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19 February 2007
Project Services opens new facility at Geoffrey Schofield Laboratories
Copeland MP Jamie Reed was guest of honour at the opening ceremony, which marked a major new asset to West Cumbria in the form of one of only two UK laboratories capable of providing analytical services for samples that may have high radioactivity levels.
Managing Director of Project Services, Paul Hamer, said: “This new laboratory is a big asset to West Cumbria and its capabilities are highly sought after across many industries, so the £200,000 investment in its development demonstrates Project Services’ commitment to the area.
“Of course, the recognition of this commitment by Jamie Reed MP is a big morale boost for our employees and we’re extremely grateful to him for the endorsement of the laboratory’s expanded commercial capability.”
Jamie Reed MP, said: “I welcome this additional investment from Project Services. This specialist facility is another piece in the jigsaw that will see West Cumbria become a future world leader in nuclear sciences. Project Services understands the areas incredible potential and want to be involved at the outset. For West Cumbria this endorsement is important, for Project Services the commercial opportunities are obvious.”
The investment by Project Services has allowed for expansion of the laboratory to provide an area for the analysis of soil and decommissioning samples with potentially higher levels of radioactivity, extending its capability to handle samples from contaminated land projects on nuclear and hazardous waste sites.
From its base in Whitehaven, GSL provides skilled analytical career opportunities for around 55 people, the majority being from the West Cumbria area. As a specialist environmental radiochemical laboratory, GSL supplies premier analytical services to Sellafield and other major clients in the UK.
GSL additional work involves the analysis of environmental samples – waters, vegetation, meat, milk, soils and air – to monitor for very low levels of radioactivity.