AN engineering and design consultancy is supporting jobs in a deal to help the UK’s electricity provision.

Atkins, which has bases in Newcastle and Stockton, will deliver a capital investment programme for Urenco.

Bosses at Atkins, which also carries out project management, say the programme involves plant and site upgrades and new facilities, and will create work for up to 60 staff.

Urenco operates in the nuclear fuel supply chain.

Chris Ball, Atkins’ managing director, said: “Having worked closely with Urenco for the last two years under the initial framework for this programme, we have established an excellent working relationship.

“The scope of this work could see our Urenco-dedicated team double in size from 30 to 60 in the next 12 months.”

Brian Robinson, Urenco’s head of technical services, added: “Atkins already has proven technical and project management expertise in the nuclear arena.

“However, their ability to work with us as truly collaborative partners for the long-term is what is most important to us with a programme of this scale.”

Atkins employs 17,400 workers around the world and is Europe's third largest multi-disciplinary consultancy.

It previously offered technical advice on London 2012's Olympic Park legacy and designed tunnels and station architecture for Crossrail, Europe's largest civil engineering scheme.