nda business plan

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority: Draft Business Plan 2023 to 2026 for consultation

The nda draft business plan sets out key activities and expected progress for all 17 of the nda’s nuclear sites over the next 3 years. we want to hear from anyone who has a comment on any aspect of this document..

The Draft Business Plan reflects the  Strategy  published in 2021 and sets out key activities and the progress the NDA expects across all its sites during the next 3 years, in line with the funding allocated by the  Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

The NDA seeks to maintain progress and maximise value for money by focusing on the highest hazards, whilst ensuring that safe, secure and environmentally responsible site operations are maintained across its estate.

Strategic outcomes that are due to be met in the three-year period, demonstrating major progress against our mission include:

• all exotic fuel defueled
• the end of plutonium and uranium separation
• all uranium consolidated
• all overseas high level waste exported

This year has seen major milestones completed including the closure of the Magnox Reprocessing Plant at Sellafield after 58 years and waste retrievals beginning from the Magnox Swarf Storage Silo – one of the NDA’s highest hazard facilities.

There have also been benefits of a simplified, stronger NDA group, including the development of group-wide strategies on topics such as sustainability. Pioneering and innovative steps are being taken across the NDA estate to maintain the commitment to become carbon net zero by 2050, and 2045 in Scotland.

There has been a focus in investing in communities living near NDA sites. The NDA Group Social Impact programme invests approximately £15 million per year in building a lasting social and economic legacy for future generations, leveraging millions more in the process.

The Business Plan also includes updated assumptions for when Magnox site end states will be reached, defined as the physical condition to which the site will be taken at the end of the decommissioning process, taking into account factors such as safety, community requirements and environmental sensitivities.

Given most end states will not be achieved for decades, the new assumptions are a best estimate of the earliest end date, based on a number of dependences, assumptions, risks and exclusions and are subject to site specific strategy development and approval.

The focus is on developing credible options to set direction which will be continually reviewed and optimised using the latest learning from across the estate, considering new technologies and innovative approaches and taking into account other influencing factors such as government policy and funding.

The consultation will run for eight weeks, from 12 December 2022 to 6 February 2023 in accordance with the criteria set out in the Cabinet Office’s Consultation principles guidelines. The NDA want to hear from anyone who has a comment on any aspect of this document.

More information on the consultation can be found HERE .

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Privacy overview.

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority - Draft Business Plan 2024 To 2027 For Consultation

5th December 2023

The NDA Draft Business Plan sets out key activities and expected progress for all 17 of the NDA's nuclear sites over the next 3 years. We want to hear from anyone who has a comment on any aspect of this document. This consultation closes at 2:30pm on 29 January 2024. Consultation description The NDA is responsible for one of the important environmental programmes in the world, decommissioning the UK's earliest nuclear sites safely, securely and sustainably, to leave a long-lasting positive legacy for future generations. The Draft Business Plan reflects the NDA's most recent Strategy, published in 2021, and sets out key activities and the progress expected across all its sites during the next 3 years, in line with funding allocated by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). Publication follows another year of progress across the NDA group, including significant steps to reduce hazards at Sellafield, where waste is being retrieved from all four legacy ponds and silos for the first time. A restructure was also completed to create a simpler, stronger NDA group, taking opportunities to get the best value from working more closely together. The final planned step saw Dounreay join Magnox this year, becoming known collectively as Nuclear Restoration Services. The Draft Business Plan sets out an ambitious programme for the next 3 years, with the focus remaining on safe delivery of the mission, the creation of great places to work and being trusted to do more. The mission will be progressed on a number of fronts, reducing hazards and aiming to get further benefits from working as a group. Significant projects will also be taken forward, including the work to identify a site that could host a Geological Disposal Facility. The period covered by the Business Plan will also see change as the NDA is trusted to do more, including preparations for the first Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor site to transfer to the NDA group from EDF Energy for decommissioning. Consultation guidelines The consultation will run for eight weeks, from 4 December 2023 to 29 January 2024 in accordance with the criteria set out in the Cabinet Office's Consultation principles guidelines. We want to hear from anyone who has a comment on any aspect of this document. In your response, please tell us whether you're replying as an individual or representing the views of an organisation. If you're acting on behalf of an organisation, please tell us its name and, if applicable, how you gathered the views of its members. When looking at the responses, we'll give greater consideration to those that are based on evidence, rather than personal expressions of support or opposition. You can respond by letter or email using the contact details below. Please address all responses to NDA Business Planning, Business Plan Consultation. Confidentiality and data protection Any information we receive in response to this consultation, including personal data, may be subject to publication or disclosure in accordance with UK information access legislation (the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004), unless suitable exemptions/exceptions apply. If you want the information that you provide to be treated as confidential please let us know, but be aware that we cannot guarantee confidentiality in all circumstances. For example, an automatic confidentiality disclaimer generated by your IT system won't necessarily be binding on the NDA. Please refer to Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) guidance on information provided in confidence for more detail. Most of the personal information we collect and process is provided to us directly by you. This could include your name, email address, and anything that could be used to identify you. It is an essential part of the consultation process, so that we can contact you regarding your response or for statistical purposes. The NDA is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal information. Our Personal Information Charter explains your rights and gives you the information you are entitled to under data protection legislation (the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK General Data Protection Regulation). If you would like to exercise any of these rights please contact our Data Protection Officer. If you are dissatisfied with the way we have processed your data you may also contact the ICO. Nuclear Decommissioning Authority - Draft Business Plan 2024 to 2027 for consultation Pdf 65 Pages.

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• Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

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Business Plan Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)

The business plan non-disclosure agreement is intended for use when sharing a business plan with consultants, investors, contractors, potential employees, and anyone else evaluating your planned enterprise. Regardless of the size or complexity of your plan, it is likely to include confidential information that hopefully gives you an advantage over competitors. Such information could include your marketing plan, revenue forecast, and capital spending. Note, if you use an NDA with your business plan with one person, you must use NDAs for all who read it, and you should mark the plan as “confidential.”

Product Development NDA – Use when consulting with third (3rd) parties about a potential invention and its use and functionality.

BUSINESS PLAN NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT   This agreement (the “Agreement”) between _________________ (the “Disclosing Party”) and _________________ (the “Receiving Party”) is effective _________________ and is intended to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of Confidential Information (as defined below) contained in and relating to the business plan of Disclosing Party. The parties agree as follows: 1. Confidential Information “Confidential Information” is proprietary trade secret information contained within and relating to Disclosing Party’s business plan including but not limited to: business description, marketing plan, sales revenue forecast, profit and loss forecast, capital spending plan, cash flow forecast, future trends, personnel plan, business goals, personal financial statement, supporting documents and information conveyed in writing or in discussion that is indicated to be confidential. 2. Non-Disclosure Receiving Party will treat Confidential Information with the same degree of care and safeguards that it takes with its own Confidential Information, but in no event less than a reasonable degree of care. Without Disclosing Party’s prior written consent, Receiving Party will not: (a)  disclose Confidential Information to any third party; (b)  make or permit to be made copies or other reproductions of Confidential Information; or (c)  make any commercial use of Confidential Information. Receiving Party will carefully restrict access to Confidential Information to those of its officers, directors and employees who are subject to non-disclosure restrictions at least as protective as those set forth in this Agreement and who clearly need such access to participate on Receiving Party’s behalf in the analysis and negotiation of a business relationship or any contract or agreement with Disclosing Party. Receiving Party will advise each officer, director or employee to whom it provides access to any Confidential Information that they are prohibited from using it or disclosing it to others without Disclosing Party’s prior written consent. 3. Return of Business Plan Materials Upon Disclosing Party’s request, Receiving Party shall within 30 days return all original materials provided by Disclosing Party and any copies, notes or other documents in Receiving Party’s possession pertaining to Confidential Information. 4. Exclusions This agreement does not apply to any information that: (a)  was in Receiving Party’s possession or was known to Receiving Party, without an obligation to keep it confidential, before such information was disclosed to Receiving Party by Disclosing Party; (b)  is or becomes public knowledge through a source other than Receiving Party and through no fault of Receiving Party; (c)  is or becomes lawfully available to Receiving Party from a source other than Disclosing Party; or (d)  is disclosed by Receiving Party with Disclosing Party’s prior written approval. 5. Term This Agreement and Receiving Party’s duty to hold Confidential Information in confidence shall remain in effect until _________________ or until whichever of the following occurs first: (a)  Disclosing Party sends Receiving Party written notice releasing it from this Agreement, or (b)  Confidential Information disclosed under this Agreement ceases to be a trade secret. 6. No Rights Granted This Agreement does not constitute a grant or an intention or commitment to grant any right, title or interest in Confidential Information to Receiving Party. 7. Warranty Disclosing Party warrants that it has the right to make the disclosures under this Agreement. 8. General Provisions (a)  Relationships.  Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to constitute either party a partner, joint venturer or employee of the other party for any purpose. (b)  Severability.  If a court finds any provision of this Agreement invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement shall be interpreted so as best to effect the intent of the parties. (c)  Integration.  This Agreement expresses the complete understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter and supersedes all prior proposals, agreements, representations and understandings. This Agreement may not be amended except in a writing signed by both parties. (d)  Waiver.   The failure to exercise any right provided in this Agreement shall not be a waiver of prior or subsequent rights. (e)  Injunctive Relief.  Any misappropriation of Confidential Information in violation of this Agreement may cause Disclosing Party irreparable harm, the amount of which may be difficult to ascertain, and therefore Receiving Party agrees that Disclosing Party shall have the right to apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for an order enjoining any such further misappropriation and for such other relief as Disclosing Party deems appropriate. This right of Disclosing Party is to be in addition to the remedies otherwise available to Disclosing Party. (f)   Indemnity.  Receiving Party agrees to indemnify Disclosing Party against any and all losses, damages, claims or expenses incurred or suffered by Disclosing Party as a result of Receiving Party’s breach of this Agreement. ( g)  Attorney Fees and Expenses.   In a dispute arising out of or related to this Agreement, the prevailing party shall have the right to collect from the other party its reasonable attorney fees and costs and necessary expenditures. (h)  Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed in accordance with the laws of the State of _________________. (i)   Jurisdiction.   The parties consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the federal and state courts located in _________________ in any action arising out of or relating to this Agreement. The parties waive any other venue to which either party might be entitled by domicile or otherwise. ( j)   Successors & Assigns . This Agreement shall bind each party’s heirs, successors and assigns. Receiving Party may not assign or transfer its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of Disclosing Party. However, no consent is required f­or an assignment or transfer that occurs: (a) to an entity in which Receiving Party owns more than fifty percent of the assets; or (b) as part of a transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of Receiving Party to any party. Any assignment or transfer in violation of this section shall be void.   Disclosing Party: _____________________________________________ (Signature) _____________________ (Typed or Printed Name) Title: _____________________ Date: _____________________   Receiving Party: _____________________________________________ (Signature) _____________________ (Typed or Printed Name) Title: _____________________ Date: _____________________

How to Write

EXPLANATION FOR BUSINESS PLAN NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT

Below we provide an explanation for each of the provisions of the Business Plan Non-Disclosure Agreement.

Introductory Paragraph

Fill in your company name (you are the disclosing party).  Fill in the name of the outside individual or company being granted access to your trade secrets (the Receiving Party). Finally, fill in the date the agreement will take effect. This can be the date it’s signed or a date in the future.

1. Confidential Information

This section defines what is protected against disclosure. Keep in mind that if you are disclosing information in conjunction with the plan, you should designate that information as confidential. If the information is spoken, you should announce the confidentiality.

2. Non-Disclosure

This clause makes clear that your trade secrets must be kept in confidence by the receiving party and may not be revealed to others without your prior written consent.

3. Return of Business Plan Materials

Here, the receiving party promises to return your business plan and related materials provided by your company, as well as copies, notes, and documents pertaining to the business plan. The agreement gives the receiving party 30 days to return the materials, but you can change this time period if you wish.

4. Exclusions

This provision describes all the types of information that are not covered by the agreement. These exclusions are based on court decisions and state trade secret laws that say these types of information do not qualify for trade secret protection.

This clause provides the receiving party with an expiration date for the agreement. The Agreement should last as long as the information is likely to remain a trade secret. Five years is a common period, but it can be much shorter, even as little as six months. In Internet and technology businesses, the time period may need to be shorter because of the fast pace of innovation.

6. No Rights Granted

This clause makes clear that you are not granting any ownership rights in the confidential informat­ion to the receiving party.

7. Warranty

A warranty is a promise. Here, you promise the receiving party that you have the right to disclose the information. This is intended to assure the receiving party that it won’t be sued by some third party claiming that the trade secrets belonged to it and that you had no right to reveal them to the receiving party.

8. General Provisions

These miscellaneous provisions (often referred to as “boilerplate”) are often grouped together at the end of an agreement.

Relationships . Most agreements include a provision like this one, disclaiming any relationship other than that defined in the agreement.

Severability . The severability clause provides that if you wind up in a lawsuit over the agreement and a court rules that one part of the agreement is invalid, that part can be cut out and the rest of the agreement will remain valid.

Integration . The integration provision verifies that the version you are signing is the final version and that neither of you can rely on statements made in the past.

Waiver . This provision states that even if you don’t promptly complain about a violation of the NDA, you still have the right to complain about it later.

Injunctive Relief . An injunction is a court order directing a person to do (or stop doing) something. If someone violated your NDA, you would want a court order directing that person to stop using your secrets.

Indemnity . Some NDAs require the receiving party to pay for all damages (lost profits, attorney fees or other expenses) incurred by the other party as a result of the receiving party’s breach of the non-disclosure agreement. This obligation is known as indemnification. Leaving out the indemnity provision does not prevent you from suing and collecting damages for a breach (contract law holds the receiving party responsible for a breach), but the clause makes it easier to claim damages.

Attorney Fees and Expenses. If you don’t include an attorney fees clause in your agreement, a judge may (in most states) order the award of attorney fees in cases where the theft of the trade secret was willful and malicious. It’s up to the judge, which makes things unpredictable. You are far better off using an attorney fees provision. However, don’t be surprised if the other party is opposed to the idea. Why? Because it is the receiving party that is usually sued, not vice-versa, and the receiving party may believe that the provision will encourage you to litigate.

Governing Law . You can choose any state’s laws to govern the agreement, regardless of where you live or where the agreement is signed. Most businesses favor the state where their headquarters are located.

Jurisdiction . The purpose of adding a jurisdiction provision to an NDA is to get each party to consent in advance to jurisdiction in one county or state and to give up the right to sue or be sued anywhere else.

Successors and Assigns . This provision binds any company that acquires either party.

Signing the agreement. Someone with the necessary authority must sign the agreement on behalf of each party. Each party should sign two copies and keep one. This way, both parties have an original signed agreement.

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Business Plan Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)

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Updated December 22, 2022

A business plan non-disclosure agreement (NDA) allows someone to share a business plan without fear of a third party using it for their own benefit. Business plans are highly confidential, especially detailing a marketing strategy with a different approach to a specific market. An NDA makes the shared party liable if the plan is used for anyone else’s personal benefit.

This business plan nondisclosure agreement is between , an individual , a(n) (the " Disclosing Party ") and , an individual , a(n) (the " Receiving Party ").

The Disclosing Party has created a business plan for  (the " Business Plan" ), which contains certain confidential and proprietary information. The Disclosing Party wants to make the Business Plan available to the Receiving Party for the purpose of .

The Receiving Party will review, examine, inspect, or obtain the Business Plan only for the above-described purposes, and to otherwise maintain the confidentiality of that Business Plan pursuant to the terms of this agreement.

The parties therefore agree as follows:

1.   CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

The Disclosing Party shall provide a copy of the Business Plan to the Receiving Party within  days of the signing of this agreement. In conjunction with its delivery of the Business Plan, the Disclosing Party may (but is not required to) disclose certain of its confidential and proprietary information to the Receiving Party. " Confidential Information " means:

• (i) provided or shown to the Receiving Party or its directors, officers, employees, agents, and representatives (each a " Receiving Party Representative ") by or on behalf of the Disclosing Party or its directors, officers, employees, agents, and representatives (each a " Disclosing Party Representative "); or
• (ii) obtained by the Receiving Party or a Receiving Party Representative from review of the Business Plan, or other documents or property of, or communications with, the Disclosing Party or a Disclosing Party Representative; and
• (b) all notes, analyses, compilations, studies, summaries, and other material, whether provided orally, in writing, or by any other media, that contain or are based on all or part of the information described in subsection (a) (the " Derivative Materials ").

The Disclosing Party shall identify Confidential Information disclosed orally as confidential within  days of disclosure. The Disclosing Party's failure to identify information as Confidential Information is not an acknowledgment or admission by the Disclosing Party that that information is not confidential, and is not a waiver by the Disclosing Party of any of its rights with respect to that information.

2.   OBLIGATION TO MAINTAIN CONFIDENTIALITY.

• A. a Receiving Party Representative who needs to know the Confidential Information for the purposes
• of its business with the Disclosing Party; and
• B. a Receiving Party Representative who signs a confidentiality agreement; and
• C. with the Disclosing Party's prior written authorization; or
• (ii) use the Confidential Information for any purposes other than those contemplated by this agreement.
• (b) Term.  The Receiving Party shall, and shall require each Receiving Party Representative to, maintain the confidentiality and security of the Disclosing Party's Business Plan and other Confidential Information until the earlier of: (i) such time as the Business Plan and all Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party disclosed under this agreement becomes publicly known and is made generally available through no action or inaction of the Receiving Party or (ii) the third anniversary of the disclosure. However, to the extent that the Disclosing Party has disclosed information to the Receiving Party that constitutes a trade secret under law, the Receiving Party shall protect that trade secret for as long as the information qualifies as a trade secret.

3.   EXCLUSIONS.

The obligations and restrictions of this agreement do not apply to that part of the Confidential Information that:

• (a) was or becomes publically available other than as a result of a disclosure by the Receiving Party in violation of this agreement;
• (i) the source of such information is not bound by a confidentiality agreement with the Disclosing Party or is not otherwise prohibited from transmitting the information to the Receiving Party or a Receiving Party Representative by a contractual, legal, fiduciary, or other obligation; and
• (ii) the Receiving Party provides the Disclosing Party with written notice of such prior possession either (A) before the execution and delivery of this agreement or (B) if the Receiving Party later becomes aware (through disclosure to the Receiving Party) of any aspect of the Business Plan or other Confidential Information as to which the Receiving Party had prior possession, promptly on the Receiving Party so becoming aware; or
• (i) provide the Disclosing Party with prompt notice of any such request or requirement before disclosure so that the Disclosing Party may seek an appropriate protective order or other appropriate remedy; and
• (ii) provide reasonable assistance to the Disclosing Party in obtaining any such protective order.
• If a protective order or other remedy is not obtained or the Disclosing Party grants a waiver under this agreement, then the Receiving Party may furnish that portion (and only that portion) of the Business Plan or other Confidential Information that, in the written opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Disclosing Party, the Receiving Party is legally compelled or otherwise required to disclose. The Receiving Party shall make reasonable efforts to obtain reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded any part of the Business Plan or any Confidential Information so disclosed; or
• (d) was developed by the Receiving Party independently without breach of this agreement.

4.   RETURN OF PROPERTY.

If the Disclosing Party requests, the Receiving Party shall and shall cause each Receiving Party Representative to promptly (and no later than  days after the request):

• (a) return all Confidential Information and the Business Plan to the Disclosing Party; and
• (b) destroy all Derivative Material and within days of this destruction, provide a written certificate to the Disclosing Party confirming this destruction.

5.   NO PUBLICITY.

The parties shall keep the existence of this agreement, and the transactions or discussions contemplated by this agreement, strictly confidential, except as required by law and except as the parties otherwise may agree in writing before a disclosure.

6.   OWNERSHIP RIGHTS.

The Receiving Party acknowledges that the Business Plan and Confidential Information are, and at all times will be, the Disclosing Party's sole property, even if suggestions made by the Receiving Party are incorporated into later versions of the Business Plan. The Receiving Party obtains no rights by license or otherwise in the Business Plan or other Confidential Information under this agreement. Neither party solicits any change in the other party's organization, business practice, service, or products, and the disclosure of the Business Plan or other Confidential Information may not be construed as evidencing any intent by a party to purchase any products or services of the other party or as an encouragement to expend funds in development or research efforts. The Business Plan or other Confidential Information may pertain to prospective or unannounced products. The Receiving Party may not use the Business Plan or other Confidential Information as a basis on which to develop or have a third party develop a competing or similar plan or undertaking.

7.   GOVERNING LAW; EQUITABLE RELIEF.

• (a) Choice of Law. The laws of the state of govern this agreement (without giving effect to its conflicts of law principles).
• (b) Choice of Forum. Both parties consent to the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts in County, .
• (c) Equitable Relief. A breach of this agreement will cause irreparable harm to the Disclosing Party and monetary damages may not be a sufficient remedy for an unauthorized disclosure of the Business Plan or other Confidential Information. If the Receiving Party discloses the Business Plan or other Confidential Information in violation of this agreement, the Disclosing Party may, without waiving any other rights or remedies and without posting a bond or other security, seek an injunction, specific performance, or other equitable remedy to prevent competition or further disclosure, and may pursue other legal remedies.

8.   AMENDMENTS.

No amendment to this agreement will be effective unless it is in writing and signed by a party or its authorized representative.

9.   ASSIGNMENT AND DELEGATION.

• (a) No Assignment. Neither party may assign any of its rights under this agreement, except with the prior written consent of the other party. All voluntary assignments of rights are limited by this subsection.
• (b) No Delegation. Neither party may delegate any performance under this agreement, except with the prior written consent of the other party.
• (c) Enforceability of an Assignment or Delegation. If a purported assignment or purported delegation is made in violation of this section, it is void.

10.   COUNTERPARTS;  ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES.

• (a) Counterparts. The parties may execute this agreement in any number of counterparts, each of which is an original but all of which constitute one and the same instrument.
• (b) Electronic Signatures. This agreement, agreements ancillary to this agreement, and related documents entered into in connection with this agreement are signed when a party's signature is delivered by facsimile, email, or other electronic medium. These signatures must be treated in all respects as having the same force and effect as original signatures.

11.   SEVERABILITY.

If any provision in this agreement is, for any reason, held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect, that invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability will not affect any other provisions of this agreement, but this agreement will be construed as if the invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provisions had never been contained in this agreement, unless the deletion of those provisions would result in such a material change that would cause completion of the transactions contemplated by this agreement to be unreasonable.

12.   NOTICES.

• (a) Writing; Permitted Delivery Methods . Each party giving or making any notice, request, demand, or other communication required or permitted by this agreement shall give that notice in writing and use one of the following types of delivery, each of which is a writing for purposes of this agreement: personal delivery, mail (registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return-receipt requested), nationally recognized overnight courier (fees prepaid), facsimile, or email.
• (b) Addresses. A party shall address notices under this section to a party at the following addresses:
• If to the Disclosing Party:

• If to the Receiving Party:
• (c) Effectiveness.  A notice is effective only if the party giving notice complies with subsections (a) and (b) and if the recipient receives the notice.

13.   WAIVER.

No waiver of a breach, failure of any condition, or any right or remedy contained in or granted by the provisions of this agreement will be effective unless it is in writing and signed by the party waiving the breach, failure, right, or remedy. No waiver of any breach, failure, right, or remedy will be deemed a waiver of any other breach, failure, right, or remedy, whether or not similar, and no waiver will constitute a continuing waiver, unless the writing so specifies.

14.   ENTIRE AGREEMENT.

This agreement constitutes the final agreement of the parties. It is the complete and exclusive expression of the parties' agreement with respect to the subject matter of this agreement. All prior and contemporaneous communications, negotiations, and agreements between the parties relating to the subject matter of this agreement are expressly merged into and superseded by this agreement. The provisions of this agreement may not be explained, supplemented, or qualified by evidence of trade usage or a prior course of dealings. Neither party was induced to enter this agreement by, and neither party is relying on, any statement, representation, warranty, or agreement of the other party except those set forth expressly in this agreement. Except as set forth expressly in this agreement, there are no conditions precedent to this agreement's effectiveness.

15.   HEADINGS .

The descriptive headings of the sections and subsections of this agreement are for convenience only, and do not affect this agreement's construction or interpretation.

16.   EFFECTIVENESS.

This agreement will become effective when all parties have signed it. The date this agreement is signed by the last party to sign it (as indicated by the date associated with that party's signature) will be deemed the date of this agreement.

17.   NECESSARY ACTS; FURTHER ASSURANCES.

Each party and its officers and directors shall use all reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions necessary or desirable to consummate and make effective the transactions this agreement contemplates or to evidence or carry out the intent and purposes of this agreement.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

Each party is signing this agreement on the date stated opposite that party's signature.

Free Business Plan Non-disclosure Agreement Template

Safeguard your business ideas with a business plan non-disclosure agreement template. ensure your confidential information stays protected when sharing with potential partners, investors, and banks..

Complete your document with ease

What's a business plan non-disclosure agreement?

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Business Plan Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) Template

The business plan non-disclosure agreement is a document that restricts any individual from divulging proprietary information that is shared through a business plan. Lets say for example, that an entrepreneur is starting a new company and would like to run their idea by a colleague or friend, the only legal way for that business plan to be kept confidential is by the 3rd party to sign a non-disclosure. If after signing the agreement the Recipient of the business plan shares the information contained in it with anyone else the entrepreneur that created the business plan would be entitled to seek damages usually resulting in a monetary gain.

How to Write

Step 1 – Download in Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word (.docx) .

Adobe PDF – Microsoft Word (.docx)

Step 2 – In the 1st paragraph write the name of the business or individual that is sharing the business plan.

Step 3 – Enter the name of the person or entity that is receiving the business plan.

Step 4 – The person or entity that received the plan must sign , print , and date on the bottom of the form. After the signature of the receiving party the agreement is complete.

• Financial Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) Template
• Business Sale Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) Template
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Understanding Business Plan Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA)

Written by Dave Lavinsky

When it comes to starting or expanding a business, creating a comprehensive business plan is crucial. A business plan is a written document that outlines the goals, strategies, financial projections, and other key details of a business venture. However, sharing sensitive business information, such as trade secrets, proprietary methods, or financial data, with potential investors, partners, or employees can pose risks. That’s where a Business Plan Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) comes into play.

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This article will explain to you what an NDA is and provide a sample NDA. However, before discussing that, it is important to note that most investors and lenders will not sign an NDA. So,  you’ll need to keep that in mind.

Typically on the cover of a business plan , we’ll include the following:

CONFIDENTIAL 

This document includes confidential and proprietary information of and regarding [Your Company Name].  This document is provided for informational purposes only.  You may not use this document except for informational purposes, and you may not reproduce this document in whole or in part, or divulge any of its contents without the prior written consent of [Company Name]. By accepting this document, you agree to be bound by these restrictions and limitations.

While such a statement is far from 100% legal protection, it may provide dissuade readers from divulging information about your business plan and company.

What is a Business Plan Non-Disclosure Agreement

A Business Plan Non-Disclosure Agreement, also known as a Confidentiality Agreement or NDA, is a legal contract that aims to protect the confidential and proprietary information shared in the plan from being disclosed or used by third parties without authorization. It establishes a legally binding agreement between the parties involved, and it helps to ensure that the sensitive information shared in the business plan remains confidential and is not misused.

The main purpose of a Business Plan NDA is to safeguard the intellectual property and confidential information of a business. This may include, but is not limited to:

• business strategies
• financial projections
• marketing plans
• customer lists
• trade secrets
• proprietary technology
• other sensitive information that gives a business a competitive advantage 

By signing a Business Plan NDA, the recipient agrees to keep the information confidential and not to disclose, use, or exploit it for any purpose other than the intended business relationship.

What Key Elements are included in a Business Plan Non-Disclosure Agreement

A well-drafted Business Plan NDA typically includes the following key elements:

Definition of Confidential Information: Clearly specifying what information is considered confidential and protected under the agreement. This may include a broad or specific definition of confidential information, depending on the needs of the parties involved.

Obligations of the Receiving Party: Outlining the responsibilities of the recipient of the confidential information, including the duty to maintain confidentiality, restrictions on disclosure and use, and the requirement to return or destroy the information after the business relationship ends.

Permitted Disclosures: Identifying situations where the recipient may be allowed to disclose the confidential information, such as to legal or financial advisors, or as required by law.

Term and Termination: Establishing the duration of the NDA and specifying the conditions under which it can be terminated, such as by mutual agreement or by breach of the agreement.

Remedies for Breach: Outlining the consequences of breaching the NDA, such as damages, injunctive relief, or other remedies available under the law.

Governing Law and Jurisdiction: Specifying the applicable law and jurisdiction that will govern any disputes arising from the NDA.

Sample Business Plan Non-Disclosure Agreement:

Below is a sample business plan non-disclosure agreement (NDA). Since we are not lawyers, we recommend that have a lawyer review any NDAs you plan on using.

[Your Company Name]

[Recipient Name]

This Non-Disclosure Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of [Date] by and between Your Company Name (“Disclosing Party”) and Recipient Name (“Receiving Party”).

Definition of Confidential Information: The term “Confidential Information” shall mean any and all information disclosed by the Disclosing Party to the Receiving Party, including but not limited to business strategies, financial projections, marketing plans , customer lists, trade secrets, proprietary technology, and any other information that is not publicly available.

Obligations of the Receiving Party: The Receiving Party shall use the Confidential Information solely for the purpose of evaluating the possibility of a business relationship between the parties and shall not disclose or use the Confidential Information for any other purpose without the prior written consent of the Disclosing Party.

Permitted Disclosures: The Receiving Party may disclose the Confidential Information to its employees or advisors on a need-to-know basis, provided that such employees or advisors are bound by similar confidentiality obligations.

Term and Termination: This Agreement shall remain in effect for a period of [insert duration, e.g., 2 years] from the date of execution, unless terminated earlier by mutual written agreement or by breach of this Agreement. Upon termination, the Receiving Party shall promptly return or destroy all Confidential Information and provide written certification of such return or destruction to the Disclosing Party.

Remedies for Breach: In the event of a breach of this Agreement, the Disclosing Party shall be entitled to seek equitable relief, including but not limited to injunctive relief, as well as damages for any losses incurred as a result of the breach.

Governing Law and Jurisdiction: This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of [insert applicable jurisdiction such as “California”]. Any disputes arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be resolved exclusively by the courts of [insert applicable jurisdiction].

Entire Agreement: This Agreement contains the entire understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings, whether oral or written, relating to the Confidential Information.

Binding Effect: This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

By signing below, the parties acknowledge and agree to the terms of this Agreement:

[insert name, signature and date lines]

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What’s an NDA and when does your startup need one?

What’s an nda, is an nda legally binding, what type of information can you protect via an nda, what type of information doesn’t an nda cover, the dna of an nda: what should an nda include, how long does an nda last, should you ask an investor to sign an nda, who should sign an nda and when, what are the different types of nda, how to write an nda, kirsty macsween.

As a startup, a lot of your value is bound up in being able to do something another company can’t. Maybe you’ve developed an idea that will revolutionise an industry. Or you’ve invented proprietary technology that outpaces all your competitors.

It’s essential to your company’s survival to keep that information confidential as you get established. But you can’t grow without buy-in from potential investors and employees. And you can’t raise funds or run your business under a shroud of secrecy.

An NDA is the tool you need to negotiate that balance. It allows you to have confidential discussions with the people who need to know while preventing sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands.

In this guide, we’ll explain what exactly an NDA is, when to use one, when not to use one and how to work out which free NDA template is your best option.

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An NDA stands for non-disclosure agreement. You might also hear them called confidentiality agreements. It’s a legal contract that establishes confidentiality between two parties during discussions about commercially sensitive information.

In effect, it stops the person receiving sensitive information from disclosing it publicly or using the information for their own benefit.

NDAs are designed to protect your company’s intellectual property and proprietary information. They protect the types of information and knowledge that are exclusive to your company, essential for you to carry out your business and would materially damage you if competitors had access.

When writing an NDA, it’s important to narrow your scope and be very specific about the type of information you’re protecting. If your terms are too vague, your NDA might not be enforceable.

A well-drafted NDA is legally binding, assuming that you’re willing to spend the time and effort needed to pursue legal damages in the event of a breach.

Even if you know you’re unlikely to take the other party to court, NDAs are still helpful in setting the expectation of confidentiality in your discussions. Bear in mind that you won’t want to be heavy-handed with NDAs during discussions with investors .

If the NDA is not written correctly and its scope is too broad, it might not be legally enforceable. You need to be very clear about exactly what information you’re protecting from disclosure. That’s one of the reasons why it’s important to use a good legal template for your NDA.

NDAs are a very valuable tool for startups who want to protect their confidential information, but startups often don’t have the time or money to bring legal action to enforce them. There are practical steps you can take to supplement your NDA to make sure your confidential information stays secret: – Restrict access to confidential information – your counterparts can’t disclose information they don’t have – Disclose information in stages – limit disclosure to a high-level overview without any sensitive information in early-stage discussions – Make sure all parties know the information they receive should be treated as confidential Anna Sivula Senior Legal Associate, SeedLegals

NDAs are not a way to implement a blanket ban on everything to do with your company. You can only protect specific pieces of information that aren’t already in the public domain.

You can use an NDA to protect commercially sensitive information and your company’s intellectual property .

Some examples of what you could protect via an NDA are:

• Specific code and technical processes – your trade secrets
• Customer lists and other CRM data
• Information about new products that haven’t launched yet
• Business plans
• Financial information about your company
• Your marketing strategy, including pricing arrangements

Anything that’s already in the public domain. You won’t be able to retrospectively make information confidential after you’ve talked about it openly. So if you’ve disclosed it yourself in a public setting – like a panel discussion or networking event – you won’t be able to protect that information from going public via an NDA.

It probably goes without saying that you can’t stop someone disclosing illegal activity, so an NDA won’t prevent information reaching the police or a regulator.

A well-drafted NDA will set out:

• details of both parties involved – the disclosing party (the provider of the information) and the receiving party (the individual or company receiving the information)
• a description of what the confidential information is, along with a legal definition of confidential information
• the context in which the information is being shared and the purpose for which it is shared
• how long the agreement will be in place for
• what the disclosing party is allowed to do with the information and, more importantly, what they’re not allowed to do with it

You should define an end-date as part of the non-disclosure agreement.

That end-date could be when the professional relationship between you and the other party naturally finishes, or when the information being shared is likely to be in the public domain anyway.

Theoretically, you could specify that the confidentiality obligations in the agreement continue indefinitely. But courts are highly unlikely to enforce an NDA in cases where the confidential information has become a part of public domain, or is out of date or has ceased to have any commercial value.

While technical information (like research data and software specs) can have commercial value almost indefinitely, business information is usually only valuable for a short time. You should set a realistic length of time for the duration of the NDA, depending on what type of information you need to protect. In practice, it’s common to specify a term of between two to five years.

In general, angel investors and VCs are unwilling to sign NDAs at the pitch stage. They’ll see many, many pitches, often from companies in the same sector – and there’s no incentive for them to expose themself to legal liability without getting anything in return.

So when pitching, it’s important to find a balance between talking credibly about your expertise without giving away proprietary secrets.

After you and your prospective investor are past the pitch deck and business plan stage, it’s reasonable to ask them to sign an NDA. As part of due diligence, you’ll share lots of information you don’t want to go any further, including detail in employment and commercial contracts.

So investors are a delicate subject, NDA-wise. But you’re on firmer ground with people who join or work inside (or alongside) your company. To protect your proprietary information, you should ask the following groups of people to sign an NDA.

You don’t have to create a brand-new NDA each time. It’s sensible to have a standardised agreement that you can update with specific terms as and when you need to. That means you’ll be able to send it out quickly.

Team members, like employees, consultants and advisors

You might not need an NDA if your team member is already covered by a contract that includes confidentiality terms, such as an Employment Agreement , Consultancy Agreement and Advisor Agreements . Often these types of contracts will already contain confidentiality clauses which will cover the information your team member comes into contact with as part of their role.

If you have any concerns that these terms aren’t strong enough, or your team member’s role gives them more access to sensitive information than originally planned, you can ask them to sign a separate NDA.

Co-founders

In theory, you and your co-founders are working towards a common goal and wouldn’t do anything to hurt the business. In practice, co-founders can part ways with companies they’ve built. And the risk is that they take valuable information to their new venture or even a competitor.

While Founder Agreements usually include strong confidentiality clauses, it’s worth making sure your company is protected from founder fallouts with a specific NDA.

Interviewing candidates

During the hiring process – especially for a senior role – you might need to discuss sensitive information. You can require interviewees to keep that information confidential by asking them to sign an NDA before the interview.

Suppliers and partners

If you’re working closely with another company, you should make sure there’s an NDA in place to protect your IP and proprietary information they might have access to.

There are two types of NDA, unilateral and mutual.

Unilateral NDA

This tells the person or company receiving information that they must not divulge, share or release that information. By signing the NDA, the receiving party is obliged to keep the information protected. Both parties sign the same document.

To allow two parties to share information freely with each other, you’ll want a Mutual NDA. This binds both parties in an agreement to keep each other’s information confidential. If your company is exchanging confidential information with someone or another company, then each party can create a Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement for the other to sign.

At SeedLegals, when you create an NDA, it’s a Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement because usually both parties share confidential information with each other.

Here’s why we offer Mutual NDAs: we often see parties sending out unilateral NDAs that heavily favour that party’s interests. In most cases, the other party will simply ask for the NDA to be made mutual without bothering to read any further. It’ll save you time to use a mutual NDA in the first place.

The easiest way to write an NDA is to start with a template and customise it so it’s right for your company.

On SeedLegals, it’s simple and speedy to generate the agreement, choose exactly the terms you need and send it straight to the other party to be signed online.

Our legal documents are written and reviewed by experts, so you can be confident what you’re sending is legally compliant. Plus, all templates feature handy tutorials to help you define your terms – and help from our specialist team is only a click away.

We store your documents securely for as long as you need, so you can access them again whenever you want.

Create your NDA for free with your SeedLegals seven-day free trial.

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Don’t ask for an nda right away when pitching — do this instead.

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Are you confident that you understand the benefits of signing an NDA?

There is confusion among product developers about when and why to use a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). Also known as a confidentiality agreement, an NDA is a legal contract that is designed to keep specific information from becoming public. People who are new to entrepreneurship assume that signing an NDA means their intellectual property is protected. And while NDAs can be used to help protect an idea — by inserting language that stipulates no reverse-engineering, for example — that’s hardly a given.

I’ve been pitching companies my ideas for new products for decades. In this article, I explain my strategy for asking for an NDA to be signed, including when and how. To be clear, I am not an attorney and this is not legal advice. (For any and all of your needs concerning NDAs, consult with a member of the legal profession.)

Let’s get into it.

What Is An NDA?

An NDA is designed to prevent information from becoming public. There are different types of non-disclosure agreements. A mutual NDA is one in which two or more parties are sharing confidential information, such as intellectual property (including trade secrets) or research findings, financial insights, and negotiations, for example. When an inventor pitches an idea for licensing consideration, typically the information they want to keep from becoming public is their product or invention — their intellectual property.

When I don’t want the other party to disclose confidential information that could impact the intellectual property that I’m filing, I ask for a one-way NDA.

Typically, an NDA has a time limit. Three to five years is common.

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Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024, why sign an nda.

Is signing an NDA mandatory before sharing an idea? No. My motivation for asking for an NDA is to avoid publicly disclosing my idea. Everyone who is filing intellectual property needs to understand the concept of public disclosure , because of how it impacts your ability to obtain intellectual property.

In the United States, after you disclose your idea publicly, you have the next 12 months to file a patent application. Common examples of public disclosure include showing your idea at a trade show, on a website, via social media, in printed publications, or even by selling the invention. Here’s the key: You can avoid committing public disclosure by signing an NDA before sharing your idea with others. When you avoid public disclosing your idea, you give yourself the option of re-filing a provisional patent application (PPA). That’s a big benefit.

Important note: Most companies will not sign your NDA. So, expect to sign theirs. Review the contract very carefully to ensure you agree to the terms.

When And How To Ask For An NDA

Is it concerning and suspicious when a company you’d like to pitch won’t sign an NDA? No, I think it’s perfectly reasonable. You haven’t given them a reason — an incentive — to sign an NDA. Companies take a risk when they sign an NDA and don’t know exactly what we’re going to be talking about. So, stop asking for an NDA right off the bat.

Here’s what to do instead.

Before you share your idea, make sure to file the appropriate intellectual property. For me, most of the time that means a provisional patent application (PPA). I add value to my PPA by including workarounds and variations. (More patent application strategy here and here .)

Then, when I reach out to potential licensees, I share the benefit of my invention without disclosing any of the intellectual property on which I filed. Selling the benefit first is a lure to help me gauge their interest. Because if they aren’t interested in the benefit of my idea, they aren’t going to be interested in the details. If and when the company requests more technical information, that’s the perfect time to ask them to sign an NDA.

This is what international trade secrets expert, IP Hall Of Famer, and attorney Jim Pooley refers to as “progressive incremental disclosure.” There’s a conundrum, he points out, when you’re up against someone who doesn’t want to sign an NDA and you need to encourage them to do so without spilling what it is that you want to keep confidential.

So, here’s what he tells people to do.

“Tease the recipient with information about whatever it is that you have that doesn't have to be kept secret. So, for example, you can tell them what the output is and be very precise about it in a way that will be enticing to the person,” he explains. “You sort of peel back the various layers of sensitivity going down towards the kernel of what's really innovative. You can get people to the point where they'll say, okay, boy, that sounds really interesting and to get any farther, I'm going to have to sign an NDA.”

(This strategy won't work with certain classes of people, like venture capitalists, he added, who are famous for never signing NDAs.)

Basically, what you’re trying to do is build trust as you approach each other. Imagine a middle school dance, Pooley said, with girls and boys lined up on opposite ends of the gymnasium floor, slowly figuring out how to engage by reading each other’s body language until the point where they’re holding hands and dancing. The process of getting an NDA signed is not that different.

Does Signing An NDA Protect Your Idea?

My sense is that a lot of inventors believe NDAs are a tool to protect our ideas from being stolen. They can be, but they aren’t inherently. You would need to include additional language in the NDA that pertains to preventing reverse-engineering.

In my experience, it’s difficult for others to sign an NDA with that type of language at the very beginning of your relationship. In fact, very rarely do I see this type of language in the NDAs I receive. (If you can get it inserted, more power to you.) NDAs that include language regarding reverse-engineering are becoming more common, Pooley said. “But it is an aggressive ask depending on the circumstances,” he added.

NDAs help set a professional tone. I highly recommend having a legal professional draft an NDA that addresses all of your needs. Pooley laments that NDAs are often treated as a form to fill out, when in reality they are a contract — and “contracts have consequences.” A lot of the terms can vary, including the definition and breadth of the confidential information.

There’s no doubt that strategies for protecting ideas while engaging in open innovation can become very complex. It all depends on the type of industry and who you’re dealing with. Seek the counsel of someone who has experienced the power of NDAs not only from a legal perspective, but also a business perspective, to help you navigate these waters successfully.

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I work with people considering breaking their NDA to tell a story. With the agreements under legal attack, more will be coming forward

Ariella Steinhorn, a writer whose work focuses on relationship dynamics and power imbalances, is the founder of Superposition , Lioness , and Nonlinear Love .

For five years, I have worked as a media relations advisor and ghostwriter for people who break their signed nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) to tell their stories . These people have worked at coffee chains, wildlife parks, tech giants, real estate funds, and aerospace companies. The contracts all differ. Some individuals have signed settlement agreements with a lot of money at stake, or separation or severance contracts with a few months’ salary. Some simply signed confidentiality agreements upon starting employment. 

Researchers estimate that between 33% and 57% of U.S. workers are constrained by an NDA or similar mechanism. Yet it is difficult to precisely determine how many employees are silenced by NDAs because NDAs are designed to conceal information. In fact, NDAs often provide that the mere existence of the agreement is itself a secret. Lawyers regularly encourage firms to use broad NDAs as a condition of employment—not only to protect trade secrets, but also to discourage employees from revealing bad employment experiences. NDA prevalence also varies by sectors.

People’s fears of legal action for breaking an NDA or sharing confidential information are not without merit. Employees have been sued for the breach of nondisclosure agreements, or for taking the risk to make private information public. And nondisclosure agreements exist for a reason, as not all information is worth publicizing and there are significant reasons to protect people’s privacy. Defamation claims can arise separately from breach of an NDA. It is up to each person to decide whether they want to be the one to let the light flood through, and many may not want to take that risk. Some people just want to move on.

Of course, no attorney who wants to remain a practicing lawyer can give advice that encourages someone to break a nondisclosure agreement that would technically require the person to pay some sort of monetary fine or put themselves in financial and professional jeopardy. After tweeting “f*** an NDA. Sue me” and revealing information about what she deemed a “toxic and sexist” culture at Kanye West’s Yeezy, internet personality YesJulz (Juliana Goddard) was sued for allegedly breaking her nondisclosure agreement.

NDA rules changing

It remains to be seen what the outcome will be or if she will be required to pay, but in general, it is always best to consult a lawyer, as they can inform you about the scope of the risks, as well as recent legislative or regulatory changes made to create more transparency and allow people to speak with less fear of retaliation. These include both federal and state laws that now allow for people to break NDAs in instances of sexual assault, sexual harassment, or discrimination. And with the Securities and Exchange Commission applying increased scrutiny on nondisparagement clauses in contracts to ensure they do not deter valid whistleblower activity, as well as the Federal Trade Commission recently banning noncompete agreements —enabling more mobility for workers to move within the sector they have expertise in—rules are changing so that people can share their experiences more freely. 

Behind the cautious lawyers and apocalyptic-sounding legal documents, breaking a nondisclosure agreement to share a story does not guarantee that you will be punished. In addition to the new rules that free people to share certain stories, one of the reasons that it may be unwise to sue someone for breaking a nondisclosure agreement is that this then creates a public record, which makes it all discoverable to anyone searching court records—including journalists. If someone is truly trying to hide something, filing a lawsuit about a person breaking an NDA just brings more scrutiny and awareness to the situation, potentially inviting more stories, information, or evidence. Because of this, even people who could technically enforce an NDA might never consider taking action, desiring to prevent future public relations disasters or keep a Pandora’s box of stories closed. In some cases, they know that there may be more stories out there to add to the consensus-building reality.

Game theory aside, the reality is that today, some people are accepting the risk of being on the hook for legal fees because speaking openly is far more important to them psychologically, in that it frees them from the experience and allows them to share information and perspectives on their own terms. It’s a way of taking back one’s agency. 

This trend started years ago. In 2021, I worked with a woman named Alexandra Abrams, who brought forward information about a toxic and misogynistic work environment at Jeff Bezos’s space company Blue Origin—and in doing so, broke a nondisclosure agreement she signed to receive a severance payment. After going public, she received a letter from the company demanding that she pay back her nearly $50,000 severance payment—but then the company never followed up on that threat, presumably because it was dealing with a media firestorm and understood the terrible optics of bringing a lawsuit against a woman who was defending her colleagues and pushing for a better culture. 

Telling their employment stories

More recently, Ashley Kostial—a former employee at SAP—decided to break her nondisclosure agreements with both an insurance company and her former tech-giant employer in order to share information about the refusal to cover her after she was allegedly raped at her workplace, and to help other people who might be going through something similar. She went forward despite her lawyer sending her a stern reminder of her confidentiality agreement after the outlet that published her account went to SAP for comment. She did so in part because, as she said, there was nothing worse than what she had already been through.

And of course, with the rise of work and relationship stories on TikTok going viral—leading to people making money through the creator economy—more and more individuals with a penchant for expressiveness will feel emboldened to share the raw and unfettered versions of their stories. It also is possible to come forward anonymously to journalists, or on social media platforms.

Long before something becomes knowledge in the broader public or in a formalized manner, whisper networks thrive—sometimes diminished to frivolous “gossip,” but sometimes with invaluable information about the world and its power players. For this reason, paying people—oftentimes women—who get too close and know too much to keep quiet has been a practice for centuries . But now, with all the democratized channels for sharing our experiences with one another—and a culture that pushes us to consume media like this—people are liberating themselves by telling their stories.

In a country that promotes free expression as the core of its identity, it is astounding that many of our experiences are technically not allowed to be uttered, sometimes not even personal observations or experiences said to any person we know, depending on different contracts. For many, nondisclosure agreements have permeated every part of life that requires you to exist and survive as a human being—and to not sign them might mean being unable to get a job, leave a job, or enter or leave a relationship. So, people will sign them. But as new rules reduce the risk of sharing information, we’ll also see more individuals not so afraid of breaking them.

More must-read commentary published by  Fortune :

• The FTC must free American workers, consumers, and entrepreneurs from noncompete agreements
• Laid-off workers are calling out their former employers on social media—and the death of non-disparagement clauses could make it the norm
• NDAs bear blame for some of the worst corporate cover-ups. How that should change
• Healing the workplace means letting ex-employees tell their side of the story without fear of retribution . It’s time to stop signing them into silence

The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of  Fortune .

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Read the full outcome, nda business plan 2019 to 2022.

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Detail of outcome

The consultation on our 2019 to 2022 draft Business Plan ran from 3 December 2018 to 4 February 2019, receiving 17 formal responses. We have considered feedback and made appropriate changes to amend the document since the draft was published.

The Plan received a positive reception with support for its new style and format.

NDA is conscious that the timing of our annual Business Plan consultation may cause difficulties for some stakeholders wanting to respond, but we are constrained to the current planned period due to the timing of seeking consultation responses and following the required approvals process. We will continue to review and improve the consultation process within the current constraints.

If respondents feel that their feedback has not been adequately addressed, then enquiries can be submitted to us via [email protected] .

Original consultation

The Business Plan sets out key activities and expected progress for all 17 of the NDA’s nuclear sites over the next 3 years.

This consultation ran from 4pm on 3 December 2018 to 4pm on 4 February 2019

Consultation description

We are seeking views from members of the public, nuclear regulators, employees within our subsidiaries and Site Licence Companies, trade unions, local authorities, Site Stakeholder Groups, Non-Governmental Organisations, other organisations and public bodies.

Draft Business Plan: Financial year beginning April 2019 to financial year ending March 2022

20-year overview.

PDF , 3.37 MB , 1 page

Draft Business Plan: financial year beginning April 2019 to financial year ending March 2022

PDF , 2.3 MB , 45 pages

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Updates to this page

Final version of the Business Plan 2019 to 2022 available to download.

Error on html version, final site clearance date changed from 2080 to 2135 under the Low Level Waste Repository final site clearance section.

First published.

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