Source · Select Committees · Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Recommendation 31
31
Accepted
Paragraph: 162
Nuclear sector perceived as unattractive for STEM career specialists in recent decades.
Conclusion
It is not surprising that the nuclear sector has not been the industry of choice for many STEM specialists embarking on a career. At a time when no new nuclear plants had been approved for decades, this was a sector thought by some not to be one with a bright future in which to contemplate a lifetime career specialisation.
Government Response Summary
The government committed to ensuring the nuclear industry has the necessary skills, working with the Nuclear Skills Strategy Group and having recently launched a Nuclear Skills Taskforce to accelerate efforts to identify and address skills gaps.
Paragraph Reference:
162
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
[Response to 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36] • The Government is committed to ensuring the UK nuclear industry has the required skills to deliver on its existing decommissioning requirements together with supporting the proposed programme of new nuclear. • The Nuclear Skills Strategy Group (NSSG) an employer-led Nuclear Industry Skills lead and provides ‘one voice’ to government. The Government works closely with the NSSG on targeted actions that reflect the ambitions for the UK’s civil nuclear programme to help identify skills gaps, required training programs and qualifications. • The Nuclear Skills Taskforce, jointly launched by the Minister for Nuclear and Networks, Andrew Bowie MP, and the Minister for Defence Procurement James Cartlidge, has a remit to turbocharge the work already undertaken with industry and across government, including by the NSSG. The Taskforce will ensure we have the right people, with the right skills to deliver on our nuclear ambitions.