Stories

KBR is marking seven years as a core partner in Programme and Project Partners (PPP) at Sellafield, one of the UK’s most complex and strategically important nuclear infrastructure programmes, supporting the safe, long-term clean‑up of the Sellafield site. 

Established in 2019, PPP was the first enterprise partnership of its kind at Sellafield, bringing together KBR, and industry partners to deliver a 20‑year pipeline of major capital projects. For KBR, PPP represents a flagship example of its ability to apply integrated programme management across a range of discipline to nationally critical infrastructure in highly regulated environments. 

Seven years into the partnership, significant progress has been achieved across multiple major facilities at Sellafield. PPP’s original business case targeted £200 million of benefits by 2031/32. That target has since been revised to £700 million, with £1.3 billion of benefits identified to date and £582 million already delivered – reflecting a strong return on investment for the UK nuclear programme. 

The partnership also supports Sellafield Ltd’s Social Impact Multiplied (SiX) strategy, having generated over £180 million of social value to date, alongside sustained investment in skills, apprenticeships, graduate programmes and internships that strengthen long‑term capability in the region. Approximately 1,300 people now work across PPP projects, with a majority drawn from the local area, reinforcing the programme’s role as a stabilising employer and skills anchor in the UK nuclear sector.

Safety performance remains a core measure of success for PPP. Alignment with KBR’s ZERO Harm approach and the launch of a dedicated Health, Safety and Wellbeing Hub in 2022, the partnership has recorded more than 10 million hours worked without a reportable incident as of May 2026, marking the second time this milestone has been achieved since 2019.

The PPP model embeds early supply chain involvement and incentivised delivery, improving cost control, schedule confidence and predictability across complex projects. Today, PPP works with around 300 suppliers, supporting local investment while drawing on specialist capability where required. 

Richard Rippon-Swaine, KBR vice president, Europe, Africa & Caspian, said, “KBR has been proud to bring our global programme delivery expertise to one of the UK’s most complex and nationally important infrastructure challenges - shaping a delivery model that puts safety, collaboration and long‑term value at its heart. What we are achieving together demonstrates how the right partnerships, built on trust and shared purpose, can deliver lasting impact where it matters most.”

As PPP enters its next phase, KBR remains committed to applying its programme leadership, systems engineering and delivery expertise to support the UK’s nuclear ambition – strengthening its position as a trusted partner for complex, long‑term infrastructure globally and it’s growing presence in the nuclear sector.