The UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said that a new employer-led task group, designed to attract people into the nuclear industry, would be established in 2003.

The decision follows the publication of a new report: “The nuclear and radiological skills study” carried out by a government-appointed team in response to a Nuclear Energy Agency recommendation urging governments to investigate the issue of skills in the nuclear sector.

The DTI said that the work of the group will aim to “encourage recruitment through the promotion of engineering and physical sciences, and nuclear and radiological technology in particular; examine the education and training provided to ensure that the workforce has the right skills needed by the sector; look at the ability of education and training establishments to provide the right courses in terms of resources and quality.” Members of the task group will include representatives from employers across industry, academia and government.