A Black Country manufacturer is setting its sights on a share of the £60 billion nuclear sector after securing a new funding boost.

Alloy Wire, which makes round, flat, shaped profile and electrical resistance wires in a range of exotic nickel alloys, has become one of the first companies in the West Midlands to start the Fit For Nuclear journey.

The Brierley Hill-based firm, founded in 1946, will benefit from a £10,000 grant to help it develop a new strategy for targeting this market and meeting exacting health and safety and performance standards required by the major contractors.

It is anticipated that this funding - combined with ongoing support from manufacturing experts at the Business Growth Service - will unlock nearly £750,000 of potential contracts.

Managing director Mark Venables said: "Some of the specialist wire we produce is used within component parts, seals and in springs destined for the nuclear sector - especially where they need to operate effectively in corrosive and intense high temperature environments.

"With £60 billion of civil build projects and billions more involved in de-commissioning existing plants, there is a significant opportunity for us to grow our sales from eight per cent of our current turnover."

Alloy Wire will spend the next five months working its way through the Fit For Nuclear programme, working with an assessor Huw Jenkins and consultancies Start 2 Finish Marketing and Initiative Quality and Safety.

The initial focus will be on developing a strategy that identifies the firm's key strengths for attracting new work, including technical experience, fast lead times and an ability to deliver bespoke solutions in a range of exotic alloys.

With the additional funding, the company has started to produce a nuclear specific brochure and website and is looking to attend a number of exhibitions to showcase its capabilities.

Fit For Nuclear has been developed by the Nuclear AMRC, with the support of its nuclear industry partners, and is delivered to businesses in England in partnership with the Manufacturing Advisory Service.