Nuclear sector failing to attract new workforce
Lack of new recruits could affect sector’s future waste ambitions warns decommissioning expert.
The Managing Director of UK nuclear decommissioning company, Reacting Engineering, says the industry needs to significantly adapt its methods in order to address the sector's ongoing skills shortage.
Phil Redfern from the Cumbrian-based firm warned that a failure to address the shortage could have a knock-on affect as the sector looks to safely decommission historic operations. He explained that more action needs to be taken to attract talented young people by offering incentives to the sector.
'It has to be said that our industry can suffer from a lack of diverse thinking and pragmatism, particularly during the early stages of project definition and design development, and this needs to be addressed if we are to progress decommissioning in a timely and cost-effective manner.
'More than ever, there is an increased demand for talented people, and young people, including graduates, should be the lifeblood of our industry, they have the fresh ideas, a varied approach to problem-solving and the energy and enthusiasm to make things happen.
'A key to our approach needs to focus on building capability for the future and to achieve this we need a pipeline of talented, young people with the right technical qualifications to go with the softer skills typically obtained by individuals who have studied for a degree at university.'
Redfern’s comments come as React Engineering relaunched its own undergraduate employment scheme, aimed at school-leavers the programme offers participants one full year in the industry before taking up a place at university to study full-time.
'Due to the geography of the React Engineering headquarters in West Cumbria, there are a unique set of challenges and barriers to attract, develop and retain the required talented individuals to deliver such complex decommissioning programmes and enable sustainable business growth and diversification.' Redfern said.
