Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 32
32
Accepted
Sellafield's workplace culture demonstrates improvement through new 'Speak Up' initiatives.
Conclusion
The NAO report recognises that there has been an improvement since 2021 in the number of employees at Sellafield who would recommend it as a great place to work.95 Sellafield Ltd informed us that the most recent survey showed a further improvement, with more employees taking part in the survey than in previous years.96 We explored what the NDA and Sellafield Ltd had done to improve the workplace culture on its sites. The NDA told us that it had introduced more consistent approaches to ‘Speak Up’, supported by a network of 45 ‘Ethics Ambassadors’ across the group who can act as a first point of contact. It told us that the early signs are that its new approach is having a positive impact.97 Sellafield Ltd’s chief executive told us that he had deliberately sought to address a ‘disconnect’ with the workforce upon his appointment in July 2023, while also improving the site’s leadership culture.98 The Department told us that it wanted to see further improvements; its annual letters to the NDA’s chair and chief executive instruct them to continue focussing on culture, while it is now reviewing a new ‘people dashboard’ on a monthly basis.99 91 Q4; Letter from the Group Chief Executive Officer at the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority relating to the oral evidence session held on 20 March on Decommissioning Sellafield, 4 April 2025, page 1 92 C&AG’s report, para 1.11 93 Q 84 94 Qq 3, 7; Letter from the Group Chief Executive Officer at the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority relating to the oral evidence session held on 20 March on Decommissioning Sellafield, 4 April 2025, page 3 95 C&AG’s report, para 1.13 96 Q 6 97 Q 3; Letter from the Group Chief Executive Officer at the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority relating to the oral evidence session held on 20 March on Decommissioning Sellafield, 4 April 2025, pages 4–5 98 Qq 2, 90 99 Q 85 22
Government Response Summary
The government agrees to publish an annual 'People' report by October 2026, which will contain staff survey results, Speak Up data, and other information to assess corporate culture.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: October 2026 The NDA is committed to maintaining a safe, healthy, and high-performing workplace where people can thrive. It has taken decisive steps to foster an open and respectful culture including strengthening the Speak Up policy (which includes whistleblowing). Improvements are reflected in recent staff survey results. Although the NDA is encouraged by this progress, it remains vigilant and continues working to ensure all employees feel respected and confident in raising concerns, and that these are addressed appropriately. While the publication of staff survey results without appropriate context can lead to misinterpretation, the NDA is keen to provide a more contextualised view of cultural progress. As such, the NDA will publish an annual “People” report containing information about staff survey results (including scores, narrative, trends), Speak Up data (including rates of reporting, types of matter raised, outcomes), and other matters which help assess the health of its corporate culture. Its approach to breaking down results by Operating Company and demographic will, of course, need to be guided by confidentiality of individuals, following best practice. It will consider potential inclusion of appropriate benchmarking. Nuclear safety is paramount, and rigorous standards are upheld to protect the workforce, the public, and the environment. The NDA is confident in the strength of internal safety metrics and reporting mechanisms which are underpinned by independent assurance from regulators. Regular group wide reviews of safety culture are carried out using verified external methodologies to test workforce attitudes and beliefs around reporting of events. The NDA will include relevant data in the “People” report.