The prospect of replacing of the current fleet of nuclear power stations represents a multibillion pound private sector investment programme, but one which is dependent on a highly skilled workforce. Cogent’s report Power People confirmed that the nuclear industry must ensure that that enough people, with the right skills, are available to take up the posts that the new build renaissance offers.  It shows that the industry will require a thousand new recruits every year if the current level of nuclear power generation is to be maintained to 2025 and beyond.

In support of this, The Royal Academy of Engineering’s Report, Engineering Graduates for Industry , re-iterates that “industry wants engineering graduates who have practical experience of real industrial environments. Specifically, industry regards the ability to apply theoretical knowledge to real industrial problems as the single most desirable attribute in new recruits.”

It states that students need direct experience of industry integrated within their degree course and those with industrial experience are more likely to seek and find employment in engineering related jobs on graduation; are more motivated for the remainder of their course; are clearer about their future career options; and have improved management, team working and communication skills.

Alison Ahearn from Imperial College London agrees, “we find that hands-on learning can transform 'students of engineering' into 'engineers’. “

The Nuclear Island concept
The Nuclear Island will be a hands-on New Build experience for students initially in engineering, but will be broadened out to other science, technology, engineering and mathematical areas as part of the pilot programme. Students will be able to experience practical on site training, supported by key behavioural traits which will ideally prepare them for working with this industry and their future employers.
 
The Nuclear Island will be underpinned by a collaboration of a university, a contractor and consultant working in partnership to deliver a new learning experience.

The Nuclear Island aims to become an integral part of a number of UK undergraduate courses, attracting ands exposing students from civil and nuclear engineering to the New Build sector. As part of the National HE STEM Programme, each region in England and Wales will have a university or FE college champion, who will work with industry undertaking the programme. The students will design and construct a scaled down Nuclear Power Plant, and will be assessed in relation to real-life skills such as radiation protection, site licensing, budgetary control and project management.

The Nuclear Island builds upon established good working practice in the civil engineering sector where scaled down models of large builds are performed by various students and supervisors from industry. To date, projects have included the Gherkin Building and the London Olympics Veldrome, where students reconstruct these civil engineering projects over a two week period. More information can be found at www.constructionarium.co.uk

For more information, please contact Dr Caroline Sudworth, HE Engagement Manager, Cogent SSC Ltd  [email protected]

“My organisation, Westinghouse / Springfields Fuels has about 1300 full time employees on site, with a further 60 Agency Supplied Workers (ASW’s) and Contractors. With the very likely prospect of new nuclear reactor build in the UK, it is absolutely imperative that steps are taken to increase the supply of suitable potential employees in a very wide range of work areas, particularly engineering.”
Neil Farley, Head of Skills Development and Human Performance, Springfields Fuels Ltd

“AREVA UK Ltd support Cogent and Imperial College in their bid to the Royal Academy of Engineering to build a nuclear island model as part of the Constructionarium project. It is important that engineering skills are nurtured and developed at all levels in order to feed the needs of the industry.”
Jean-Jacques Gautrot, Chairman & CEO, AREVA UK

“We would welcome the ‘Nuclear Island’ proposal as one element of this work, providing an opportunity for those at the early stages of their development in the industry to develop experience of a ‘nuclear’ site, through the use of a Constructionarium-style approach.”
Alasdair Reisner, Head of Industry Affairs, Civil Engineering Contractors Association

“As you know, we at Manchester have been working closely with the industry to develop nuclear skills and educational programmes for undergraduates, graduates, researchers and young professionals. We are therefore delighted to hear about this initiative and we would certainly seek to be involved with the project.”
Professor J Billowes MA DPhil FInstP, Director of Education & Training, Dalton Nuclear Institute