“Looking to the Future for the NDA Skills Strategy”

Dr Ian D. Hudson, Head of Technology & Skills DivisionNuclear Safety, Security, Environment and Engineering Directorate

NuSAC(2007)P9

Background to NDA• Established by Government in April 2005 to:

– Safely clean up the UK civil public sector nuclear legacy with due regard to the environment and socio-economic issues.

– Ensure that current commercial operations are run safely and efficiently on behalf of UK taxpayer.

And

• The NDA has a duty set out within the Energy Act (2004) to ensure the availability of skills required to deliver the overall decommissioning and nuclear clean-up mission.WHY ?

Key Drivers

• Skills / training focussed on mission output• Skills for the Nuclear Industry• Increased attainment of national qualifications• Entrepreneurial / innovative / commercial

agenda• Supply Chain skills availability• Retraining to decommissioning and the need

for flexible and transferable skills

Some issues to face

• Demographics / replacement workforce• Peaks and troughs of employment• Attraction to the industry and developing the

STEM agenda• Competition from other industries / sectors

Identifying the Need

• Skills and Workforce Transition Plans• National Standard Resource Codes• National Skills Working Group• Supply Chain Initiatives

Site Skills Gaps

Site Skills Gaps

Specialist Skill Shortages

• Project Controls Engineers (Planners and Schedulers)

• Cost Estimators and Engineers

• Quantity Surveyors• Environmental

Specialists

• Health Physics Advisors• Safety Case Writers

and Reviewers• Project Managers• Radiological Protection

Advisors

National Approach

PhD Masters

Degree

Modern Apprenticeship, HND, Foundation Degrees, NVQs

Schools

Building and enhancing an infrastructure for skills delivery

• National Skills Academy

for Nuclear• A Nuclear Institute

“Dalton Cumbria Facility”• On / near site training centres• Worker Trainers• University of Cumbria

Developing skills and training provision

• Skills Passports• National Occupational Standards and Qualifications• National Community Apprenticeship Scheme• Collaborations and Partnerships• Developing e-learning opportunities• Learning from others / sharing good practice

(Nationally and Internationally)• Union Learner Reps and Resource Centres

Attracting a new workforce

• Energy Foresight• 14-19 Diplomas• School Academies• Young Enterprise• Links with Schools and

Specialist Colleges

Back to the triangle!

PhD Masters

Degree

Modern Apprenticeship, HND, Foundation Degrees, NVQs

Schools

Dalton Cumbria Facility

Epidemiology

University Partnerships

Bursaries

National Skills AcademyNuclear

Conclusion

• Skills are important• Well trained, well lead, mission focused work-

force• World Class, people & facilities• Regional & National Agenda• Partnership – Employers / Employees• Sustainability• Good start to a long journey