent university
• Imperial strives to remain among the top tier of scientific, engineering and medical research and teaching institutions in the world

Proposed Collaborative Research Areas

Nexia Solutions and Imperial College aims to collaborate in a range of research across the nuclear fuel cycle, which include the following scientific/technical domains:

• Applied modelling and computation studies
• Development of advanced reactor technology and fuel cycles including reactor systems and materials
• Engineering of nuclear facilities
• Waste management and nuclear waste disposal and such other areas as may be agreed between the Parties from time to time.