The UK’s Nuclear Decommissioning Agency (NDA) is to provide more than £20 million ($34 million) over the next three years to support three new West Cumbria-based initiatives including a Nuclear Institute, and a National Nuclear Skills Academy.
These initiatives aim to equip both the present workforce in the nuclear industry and generations to follow with the right mix of skills to grow and sustain an industrial base capable of being a world leader in the field of nuclear decommissioning at home and abroad.
A Nuclear Institute based at the West Lakes Science and Technology Park in Whitehaven aims to bring world class scientific research to West Cumbria and link to a technology centre at Sellafield. This project involves a funding partnership between the NDA and the Dalton Institute which is part of the University of Manchester.
The NDA is also bringing forward plans to support skills development in other areas of the UK affected by nuclear decommissioning such as the North of Scotland, North Wales and the South West of England.
‘Nucleus’, part of the proposed National Nuclear Skills Academy, will also receive NDA funding. The academy will provide vocational training including foundation degrees and apprenticeships to meet changing employer needs.
