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 08 August 2007
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Ensuring the Skills to Apply Nuclear Technologies

The ability to apply nuclear and radiological technology has a key role in the health sector (approximately 30 million radiology examinations are carried out every year), plays a principal part in national defence, is essential for the continued operation of existing nuclear power stations (which currently make up approximately 22% of the UK’s generating capacity), is essential to nuclear and radiological clean up, and is needed to support a wide spectrum of research, development and manufacturing activity. The Energy Bill 2004 requires continuing attention to the issue. The recent White Paper also spoke of “good grounds for taking a positive stance to keeping the nuclear option open”; the availability of skilled people being key to such a policy.

Concern exists, however, that a shortage of people with the skills needed to apply nuclear and radiological technology is developing. Prompted by assessment of the international situation by the OECD/NEA, a survey of the national nuclear skill base has been conducted under the direction of the Nuclear Skills Group, chaired by Professor John Chesshire. The skills study effectively brought together a number of Government departments (the study being co-sponsored by DTI, HSE, MoD, DH, and DfES), industry, academia and professional institutions.

The report of the Nuclear Skills Group outlines the measures that have been taken to quantify the problem, looking up to 15 years into the future, and sets out a number of recommendations to avert potential skill shortages developing in the future.

Nuclear and radiological skills study: report of the nuclear skills group - Part 1: executive summary, conclusions and recommendations
Nuclear and radiological skills study: report of the Nuclear Skills Group Part 1: full report
Nuclear and radiological skills study: report of the Nuclear Skills Group. Part 2: annexes

Cogent Sector Skills Council was licensed in February 2004 to cover the nuclear industry, both civil and military, as well as chemical, offshore oil & gas, petroleum and polymers industries. Several of the recommendations of the Nuclera Skills Group report were accepted for action by Cogent as part of its programme of work. DTI continues to maintain an overview of progress with these actions through sponsorship with DfES of Cogent SSC.

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