TRAINING & RECRUITMENT | BUILDING SKILLS nuclear workforce Training a
Launching a new Power Generation Group brings renewed focus on training and development for the nuclear generation sector. Stephen Barrett, a Director at the Energy & Utility Skills group, tells NEI why this is key to the Net Zero transition
RECOGNISING THE CHALLENGE OF ADVANCING the UK’s drive toward achieving net zero, the Energy & Utility Skills group, which works with government and industry to develop skills for employers, has established a specific Power Generation Group under the umbrella of the National Skills Academy for Power (NSAP). The National Skills Academy (NSA) network was
established by the UK government to address the need for a workforce with better skills, working with industry bodies to achieve the employee priorities. Broadly, National Skills Academies are employer-led centres of excellence, delivering the skills required by each sector of the economy. Stephen Barrett, Director of Membership and Strategic
Engagement at the Energy & Utility Skills group explains the rationale behind the decision: “The National Skills Academy for Power was originally intended to cover the entire power value chain. Given the trends and changes across the sector, the strategy group decided that the time was right to reinvigorate this Power Generation Group to encompass renewables, energy from waste, and other means of power generation like nuclear, purely because of the decarbonization elements. Nuclear is a key component of that and in fact we work very closely with the only UK commercial nuclear power generator, EDF Energy.” The group notes that the UK’s devolved governments
are investing billions in hundreds of major infrastructure projects, a good proportion of which are energy-related. However, they warn that a failure to secure the skilled workforce required to deliver such infrastructure projects
could lead to higher project costs, delays, reduced quality, reliance on overseas skills, loss of intellectual property, stifled innovation and damage to the UK economy. This is particularly relevant to the nuclear sector which is already ready facing skills shortages as the aging workforce leaves the industry. At the same time, the UK is planning a major expansion of nuclear power. As Barrett says: “If you want to hit net zero we’ve got to
recruit thousands of people one way or another and this kind of organisation is key to that, working with industry to try to set standards, but also encourage training and apprenticeships as well.” Barrett continues: ““One of the things we’ve been looking at with government is a joint initiative for an Industry Charter which really makes sure that we continue to invest in skills and drive a more diverse workforce that is perhaps more representative of the customers which we’re serving. We are trying to make sure that not only do we attract a diverse workforce to the industry, whilst also ensuring that we can retain them and that they’re moving up through to senior roles within industry to create true diversity.”
Industry-backed recruitment and training In 2017 the Energy & Utility Skills Group, in partnership with 28 Chief Executive Officers and organisations from energy and utility sectors employers, launched the first-ever Energy & Utilities Workforce Renewal Strategy. This plan called for collective action to ensure a sustainable skilled workforce is in place both now and in the future. To do this they provide employer solutions as well as registering and
Right:
Industry-backed Skills Academies are focused on developing the workforce needed for the Net Zero transition
50 | February 2024 |
www.neimagazine.com
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