NSAN and TWI Sign MoU to Strengthen Nuclear Welding Skills Pipeline

The agreement brings together NSAN’s role as a leading skills body for the nuclear sector and TWI’s expertise in welding, joining, inspection and certification. Together, the organisations will work in collaboration to develop solutions that address the welding skills gap across the nuclear sector.

The scale of the challenge is significant.

The UK nuclear sector is expected to need 40,000 additional skilled workers by 2030 to support civil and defence programmes. Welding is among the critical skills required across new build, decommissioning and major infrastructure projects.

With many experienced welders approaching retirement and demand for specialist capability rising, the partnership comes at a pivotal moment. NSAN and TWI will focus on upskilling individuals and organisations already operating in the sector, while also enabling new entrants to gain access to opportunities.

TWI brings extensive capability in training, certification and technical support relevant to the nuclear industry. Its offer includes welding and inspection training, internationally recognised CSWIP certification, and third-party approvals that support quality and compliance.

NSAN brings to the MoU its strong employer network across the nuclear sector, insight into workforce and skills needs, and the ability to convene industry, providers and partners around practical solutions. This will help ensure the collaboration responds to real demand, supports accessible development pathways, and delivers value for employers looking to build capability.

Through the partnership, NSAN and TWI will explore activities that promote skills development, and create practical routes for welders and associated professionals to become nuclear-ready.

Tricia Austin, Managing Director of NSAN, said:

“This MoU reflects our shared commitment to supporting the UK’s nuclear workforce strategy and helping the sector build the capability it needs for the future. By bringing together industry insight, employer engagement and specialist technical expertise, we can make a meaningful contribution to the skills base that underpins timely delivery across the nuclear industry.”

Jason Gregory, TWI Director of Training & Skills, said:

“This MoU represents an important step in strengthening the UK nuclear sector’s welding capability at a time of growing demand. By combining TWI’s technical expertise in welding, inspection and certification with NSAN’s deep connection to employers and workforce needs, we can support the development of a highly skilled, nuclear-ready workforce. Together, we are well placed to help address critical skills gaps and enable the safe, high-quality delivery of nuclear programmes across the UK.”