I n the nuclear industry as much as any, it is essential for people working in many occupations and functions to strive for improvement of their underlying knowledge and skills. The industry has a strong training record starting with school-leavers and apprenticeships and going up to postgraduate levels. The industry sponsors research in the Universities as well as having its own facilities. The National Skills Academy for Nuclear has been established at the request of Nuclear employers to address the key skills and training challenges facing the Nuclear industry. The Skills Academy will ensure the sector has a skilled workforce that can operate safely and effectively, and can also meet the future demands of this rapidly changing industry.
Apprenticeships
An Apprenticeship is a structured programme of training which gives the
learner the opportunity to work for an employer, learn on the job and build up
knowledge and transferable skills that will be needed throughout a working life.
Across the UK there are over 100 apprenticeships to choose from, covering just
about every sector of industry and commerce. Apprenticeships will take between
12 months and 48 months to complete depending on the industry requirements.
They are a nationally recognized qualification, providing learners with a
"passport" to rewarding careers, and employers with talented and competent
employees. Employers obtain financial assistance from Government towards
developing their workforce's skills. Click
here for further information.
There are several Apprenticeships schemes
in the industry. Apprenticeships in mechanical, electrical, Control and
Instrumentation, and nuclear decommissioning are offered by the major
nuclear operators annually. Contractors in the industry also recruit
craft and technician trainees and offer on the job training and day
release for courses.
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Higher Level Skills
Higher Education has a vital role in increasing UK competitiveness through the
promotion of knowledge based aspects of the economy, driving up productivity and
growth, and improving skills levels. Cogent is developing its Higher Level
Skills strategy which aims to build frameworks for greater employer engagement
with Higher Education providers to meet the requirements of our industries. Click here for further information
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National Occupational Standards
National
Occupational Standards (NOS) are used as
the building blocks for many vocational
qualifications, including S/NVQs. They are a
competency based tool, which are statements of the skills, knowledge and
understanding needed for an individual to carry out a particular job role or
function. They are produced from industry requirements.National Occupational
Standards can also be used in many different ways to improve the quality of
goods and services, increase employee productivity and reduce recruitment
costs. Click here for further
information.
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Qualifications
Certificate, Diploma and Masters courses relevant to the nuclear
industry are available in resident, modular and distance learning form
from the Universities. Specialisations such as safety case writing,
radiation protection, waste management and decommissioning are offered
by several institutions and if you are interested, websearch can be
effective.
A list of degree courses with nuclear technology elements is given on the Nuclear Liaison and Nuclear Industry Association websites.
A consortium of 11 Universities (NTEC)
offers two Masters programmes in Nuclear Science and Technology with
Decommissioning and Nuclear Technology cores. The programme also
offers PG Certificate and Diploma and CPD.
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Vocational Qualifications
A Vocational Qualification is a cluster of National Occupational standards (NOS)
which together define the competences of an occupation For example, the NOS
which define the role of a maintenance technician can be clustered to form a
qualification called, ‘Process Engineering Maintenance Level 3’. In addition,
all vocational qualifications have advice on how assessment for the award is to
be carried out. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the awards are called
National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs). In Scotland they are called Scottish
Vocational Qualifications (SVQs). Vocational Qualifications are accessed through
Awarding Bodies such as: PAA/VQSET, City and Guilds, Edexcel, EAL and ECITB. Click here for further information
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