Industry bodies join forces to drive up nuclear recruitment

Three industry bodies within the nuclear industry are collaborating to close the skill and knowledge gap facing the sector by encouraging students to become nuclear professionals.

The agreement formed between the Nuclear Institute (NI), the National Skills Academy Nuclear (NSAN) and the Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) has been welcomed by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority which said the collaboration would have “significant impact” on recruitment levels.

The total workforce in nuclear is expected to grow from 70,000 to 98,000 by 2021. However a recent Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) survey revealed a third of students studying science, technology, engineering or maths do not believe they could work in the nuclear industry.

Despite the high level of demand, one in seven had not heard about career opportunities in the sector. Today’s agreement will produce a more coordinated approach to publicising nuclear career opportunities and attracting new entrants to the sector.

NI chief executive John Warden said: “Closing the skills and knowledge gap facing the industry is a crucial task. We need to secure a new generation of skilled nuclear professionals to meet the energy demands of a growing population.”

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s chief executive John Clarke said: “The highest standards of nuclear professionalism are required to ensure a safe and secure nuclear future for the UK. I am delighted that NSAN, IChemE and the Nuclear Institute are formally collaborating to address this need.”

“In particular, the development of a joint membership offer between the Nuclear Institute and IChemE is an excellent development bringing together technical disciplines and nuclear sector specific requirements.”