UK seeks to attract 40,000 nuclear workers with skills plan – News

The UK’s National Strategic Nuclear Skills Plan has been launched, setting out how government, industry and stakeholders can work together to double employment rates and fill 40,000 new jobs by 2030. The plan supports recruitment in the civil and defense sectors , after the government announced a “nuclear revival” for 2023.

Simon Bollom, chair of the now-resigned nuclear skills task force that developed the plan, said: “In a growing sector that is as diverse, innovative and strategically important as nuclear energy, it is clear that its success depends on the availability of a skilled workforce .

“We need a wide range of people to work in a variety of roles, with the right skills to keep the UK safe and secure for many decades to come.”

The government-backed skills development plan aims to increase the available industrial workforce by almost 50% and promote long-term career potential in the nuclear industry. It is organized around four key themes: collaboration across the sector, deepening the workforce, investing in the existing workforce and providing long-term leadership and management. Projects under these themes will be implemented by the Nuclear Skills Delivery Group (NSDG).

“The skills challenge can only be met if the sector works together to deepen and broaden the skills base. That’s why the Skills Plan takes into account specific topics and projects that the industry is currently engaged in,” said Beccy Pleasant, director of the nuclear skills program at NSDG.

“Increasing recruitment to meet the sector’s regional needs, broadening admissions across a range of education levels, upskilling existing industry professionals and increasing diversity will build a motivated nuclear workforce – vital to the industry’s long-term capability and the UK’s national and energy security.”

Luke Hall, Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education at the Department of Education, added: “Whether you are interested in studying for a university degree or gaining work experience and earning an apprenticeship, this skills plan for the nuclear industry provides a clear path to improving our national security, meeting the UK’s energy needs, reducing emissions and spreading prosperity across the country.”

Adding labor

NNSPS aims to significantly increase available talent by supporting apprenticeships and creating more graduate positions, as well as implementing sponsorship and scholarship programs to support STEM students.

The plan also envisages quadrupling the number of Ph.D.s and Ph.D.s in nuclear fission to ensure the availability of subject matter experts in the civil and defense sectors.

Additionally, a national curriculum will be created to attract and retain industry professionals, enabling them to pass on their expertise to students through further learning roles.

There will also be work to attract mid-career starters to the nuclear industry by promoting the sector and roles. Accelerated learning and upskilling opportunities will also be made available to people joining from other sectors.

The plan is expected to increase the diversity of the talent pool in the nuclear sector, and increased training will provide greater opportunities to address equality, diversity and inclusion.

Attracting talent

One of the activities of the Skills Plan, which is part of the sector cooperation theme, is the recruitment of talent through the national communication campaign – Destination Nuclear. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of nuclear energy to the UK and highlight the wide range of roles available in civilian and defense organizations dealing with nuclear energy. Mid-career recruitment efforts will include collaboration with Destination Nuclear.

Lynne Matthews, Destination Nuclear program manager, said: “Destination Nuclear is a real game-changer. The program is the first sector-wide communication campaign for nuclear energy and has become a focal point in creating a national nuclear energy brand and shortening the path from attractiveness to employment.

“Destination Nuclear demonstrates the wealth of opportunities this sector has to offer. It will help a wider range of people discover and embark on a challenging, fulfilling and sustainable career and, importantly, help realize the UK’s nuclear ambitions.”

Sector-wide collaboration efforts will also include the establishment of regional hubs to increase workforce capacity and opportunities tailored to local requirements.

Committed to the cause

Left to right: Amanda Solloway, Simon Bollom and James Cartlidge MP at the signing of the Nuclear Skills Charter

The National Nuclear Skills Strategic Plan was launched with the signing of the Charter at Westminster, committing key organizations from across government, industry and education to enhance the UK’s nuclear capability by building a diverse and inclusive workforce to fill a target of 40,000 jobs.

It will be implemented by the Nuclear Skills Executive Council and the Nuclear Skills Executive Council, with support from NSDG projects.

Amanda Solloway, Minister for Affordability and Skills at the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, said: “We are making the biggest expansion of nuclear power in 70 years and we need a homegrown talent pool to power our nuclear ambitions.

“The nuclear industry offers high-skilled, well-paid jobs in cutting-edge clean energy transition solutions that can level up rural communities across the country, and (the charter) requires us and the industry to work together to achieve this.”

Tom Greatrex, chief executive of industry body the Nuclear Industry Association, said: “Re-establishing our position as world leaders in nuclear energy gives us an incredible opportunity to strengthen the nuclear skills sector, and this action plan sets out how we can achieve this.

“The civil nuclear sector already makes a huge contribution to the UK economy, supporting tens of thousands of jobs across the country, and this plan will strengthen our skills base and ensure we recruit enough people and apprentices to help deliver new net zero nuclear energy and energy security.

“To achieve this, the entire sector must work together and seize this opportunity.”

The launch of the skills plan follows the government’s announcement in March that it would work with industry to invest at least £763 million ($972 million) by 2030 in skills, jobs and education to meet the recruitment target.