Atkins creates Anglo-French nuclear venture

UK engineering giant Atkins has signed a deal with French nuclear expert Assytem to set up a joint venture to take advantage of the growing international nuclear new build market.

Called the Nuclear Atkins Assystem Alliance the alliance will be formed as a 50/50 joint venture to provide consultancy and engineering services to the 60 countries either using or considering developing a nuclear power capability.

Of the 27,000 employees at Atkins and Assystems, 3,000 have professional nuclear skills. Assystems already works with Areva and EDF in France, the two firms which are combining to build the first new nuclear reactor in the UK for thirty years at Hinkley Point in Somerset.