A new Nuclear Skills Taskforce will ensure that the UK’s nuclear defence and civil sectors have the appropriate people with the right skills to capitalise on growth opportunities.

The nuclear industry supports thousands of employees in the UK, both directly and indirectly, via the extended supply chain and is expanding rapidly. There are numerous opportunities for apprentices and graduates, ranging from technical scientific and engineering roles to logistics, project management, commercial, and financial positions.

The nuclear capability of the UK contributes significantly to our nation’s security, prosperity, and resiliency.

Putting our nuclear personnel at the centre of this upskilling effort will contribute to achieving the Prime Minister’s priority of boosting the economy and bolstering UK employment.

The Taskforce, chaired by Sir Simon Bollom, the former Chief Executive Officer of Defence Equipment and Support, will examine how the UK continues to develop nuclear skills throughout the defence and civilian workforce.

As a result of the AUKUS nuclear submarine partnership and the government’s push for energy security, the personnel in the UK’s nuclear industries will expand further.

James Cartlidge, Minister for Defence Procurement, stated: “By developing nuclear talents, we invest not only in the economy of the UK but also in our national security.” “We are delighted to designate Sir Simon Bollom to lead this initiative, which will challenge the entire nuclear industry in the UK to be ambitious in addressing the nuclear skills gap.”

The Taskforce will develop a skills strategy to support the expected significant growth across various roles in the defence and civil nuclear sectors in the coming years, building on the work already conducted by the Ministry of Defence and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero with industry and across government.

Against intensifying international competition for such positions, the Taskforce will position the UK’s nuclear sector for future success, assisting the industry in developing a long-term and sustainable pipeline of skills to meet our nuclear ambitions.

Andrew Bowie, Minister for Nuclear, remarked: “With the introduction of Great British Nuclear, the UK will be at the forefront of the global race to develop a new generation of nuclear technology.” “The Nuclear Skills Taskforce will support this expansion by securing the skills and personnel required to carry it out, thereby facilitating the creation of exciting job opportunities and enhancing our energy security.”

The launch of Great British Nuclear will increase energy security and generate employment opportunities throughout the UK.

It is part of a revival of nuclear power to position the UK at the forefront of a global competition to develop cutting-edge nuclear technologies and provide cleaner, cheaper, and more secure energy.

Great British Nuclear will implement the government’s long-term nuclear programme and support the government‘s goal of delivering up to 24GW of nuclear power in the UK by 2050. The massive construction initiatives at the Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C nuclear power plants will generate some of this.

Having served as an engineer officer in the RAF for 35 years, Taskforce Chair Sir Simon Bollom has a strong network and credibility within the industry due to his extensive experience in the Defence sector.

He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Submarine Delivery Agency.

The Nuclear Skills Taskforce Chairman, Sir Simon Bollom KBE CB FREng, stated: “I am ecstatic to have secured this incredibly crucial position. The Nuclear Sector is vital to our nation, and I am honoured to have been allowed to oversee such an important Taskforce tasked with ensuring we have the personnel and skills necessary to execute our Programmes.” “The nuclear industry of the UK is essential to Britain’s military capabilities. Utilising nuclear technology, our Vanguard and Astute submarines, and beginning in the early 2030s, the new Dreadnought Class keep the nation safe every minute of every day.”

Thousands of jobs are to be created due to the development of the next generation of nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS partnership, and all nuclear reactors for the British and Australian SSN-AUUKS submarines will be manufactured in Derby.

Sir Simon Bollom will be joined by representatives from the Ministry of Defence, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Department of Education, academia, professional bodies, and industry partners on the Taskforce.