UK Government Warns Of ‘Acute And Urgent’ Skills Shortages in Nuclear

24 Jan (NucNet): There are acute and urgent skills shortages in key industrial sectors in the UK including the nuclear industry and a better system needs to be identified and fix emerging gaps, a government green paper, or preliminary report, says. The green paper on post-Brexit industrial strategy, published on 23 January 2017, says even if shortfalls in science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) skills and technical education are addressed, shortages in the nuclear industry might remain. The government plans to set an “open door” challenge to industry to come to the government with proposals to transform and upgrade their sector through “sector deals”. These deals would be an open call to business to organise behind strong leadership to address shared challenges and opportunities. The green paper says Lord Hutton, a former defence secretary who is co-chair of the Nuclear Industry Council and chairman of the London-based Nuclear Industry Association (NIA), will oversee work to improve UK competitiveness and skills in nuclear. The NIA said in a statement that with plans in place for a new nuclear power programme, there is considerable opportunity for the supply chain across the UK. The UK is also at the forefront of the development of the next generation of nuclear – small modular reactors (SMRs). The statement said: “The NIA believes development of SMR technology could be an important part of ensuring the UK’s nuclear industry realises its full economic and industrial potential.” The green paper is online: http://bit.ly/2iVhRKG