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February 2010

PRESS RELEASE EDF Deploys Business Collaborator from UNIT4 to help with Next Generation Nuclear Power Project

Software-as-a-Service collaboration tool to help project teams build four low carbon UK nuclear power reactors

UNIT4 Collaboration Software Limited, the recently crowned Business IT Service Provider of the Year, today announced that EDF Energy, the UK’s largest producer of electricity, is implementing its project collaboration system, BC 5.3, across its nuclear new build programme. The system, which is being used for both internal and external collaboration, is providing a central hub for information management, tracking company processes in order to meet regulatory requirements.

EDF Energy’s nuclear new build programme will spearhead the development of four new EPR pressurised water reactors in the UK, providing reliable low-carbon electricity; an integral part of the UK’s energy policy. This major infrastructure project will generate considerable commercial opportunities for the UK construction sector.

The BC system has been used successfully by EDF Energy to support the project team in the construction of a new circa £500m power station at its site at West Burton.

BC is now also being used by the team responsible for putting together EDF Energy’s application for a Nuclear Site Licence. This complex application process involves many parties including teams at EDF Energy’s engineering consultancy partners Atkins (who are also customers of UNIT4 Collaboration Software Limited). EDF Energy can issue documents for comment, track actions and ensure that everyone has view of all the work streams taking place that may affect their work.

“The BC system is becoming the de facto tool for our major projects,” confirmed David Shuffleton, Head of Management Arrangements for EDF Energy’s nuclear new build programme. “Its flexibility in supporting both internal team collaboration, engagement with our supply chain partners and regulatory processes is proving invaluable. We are already ahead of the take up we anticipated and expect the number of users to increase to many hundreds.”

“The collaboration software space is maturing and we are seeing more and more industry sectors deploying our solutions,” commented Sanjeev Shah, Founder and Managing Director at UNIT4 Collaboration Software Limited. “Collaborative working is an ethos enabled by technology. We therefore ensure that the systems we implement truly reflect our clients’ working patterns meaning they don’t need to change their processes,” he continued.

Read the full case study about how BC supports EDF Energy’s European project teams in a £500m+ Power Station build.

For more information, please contact:
Stuart Hall-Cooper
Marketing Manager
Tel: 0118 902 8500
Email:pressoffice@unit4collaboration.com