Helping engineering leaders close more nuclear & defence deals without the costly budget blowouts, with the industry standard cost blowout being 117% - which is millions.
Because I can't stand to watch nuclear projects spiral out of control, busting budgets and stressing everyone out, just for trying to introduce a new and cleaner energy source into the world, especially because it's so easily avoidable.
Because In an industry where projects go over budget by 117%, millions of unexpected pounds are lost. I specialise in making your projects bulletproof, saving you time, stress, and money.
What ignites change in industry norms? For me, it was a blend of a deep-rooted passion for safety system design and an acute dissatisfaction with the existing approaches. I observed the flaws of traditional FSAs (Functional Safety Assessments) —often too late in the process, resulting in expensive and time-intensive rework, and, of ten, unexpected out-of-scope requests… that often you feel obligated to entertain.
This path led me to a critical realisation—the industry norm of conducting FSAs late in the project lifecycle was flawed and often led me to come in at the 11th hour to save the day and the project from being scrapped. While, of course, I was honoured to be able to save these amazing projects, I decided to make it my mission to stop these costly and stressful situations from happening in the first place.
It was whilst speaking with a client who had just barely survived a tough safety system design project. He shared how the project wasn't just a test of his professional mettle but had also taken a significant toll on his family life.
Late nights and boardroom busts ups had become the norm, not just for him but for his loved ones, he’d missed important moments like his child's school events and football games. He was dreading putting himself and his family through another six months of the same.
He told me he was considering not tendering - I remember thinking… but this is what you do…
But I understood his pain…
Then, I had an epiphany…. What if we started with the end in mind?
What if we leaned into the pain and made it a success factor, not a life destroyer…
The Pre-tender FSA was born!
I explained it like this, any lawyer worth their salt would tell you to take a step back, uncover everything that could go wrong and then write a customised contract to protect you against it.
I told Dave that, while it feels counterintuitive. Taking the same framework to the nuclear industry and allowing him to profit from it would mean starting with a "what could go wrong in an FSA mindset". Then, scope the project and the tender with that in mind.
At first, Dave looked confused, like I was speaking another language.… but then he said… why not… it's not like it could be worse than last time, and while he was worried about getting the deal as no one else would be highlighting these extra costs… so, of course, he'd be more expensive… he decided to go with it anyway...
We were both shocked by what we discovered!
We uncovered hours of work and saved tens of thousands that would have been wasted. Plus, we identified major risks that Dave could plan for without blowing out his own budget. –
Tender done - I decided to write a special letter to add to the tender to highlight a pre-tender FSA was done… the result?
A higher price….still….the client said YES.
"As a project manager, I always look beyond just the cost. It's the quality and reliability that really count for me. That's why, when I came across this particular proposal, even though it was priced on the higher side, I was immediately drawn in.
What really sealed the deal for me was how meticulously it was put together. Plus, it had the backing of an independent functional safety expert, which was a huge plus. It's not every day you see that level of diligence.
This extra layer of assurance made it so much easier to make the decision. It was clear to me that this wasn't just a shot in the dark; the price was a true reflection of the value they were offering. And, you know, from the get-go, it was obvious they completely got the scope of the project. The depth of their understanding just justified the higher price tag for me.”
And they were right –
Thanks to the pre-tender FSA process, all potential pitfalls were addressed before they could become issues, ensuring a smooth and efficient project execution.
The new industry of pre-tender FSA was born.
Are you ready to eliminate the risk of rework and ensure your projects are impeccable from the start? Let's make sure your next tender is the blueprint for success.
