Cogent responds to unveiling of nuclear reactor site options
Thursday, 16 April 2009 12:00 AM
The Government is pressing ahead with its plans to replace the nuclear energy that will be lost from the close down of older nuclear plants, through the release of a list of 11 sites in England and Wales where new nuclear power stations could be built.
Cogent, the national skills council led by the nuclear industry, recognises that the UK has a rich legacy of skills to offer the nuclear industry as it moves closer to a new build programme. These are skills which have been built up over half a century, stemming from the world's first commercial nuclear power station at Calder Hall in the North West in 1956.
Dr Brian Murphy, Cogent Director of Research said: "The industry has both the capacity (facilities) and capability (skills) to deliver all aspects of the nuclear cycle. However, we need to understand and forecast the demand to very detailed skill levels and job roles for the whole industry. This is essential as we decommission the old and bring in the new."
Cogent has a unique Government licensed role in providing labour market information, and has a major skills research project in hand this year to work with the industry to ensure the future skills demand can be delivered for the UK.
As part of this, the new build scenario work, initiated jointly by Cogent and the National Skills Academy for Nuclear will form an important report to Department of Energy and Climate Change and the Office for Nuclear Development.
Together with its partner organisation, the National Skills Academy for Nuclear, Cogent is performing a strategic service for nuclear employers to ensure a skills pipeline into the future. The Skills Academy is a key player in delivery, with a remit to ensure high quality and transferable training in all parts of the UK and serving every part of the industry and supply chain.
This research will seek to understand:
- How many workers will be needed across the industry, including the supply chain?
- What is the impact long term on supply of skills from schools, colleges and universities?
- How much does the industry itself need to gear-up and review its own skills resource and training capacity (noting that this is already exemplary)
For more information on the series of research reports go to:
http://www.cogent-ssc.com/information/ebulletin/Mar_09/Research.php
Skills Gaps
Dr Murphy said: "If we replace current nuclear generating capacity we will require skills to be transitioned from power generation to decommissioning and back to new generating capacity again. If we go beyond replacing current capacity and go as far as, let's say, 40% of electricity generating capacity there will be major skills gaps to address."
Cogent has already completed research which shows that the industry needs to replace an ageing workforce with experience in power generation. The ageing workforce may be as much as 40% of the total workforce but they hold 70% or more of the experience.
Adds Dr Murphy: "The induction time to bring in and train new workers can take years.
This is a key challenge and we have to prepare now. We are at a critical point when the future is becoming clearer. At a time when the economy threatens the jobs of many, nuclear offers a secure future and one which strategically underpins the infrastructure of our society and economy - power."
Jean Llewellyn, Chief Executive of the National Skills Academy for Nuclear said: "The research currently being completed is crucial to ensure the Nuclear sector maintains a highly skilled workforce that can operate safely, effectively, and meet the future demands of new build.
"The Skills Academy is working with Cogent and employers to introduce skills standardisation across the sector which will enable a portability of employment between Nuclear sites via the Nuclear Skills Passport Scheme, which is currently under development."
The civil industry currently employs around 43,000 people, many with high level skills in engineering. There is also major impact on the direct business supply chain and induced employment in regions that include power generation or decommissioning activity.
The eleven sites published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change are:
Hartlepool nominated by EDF Energy
Heysham nominated by EDF Energy
Dungeness nominated by EDF Energy
Sellafield nominated by NDA
Kirksanton nominated by RWE
Braystones nominated by RWE
Wylfa Peninsula nominated by NDA and RWE
Oldbury nominated by NDA and EON
Hinkley Point nominated by EDF Energy
Bradwell nominated by NDA
Sizewell nominated by EDF Energy
The full applications for successful sites can be found at:
http://www.nuclearpowersiting.decc.gov.uk
Members of the public can comment on the list at:
http://www.nuclearpowersiting.decc.gov.uk
About Cogent
Cogent is the sector skills council for the chemicals, pharmaceuticals, nuclear, oil and gas, petroleum and polymer industries. It is the voice of employers in these sectors and is working with them to create a skills environment that businesses need to be innovative, competent, productive and sustainable.
Cogent's objectives are:
To improve productivity and business performance through skills development
To reduce skills gaps and shortages
To increase opportunities to boost skills
To influence skills supply across the training and education spectrum from schools to Higher Education
Cogent currently represents the interests of more than 20,000 businesses employing around 900,000 people. Since its creation it has been building on existing partnerships at regional and national level to drive forward the skills agenda in its science-using footprint.
For more on what we offer go to: www.cogent-ssc.com
About the National Skills Academy for Nuclear
The National Skills Academy for Nuclear has been established to create, develop and promote world class skills and career pathways to support a sustainable future for the UK Nuclear Industry.
The Skills Academy puts employers at the forefront of skills development, by providing a means for hands-on involvement in the design and delivery of learning, so that training is tailored to the specific needs of the nuclear sector. Launched in January 2008 the Skills Academy is working with employers and quality assured training providers to address the current and future skills challenges facing the nuclear industry.
At the core of its operation, the Skills Academy has established a number of employer led national co-ordinating centres i.e. Regional Steering Groups supported by regional training clusters.
The Skills Academy operates on a demand led approach to meet the needs of the industry and plays a lead role in raising standards throughout the industry through the Quality Assurance of training providers and courses. Through a regional network of training clusters, the Skills Academy is identifying, developing and assuring local high quality provision that will be 'centres of excellence' for the delivery of nuclear specialised training.
Notes and Contact Details
Additional press and media enquiries should be made in the first instance to Judith Holcroft, Communications Manager, Cogent SSC, Judith.holcroft@cogent-ssc.com or 01925 515215 07818 408554
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