From Apprentice At British Steel to Nuclear Consultant
- get into nuclear
- May 11, 2022
- 6 min read
Updated: Dec 2, 2022
Today we speak to Frank Allison, CEO at FIS360 Ltd.
To those in the nuclear industry, Frank Allison needs no introduction. He is the Founder and CEO of FIS360, a company that helps to transform early-stage technologies into commercial products.
But it doesn’t end there: Frank has numerous roles as an advisor, consultant and volunteer including ICE9 Ltd, Scottish Enterprise, Knowledge Transfer Network, Cumbria LEP, PraxisAuril, and RAIN (Robotics and AI in Nuclear).
Frank doesn't consider himself to be a "nuclear worker" due to his multi-faceted experience, interests, and the broad range of industry sectors that he works with, however, we convinced him to share his fascinating career story, studded with excellent career advice and inspiring achievements.
Now over to Frank.
Before you read on - we have created an email course to guide you through the process of defining your career path into the nuclear industry. Check it out below:
Current Role
I have worked as the CEO of FIS360 Ltd for 9 years.
"We want the best technologies for the challenge owner client and the best-case scenario for the technology developer. As an independent organisation, we have no ulterior motives. This is why it works."
We are specialists in delivering successful innovation programmes and at guiding businesses and organisations through the challenges of technology commercialisation.
The innovation programmes that FIS360 deliver are typically centred around industry ‘challenges’, with the challenge being a specific technical problem or opportunity identified by an organisation or group of organisations within an industry sector.
In nuclear, a key example is the Game Changers programme, which we deliver for Sellafield Ltd and more recently Magnox and Dounreay in partnership with the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL).
The FIS360 team translates information from the industry sector or organisation into a clear and concise challenge statement and seeks potential solution providers, who are often organisations or individuals with early-stage innovative technologies or concepts.
The challenge owner organisations provide funding for potential solutions to be developed towards viable commercial products.
Frequently, the challenges will provide an opportunity to organisations with concepts and technologies not yet established within the nuclear sector, but with a clear potential application.
In addition to the challenge-led innovation programmes that we deliver, and the other commercialisation support activities that we provide through the likes of RAIN and Scottish Enterprise, anyone can approach FIS360 with their ideas.
We are all scientists and engineers that are motivated to support people and their technologies through the commercialisation process. Bringing innovators into the core of an innovation eco-system with access to a wide network and a broad range of support is something I’m passionate about, and is key to what we do at FIS360.
"I simply wanted to do things that I enjoyed and felt passionate about and I would always recommend this to others when starting their career journey."
It is essential that FIS360 does not act as a consultant, but as a partner with our clients. Fundamental to our success is our ability to build and retain strong, trusting relationships, underpinned by our dedication to supporting our client's needs.
We want the best technologies for the challenge owner client and the best-case scenario for the technology developer. As an independent organisation, we have no ulterior motives. This is why it works.
It’s not just about the technology and the people, it’s also about the culture and having the right environment where innovation can thrive. It’s not easy to achieve, but it’s crucial that we do. At FIS360, we create the environment and connected innovation eco-system for our clients.
Career Path
I was handed a book of about 30 jobs to pick from as I left school. Thinking back now, I would never have thought I would end up doing what I'm doing today.
I started my career as an apprentice at British Steel. I quickly developed career aspirations and realised the need for qualifications to move up the chain from being a craftsman. I told the chief engineer at the time that I wanted his job. He recommended that I go to university.
My time at university helped me appreciate the boundary between academia and industry. Whenever we completed a research project, I started to question what happened to it and how was it used in industry, if at all.
Following the successful completion of my PhD, I became a PostDoc at the University of Nottingham before moving on to the University of Manchester Intellectual Property (UMIP), where I spent 10 very enjoyable years as a Commercialisation and Venture Manager. Throughout, I gained experience working alongside many energy-related industries.
During this time, with the University of Manchester's Dalton Cumbria Facility and NNL, I helped develop and deliver an innovation programme called Innovus, aiming to transform the culture of research and development by helping to seek out and support Cumbrian innovations.
I continued to work on Innovus in parallel to several technology commercialisation roles, one of which resulted in me moving to Saudi Arabia to work at Dhahran Techno Valley Company (DTVC). During my time in Saudi Arabia, I gained a greater appreciation of how culture influences innovation and commercialisation.
Self-reflection is always so important to challenge yourself. To do my job, it comes down to gaining experience, remaining open-minded and consistently learning. I consistently seek opportunities for professional and personal development and encourage my team to do the same.
As I’ve moved into senior management roles, namely as the CEO at FIS360, I’ve learnt the importance of people management. Day-to-day, I try to let the team breathe. There is no need for micromanagement, and trusting others is crucial to developing our working relationships as a team. The FIS360 team are ambitious people; I help them, support them, trust them and watch them and the company flourish.
"Thinking back now, I would never have thought I would end up doing what I'm doing today."
Getting into nuclear
After several successful years with Innovus, the programme caught the attention of Sellafield Ltd, who liked it so much they asked whether we could do something similar for them.
I was fascinated by the technical challenges faced by the nuclear industry and felt driven to help find solutions. It was not obvious from the outside that the industry had such a broad array of opportunities for innovation, and it was incredibly interesting for someone with a curious mind and an engineer.
When moving back from Saudi Arabia, I decided to move to Penrith to focus on helping Sellafield Ltd. plus, it is a beautiful part of the world with excellent train and road access to most of the UK.
One of the significant benefits of my career path and the work I do in technology commercialisation is that I have had experience in so many industries, with a unique understanding of what is going on and an active cross-sector network.
Although I work in the nuclear industry, I do not consider myself a nuclear worker. I have spent many years working in the steel, space and aerospace industries in both the UK and in the US.
My background in both the industrial sector and academia has afforded me a wide network of national and international contacts across industry, academia and professional services.
I am passionate about utilising my varying industry knowledge and experience to engage with a range of people across a broad range of industry sectors, recognising that facilitating multi-industry communication is crucial to innovation.
Guidance for the next generation
I simply wanted to do things that I enjoyed and felt passionate about and I would always recommend this to others when starting their career journey.
Embrace whatever you do to the best of your abilities, and good things will come from the things you do.
Be open to new challenges and try to work with people who compliment and sometimes challenge your own thinking. If you can put these people around you, you can move mountains.
If you are a company looking to get into nuclear, I advise you to check out all industries, not just nuclear. Find routes to talk to people: be it via social media, email, or at conventions, exhibitions and supply chain events. It’s so important to build key networks, and contacts, establish relationships and facilitate lines of communication.
Communicate with others as much as you can and embrace these opportunities to learn.
Understand the motivations of others and try to work at all levels within an organisation. If you tell someone to use a technology they may be resistant to change but if you involve them in the process of developing a technology and listen to them they will feel part of the solution.
Amazing Career
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Frank for telling his story. It is a great example of there are so many routes into the nuclear industry. It also demonstrates the overlap and transferability of skills from others industries into nuclear.
Click on the following if you would like to find out more about Frank, FIS360 or Game Changers.
There has never been a better time to get into nuclear.
Andrew
Check out the rest of our website to find out more below about the:
UK Nuclear Industry
Types of Jobs in Nuclear
Career Stories of Nuclear Workers
Definitions of Nuclear
Live Nuclear Jobs
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