The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

06 November 2008

 

Developing excellent people, skills & facilities

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has published its national strategy to develop a world class, sustainable workforce to support its mission for the clean up and decommissioning of the UK’s existing civil nuclear legacy.

Adopting the theme of developing excellent people, skills and facilities the Strategy includes a detailed action plan and showcases many examples of good practice across the industry.

The strategy aims to address the challenges of:

• a diminishing skills base and ageing workforce
• low uptake of key subjects such as science, technology, engineering and maths
• the need to meet regional and national requirements
• a diversified contractor base
• perceptions of the industry
• mobility and transferability of resources

 

Chairman of the NDA Stephen Henwood, who hosted a launch of the Strategy to an audience of around 100 key stakeholders at Manchester’s Museum of Science & Industry earlier this week said:

“The Skills and Capability Strategy not only lays out the way ahead but also consolidates the good progress made so far. It shares and celebrates success, and identifies future opportunities for action across the sector. It enables us to deliver Government recommendations on skills and supports our Business Plan priorities. Indeed we believe it can be a model of best practice that could be adopted for wider skill’s initiatives.

Collaboration is the key to this success, and with many partners we aim to create a highly skilled, motivated workforce that will both deliver the NDA mission but also develop a skills heritage that we can be proud of, both now and in the future.”

Department of Energy and Climate Change Minister Mike O’Brien said:

“Nuclear energy is essential for our low carbon future. The nuclear sector will recruit thousands of graduates and skilled workers over the coming years to meet the needs of existing nuclear power generation decommissioning and new nuclear build.

The NDA’s skills strategy aims to ensure there is a highly skilled workforce in place to carry out the vital role of nuclear decommissioning and clean-up.”

NDA Skills and Capability Strategy November 2008 (2.13mb)

NDA Skills and Capability Action Plan November 2008 (2.07mb)

NDA Skills and Capability Case Studies November 2008 (1.88mb)

• Background Information

This document details a wide range of case studies that highlight just some of the excellent work already underway to create that world-class, sustainable workforce. They cover initiatives and projects from engagement with schools, vocational training and education, right through to encouraging and capturing the brightest minds and ideas.

The NDA Skills and Capability Strategy informs the overall NDA Strategy taking account of lessons learnt since its establishment and developed thinking based around UK Government skills strategies.

Press & Media enquiries along with any requests for pictures etc from the launch or generally from skills activity should be made to:
Brian Hough, Communications Manager
01925 802177
07812 554009
brian.hough@nda.gov.uk