React Engineering marks 30 years of decommissioning projects

React Engineering, founded in 1994, began its journey by working on a variety of decommissioning projects at the Sellafield site.

Over the last three decades it has supported decommissioning across the nuclear and defence sectors, working on projects throughout the UK and as far afield as the site of the Fukushima nuclear plant, in Japan.

Today, the company’s team of 60 is based at its head office in Cleator Moor and a satellite office in Warrington, which it established last year.

In 2022, the company set up its React Projects division, which delivers decommissioning and waste management projects in complex and hazardous environments.

This sits alongside React Consultancy which continues to carry out its role of solving and simplifying challenging engineering, project management and technical problems.

Managing director Phil Redfern, who first came to work for React in 2002 during a gap year, said: “Like all milestones, our 30th anniversary is a chance to reflect on our past achievements but also look to the future.

“Although the company has grown, developed and adapted in that time, we still retain the same core values.

Managing director Phil Redfern (Image: React Engineering)

“Central to these is our problem solving approach, which is founded on striving to understand the true complexity of a challenge to ensure we find an effective and enduring solution.

“It is a highly effective approach but one that is only possible with the right people with the right attitude.

“This is why our commitment to our work has always been accompanied by a twin focus on developing and supporting our team but also doing what we can to nurture a bright future for West Cumbria and its people.”

This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the React Foundation.

Over the last year, React staff have also committed more than 1,000 hours of volunteering time to a range of charitable and community initiatives.

React’s Futures Programme also enables aspiring engineers to choose the course of their choice, at the university of their choice whilst gaining industry experience and being paid a salary, with a secured graduate role at the end.

In the coming years, React will build on its success to move from being a "local SME" to a UK-wide decommissioning organisation.

In particular, it would like to build on work it has carried out on the Dounreay site in Scotland.