Member Article

Hartlepool College placed at forefront of nuclear skills

HARTLEPOOL College has been named as a key partner in a Government-backed scheme to provide sustainable skills and staff for the nuclear industry.

The Nuclear Industrial Partnership (Nuclear IP) was launched at The House of Lords last month to address skills challenges within the sector.

Hartlepool College is the only college in the North East to be an educational partner for the scheme and has set up a range of programmes aimed at school pupils, post-16 learners and graduates.

Andy Steel, Assistant Principal at Hartlepool College, said: “This is a fantastic endorsement for the investment we have put into these skill areas for the past few years, working with some of the region’s major firms involved in the nuclear sector such as EDF and Darchem

“As part of the Nuclear IP, we are at the forefront of providing individuals with the skills and knowledge they need to work for the nuclear industry and its supply chain.”

The Nuclear IP is an employer-led collaboration which will aim to deliver a high performing, high quality workforce to support the nuclear sector with the highest standards of professionalism, safety and competitiveness. The Partnership has been initially funded for a period of two years by the Government and various employers.

Hartlepool College’s contribution to the partnership will be threefold:

• Working with schools across Teesside to raise awareness of nuclear engineering as a career visits to nuclear facilities and talks from current employees and former students will be a key part of this.

• Specific courses and skills for post-16 school leavers, providing a range of qualifications such as traineeships and apprenticeships and short-term programmes all with a nuclear focus to provide much needed highly skilled individuals for the nuclear industry

• Working with graduates, providing summer schools and industry specific qualifications and sector updates to update their skills and knowledge to improve their chances of working in the industry.

Mr Steel was invited to London for the launch of the Nuclear IP at a House of Lords reception hosted by The Rt Hon Lord Jenkin of Roding and Matthew Hancock MP, the Minister of State for Energy.

A 2013 study by Oxford Economics stated that the UK supply chain has capacity to capture around £2.9billion of the total value of new nuclear build programmes and £4.2billion by 2030.

Mr Steel added: “The nuclear industry is potentially big business for the North East, not just the likes of the power station here in Hartlepool but for all of its supply chain across the region and it’s important that we have people who have the skills and knowledge to work in the sector.

“It’s very encouraging to get so much support from the Government who are clearly committed to growing the skills base within the nuclear sector and this initiative will make sure that individuals from the Hartlepool and the region will be best prepared to move into employment to support the sectors continuous growth.”

Zoe Whittington, Nuclear Industrial Partnership project manager, said: “Future skills shortages are anticipated in the nuclear sector and, with high retirement rates expected by 2015, there is not only the challenge of the demand for replacement labour but a significant loss of experience and expertise.

“That is why it is so important to have partners such as Hartlepool College who can help us to plug that skills gap and provide industry ready people at all levels who can thrive and prosper within the nuclear sector.”

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