Specialist control and safety systems integrator Proeon Systems ltd is building on its success with Fit For Nuclear (F4N) and Fit For Offshore Renewables (F4OR).

Proeon are delighted to have been named as winners of the “People Development” Category announced at the first UK Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC) Summit Awards in Rotherham on 12th October 2023.

Proeon systems are a specialist control and safety systems integrator providing critical control for complex applications typically used in the energy sector, often in the harshest environments imaginable. The company, part of RSK Group, is based at the Hethel Engineering Centre in the heart of Norfolk and employs 68 people.

The award recognises success in the Fit For Nuclear (F4N) programme which is intended to help companies meet the very high standards required to supply the nuclear industry. The journey began in 2016 and the award celebrates the outstanding progress that Proeon made. An industry expert provided by the University of Sheffield’s Nuclear AMRC helped Proeon through the process, benchmarking against a variety of business excellence measures along with sector specific assessment and development activities. These activities examined all aspect of the way the company developed and led its people. A particularly challenging activity was anonymous employee consultation surveys. Although the feedback was sometimes challenging, it was also massively beneficial to the business. The findings of this and the other activities enabled the company to identify gaps and close them. Proeon has reached the “Maintain and Sustain” phase of Fit For Nuclear (F4N).

The company has since engaged in another similar programme called Fit For Offshore Renewables (F4OR) which it sees as very important as a large amount of Proeon’s work today comes from wind energy projects.

Proeon’s Commercial Director Dr Dorian Hindmarsh said: “an important point that was reinforced during the process was that people are the companies most important assets. Our people were always valued, but this programme enabled us to put time and effort into people excellence, improving engagement, development, and training. These topics are now cornerstones of the business”

Since starting this programme Proeon has increased development resources offering a mixture of on-line training, in-person sessions, optional Lunch & Learn workshops as well as external courses. Proeon has launched a graduate programme which engages with local colleges and universities to offer placements within the company where individuals gain practical experience of control and safety systems. Many former participants joined the team on completion.

Proeon are also proud to provide apprenticeships partnering with local education establishments to offer the opportunity of paid training while gaining qualifications. Several former apprentices went on to join the company after completing their apprenticeship and now have roles as engineers and administrators. Proeon also has a Work Experience Programme which typically runs over 2 weeks, giving young people a practical hands-on introduction to control systems and the world of work.

Proeon always understood how important it is for people to feel included and informed about what the business is doing. As part of F4N an information sharing plan was implemented which promotes the regular sharing of business strategy and results to the team.

When asked if the time and effort put into F4N had benefited Proeon, Managing Director Richard Miller commented: “taken together the results speak for themselves. Better staff engagement and the increase of skills has helped Proeon win new projects and better serve its clients. This is enabling our company to grow and operate successfully within the transitional energy sector, working towards the net zero goal”.

Contact: Mrs Lesley Swift: LesleyS@proeon.co.uk

For more information: https://www.proeon.co.uk/ https://namrc.co.uk/services/f4n/

https://namrc.co.uk/centre/nuclear-manufacturing-awards-2023/