AMEC Foster Wheeler has won a 10-year contract to supply radioactive waste analysis to the Sellafield nuclear plant in Cumbria.

The multi-million pound contract will see the engineering consultant perform lab-based work to help in the disposal of waste via the safest and most cost-effective means.

“The long-term nature of this contract is an endorsement of the exceptional skills and expertise within Amec Foster Wheeler,” said company spokesman Greg Willetts.

“Our laboratories have been delivering high quality, reliable analysis results since the 1980s and this award confirms our position as a leading provider of decommissioning services to the UK nuclear industry.”

Amec Foster Wheeler will be investing in new equipment and laboratory infrastructure to deliver the contract and will also be creating jobs increasing employment within the laboratory, including further expansion of the company's laboratory technician apprentice scheme.

Amec, which has its European engineering division headquartered in Darlington, last year agreed a £2bn deal to buy US firm Foster Wheeler, which has offices in Middlesbrough. he rebranded Amec Foster Wheeler employs about 700 people in the combined Tees Valley operations, with an additional 200-plus in its environmental services headquarters in Newcastle. An additional 500 people are employed across the region off-site or on project work.

In the meantime, Amec Foster Wheeler said it was consulting on about 100 onshore posts in Aberdeen. A company statement said: "statement said: "We have started a consultation process with our Aberdeen-based employees about the impact on jobs of the downturn of the oil and gas market.

"The consultation process includes looking at mitigating the impact through a variety of measures, including other cost savings, and moving people to the company's other diversified operations.

"Currently we are in consultation with 149 individuals about 64 potentially affected roles."