iSH Presents

In this episode, Miranda is joined by Mark Telford, Chief Executive of Forth, one of Cumbria’s leading engineering companies. Broadcast from the home of Forth’s 1.2-million-litre Deep Recovery Facility, the conversation explores the business’s humble beginnings, its rapid growth, and its reputation as the speedboat of the engineering world. The pair delve into innovation in the nuclear sector, Forth’s expansion into Malta, and the company’s strongly held views on social value – alongside the thinking that has driven its success.

Miranda is joined by Anand Puthran, CEO of McMenon Engineering, who offers an intimate insight into life at the West Cumbria business as it approaches its 80th anniversary. Exporting to more than 60 countries, McMenon operates in a fiercely competitive global market. Anand talks candidly about what it takes to go head to head with billion-dollar engineering giants, while also reflecting on the growing competitive pressure emerging from manufacturers in India and China, and how the business is responding.

In this fascinating episode, the rising importance of virtual reality as a training and safety tool is discussed by two organisations who have collaborated to develop a novel package to support nuclear decommissioning work ISH's Skills Lead, Hannah Pears, is joined by Dave Eldon formerly of the Emerging Technologies team at Sellafield's Engineering Centre of Excellence and Greg Beach, Managing Director of V360XR.

In a wide-ranging interview, Kayleigh Daniels, Head of Development at React Engineering, discusses SME agility, the power of pragmatism and inspiring the next generation. She also shares with host, Miranda, some of her proudest moments - including playing a part in securing a once-in-a-generation investment for her home town of Cleator Moor - and gaining a degree as a mum of three with a demanding full time job.

In this montage episode, the tables are turned on host, Miranda, as she becomes the one in the hot seat during a conversation with Dr Kirsty Hewitson, Director of RAICo (the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Collaboration). The episode also features excerpts from Miranda’s discussions with Kayleigh Daniels, Head of Development at React Engineering, and Hannah Pears, Skills Lead at iSH, as they explore the experiences and challenges of women in the workplace.

Across the sectors of critical infrastructure, defence and nuclear - to name just a few - Cumbria-based Createc is blazing a global trail as it delivers technology that makes a tangible difference to the world, one project at a time. CEO, Will Newsome joins iSH Programme Director, Miranda Kirschel to discuss 15 years of business growth and innovation.

John McGibbon, Managing Director of CORE Nuclear Solutions, shares the inside story of a remarkable transformation. What began as a small UK subsidiary of a US business, employing just four people, has grown into a high-performing SME powerhouse with a team of 64, operating at the sharp end of one of the most demanding industries in the world.

Craig Branney, Head of Sellafield’s Engineering Centre of Excellence, explains how the off-site facility was born out of a determination to innovate during the Covid-19 pandemic – and how it has since evolved into a fully operational unit tackling some of the most complex challenges facing the global nuclear sector.

Gary McKeating, Managing Director of iSH, opens the ‘iSH Presents’ season with a senior figure from Sellafield, Gareth Frazer. Gareth, Head of Manufacturing and Engineering Solutions at Sellafield Ltd, and board member of iSH, lifts the lid on how his team innovate to deliver products and solve problems in some of the world’s most challenging nuclear decommissioning environments.