National Nuclear Strategic Plan for Skills Launched
The Government-backed National Nuclear Strategic Plan for Skills (Skills Plan), launched yesterday with a charter signing in Westminster. Delivering the ambition to recruit more people into the nuclear sector by 2030 requires concerted action. The skills roadmap identifies the required action across four key themes, underpinned by a set of scoped projects and their strategic benefits. The Skills Plan represents industry and Government working together to deliver the skills needed for UK nuclear and outlines the goal of doubling the number of new apprenticeships by 2026 and recruiting 40,000 new jobs by 2030 – double the current hiring rate for the sector.
The nuclear industry plays a huge role in the economic prosperity of the North West and the regions’ transition to Net Zero. The region holds a world-class skills base in decommissioning, fuel and other disciplines and hosting some of the most prestigious nuclear facilities in the country, which were strengthened further by the government’s announcement last week of a £196 million investment into Urenco’s Capenhurst facility.
Rachel O’Donnell, Director at Mace, Chair of the Northern Nuclear Alliance and NWBLT member said “I’m pleased to see that the Nuclear Skills Task Force has published the National Nuclear Strategic Plan for Skills and the Charter to align focus on delivery. Skills and attracting people to the nuclear sector is key to unlocking the growth of both the civil and defence nuclear sectors, both of which are hugely important to the North West. Through the NNA’s Skills and Capability group, and together with the NWBLT we’ll be focusing on how we help deliver this for the North West”.
Professor Adrian Bull MBE , Chair in Nuclear Energy and Society, Dalton Nuclear Institute, and board sponsor for the NNA Skills & Capability Group said:
“It’s great to hear the commitment from across Government and industry to doubling the nuclear workforce, with many positive activities identified. I’m very much looking forward to seeing the specific actions which follow from this commitment!”
You can find out more about the Skills Plan on Home – Nuclear Skills Delivery Group [nuclearskillsdeliverygroup.com]