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Ian Gunter, Bouygues鈥� business development director, confirmed speculation that the company was interested in the nuclear market. He said he was preparing a report on the British nuclear sector for Bouygues鈥� head office.

He said: 鈥淚鈥檓 writing a paper for our colleagues in France setting out the pros and cons and the possibilities in the UK.鈥�

Hutton announced last week that he was setting up the Office of Nuclear Development, an interdepartmental unit intended to get nuclear reactors up and running 鈥渁s soon as possible鈥�.

The government wants at least 40% of Britain鈥檚 energy to come from the plants. At least 10 will be built, costing up to 拢3bn each.

This commitment to a nuclear programme has been welcomed by UK firms, and many are now forming alliances and addressing the skills deficits in the area.

Richard Coackley, managing director of consultant White Young Green Energy described the government鈥檚 move as 鈥渋ncredibly significant鈥�. He said: 鈥淲hat is important is for firms to get some cross-governmental capabilities and it鈥檚 necessary to create a single focus. So this office is an important step.鈥�

Real progress lies in the hands of private investors, not
the government

Simon Harrison

Simon Harrison, energy director at Mott MacDonald, said it was a 鈥渦seful move鈥� but added that real progress lay with private investors, not the government.

Mott has stepped up its nuclear capabilities in recent months by buying consultant Multi Design and signing an exclusive alliance with American nuclear specialist Excel Services. 鈥淲e now feel we have complete capability for new-build,鈥� said Harrison.

Costain also confirmed it was in talks with US nuclear services companies with a view to establishing an alliance.

Meanwhile, a new graduate programme in decommissioning at Lancaster university received 拢2.3m from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) this week.

White Young Green and the NDA have also been working on plans for a technical college in Westlake, Cumbria.