£20million funding agreed to support skills and nuclear cluster strategy

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The NDA has announced over £20million of funding over the next three years for three new initiatives to be based in West Cumbria; a Nuclear Institute, a National Nuclear Skills Academy, and a new academic position of Chair of Epidemiology. These initiatives will begin 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. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) will be working to achieve these goals alongside partner organisations including NIA members GENII and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) as well as the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), the University of Manchester, Lakes College, the Learning and Skills Council, Cogent, , Nexia Solutions, Copeland and Allerdale Councils. 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. A Nuclear Institute based at the West Lakes Science and Technology Park in Whitehaven will 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. £10million of the £20million capital cost is being funded by the NDA as a result of savings made to the Sellafield decommissioning programme by contractor British Nuclear Group. The University of Manchester is directly funding the other £10million in partnership with the NDA to establish a facility for the Dalton Nuclear Institute based in the North West. This new technology research facility will complement the well-established work of Westlakes Research Institute in environmental science, health and epidemiology which is already based at the West Lakes Science and Technology Park. The project will enhance the strategic development of the Science Park as a nuclear cluster of international standing. 'Nucleus' which is part of the proposed National Nuclear Skills Academy will receive £5million from the NDA towards an estimated total cost of £15million to £17million. The Academy will be a dynamic new initiative for the nuclear sector providing vocational training including foundation degrees and apprenticeships to meet changing employer needs. It will develop integrated provision across the UK with Nucleus, based in West Cumbria, being one of its first centres provided through a partnership of Lakes College, GEN II and UCLan. A comprehensive business plan has been produced for the Academy and a project manager - Rob Harwood - has been appointed. Rob will now be working with Cogent (the Sector Skills Council for the nuclear sector) and the Department for Education and Skills to establish the Academy as one of the Government's new National Skills Academies. Plans are being developed to bid for National Skills Academy status and additional funding in the Spring of 2006. A new academic position of Chair of Epidemiology will be established in partnership with the University of Central Lancashire. This will enable the development of a greater understanding of the long term impact of radiation dose and is key to assuring the health and safety of the workforce. It will provide a unique pool of expertise and assure the future of a world-leading research team in West Cumbria and also help underpin the sustainability of the decommissioning industry in the North West. The NDA will provide £5million funding for the project. The physical presence of both UCLan and the University of Manchester in West Cumbria will also provide good opportunities to work together and enhance the individual investments being made. The Dalton Institute will also be forming a network with other leading national and international research universities and centres that will bring added benefit and reputation to the North West.

 

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