UK / Gov’t Unveils Plans To Increase Nuclear Workforce By 50%

Addressing skills gap vital for new build plans.

The UK has unveiled a roadmap for developing a skilled workforce for its nuclear energy sector which aims to increase the industry’s available workforce by almost 50%, including recruiting 40,000 new jobs by 2030.

The National Nuclear Strategic Plan for Skills, which is backed by the UK government, aims at attracting new talent to the UK nuclear energy industry, and upskilling current industry professionals to boost retention in the sector.

Addressing the nuclear skills gap will be pivotal as the UK strives to become a global leader in the nuclear sector, the government said in a statement.

The plan aims to double the number of apprentices in the nuclear sector, focusing on trades such as welding, electrical work, and engineering, by 2025-26.

Additionally, it aims to double the number of graduates entering the nuclear workforce within the same timeframe.

The plan also includes initiatives to improve the skills of individuals joining the nuclear sector mid-career.

Tom Greatrex, chief Executive of the UK-based Nuclear Industry Association, welcomed the news. He said: “Re-establishing ourselves as world leaders in nuclear energy gives us an incredible opportunity to supercharge the nuclear skills sector and this roadmap sets out how we achieve that.”

Earlier this year, the UK government announced the biggest expansion of nuclear power for 70 years, with a nuclear roadmap setting out how the country will quadruple nuclear power generation to up to 24 GW by 2050, up from about 5.8 GW today.