The UK’s Nuclear Family: Delivering for People, Communities, the Nation and the Planet
Nuclear Week in Parliament provides an annual opportunity to celebrate the work of the UK’s world-leading nuclear industry. This year, two receptions brought industry leaders and policymakers together to explore the nation’s nuclear future, focusing on investment in skills and innovation in decommissioning
With increasing public and political awareness of the urgency of the climate change challenge and a growing focus on energy security, the UK’s nuclear industry is once again at the forefront of conversations about the nation’s future energy mix.
Josh MacAlister MP for Whitehaven and Workington at Sellafield Ltd and NRS reception.
Two important and timely events during Nuclear Week highlighted the way that the UK’s globally leading experts are focused not just on providing sustainable energy, but are also investing in people, communities, and jobs that can help grow the future economy. The receptions were organised by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) Group, which includes Sellafield Ltd, Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS), Nuclear Waste Services and Nuclear Transport Solutions. Those bodies are working together to decommission the UK’s earliest nuclear sites, safely, securely and sustainably.
Josh MacAlister MP represents Whitehaven and Workington which is home to Sellafield, Europe’s largest nuclear site. As co-chair of the Nuclear Energy All-Party Parliamentary Group, MacAlister is well-placed to understand the vital role that nuclear can play in accelerating the transition to a cleaner and more resilient future.
“The UK needs to stand on its own two feet when it comes to energy generation,” he told guests at a Sellafield Ltd and NRS reception focused on skills development. “Nuclear power is critical to delivering a balanced energy system, - one that combines renewable energy with clean, reliable baseload power.”
MacAlister also explained that the importance of nuclear extends beyond meeting the nation’s energy needs. MPs and industry figures also heard how the industry is creating jobs and investment that can help support the wider economy.
“When people think of nuclear decommissioning, they often imagine it as merely managing a liability,” MacAlister told the reception. “But Sellafield is not a liability. It is an asset.”
David Mundell, MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale, at the NDA reception.
Central to delivering successful and safe decommissioning is having access to a highly skilled workforce. The NDA group directly employs more than 17,000 people including 1,500 apprentices and graduates currently on its early career’s schemes. In addition, hundreds of PhD students and post-doctoral researchers have been sponsored, focusing on developing the advanced skills required to tackle some of the world’s most complex engineering and environmental challenges.
The technical challenges are immense, but speakers were clear that decommissioning also presents an enormous economic opportunity. That has been seen firsthand by David Mundell, MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale.
Mundell’s constituency is home to the former Chapelcross nuclear power station which is undergoing decommissioning and is being developed into a green energy hub which will drive growth in the local economy, attracting high value jobs, skills and activities in the green energy industry to the area. He told attendees that decommissioning work has brought economic benefits to his constituency, creating high-quality employment and supporting local businesses.
Guests at the NDA reception heard how the sector is equipping people with the expertise needed to navigate one of the world’s most complex environmental restoration programmes. The challenge is immense. Many nuclear sites were built decades ago with no plans for decommissioning, requiring highly specialised skills to manage and safely dismantle them.
“Sometimes people don't think of decommissioning as an industry of the future but it is a cutting-edge industry,” Mundell explained to guests.
The challenges associated with nuclear decommissioning demand a unique combination of skills and technology. David Peattie, NDA Group Chief Executive Officer, reinforced the important role that a skilled workforce is playing in driving the sector forward.
Euan Hutton, Sellafield Ltd Chief Executive with apprentices and graduates.
“Our people power our achievements,” he told the reception. “By developing world-class skills and applying innovative technologies, we are transforming the legacy of the UK’s nuclear past into a sustainable future.”
The jobs created within the nuclear industry are driving innovation in other areas too. For instance, MPs were introduced to “Spot” the robotic dog that has reduced the need for humans to enter hazardous areas at Sellafield. Innovations such as Spot are helping to drive advances in advanced robotics that potentially have applications across a range of other industries and sectors, from offshore wind to manufacturing.
“We’ve got some fantastic people, and our job is to inspire, encourage, and excite them about the future,” Euan Hutton, Chief Executive for Sellafield told MPs. “It’s about showcasing the sorts of skills they can develop and blending that with technology.”
That combination, of human skills and new technology is supported by over £100 million of annual investment across the NDA group. Rob Fletcher, Chief Executive of NRS, highlighted the way that synergy between advanced technology and human expertise can potentially be transformative for the industry and the nation.
Rob Fletcher, Chief Executive Officer
for NRS.
“From drones with laser imaging to AI-driven data analysis, we’re using cutting-edge tools to tackle challenges once thought insurmountable,” he said. “But it’s the fusion of technology with a skilled workforce that delivers results.”
The wider impact of the nuclear sector goes beyond the direct creation of jobs and technologies. Over the past 20 years, the NDA group has invested £277 million into the local communities where it works. The industry also plays a major role in supporting the supply chain. It spent around £2 billion last year with suppliers across 82% of UK Parliamentary Constituencies supporting over 40,000 jobs. Over a third of that spending was directed towards small and medium-sized enterprises.
That immense social, economic, and environmental contribution positions the UK’s nuclear decommissioning industry very much as part of the future, not simply as a solution to historic challenges.
“I have seen firsthand the skills, tools, and professionalism involved in decommissioning,” Mundell said. “Those involved in decommissioning are at the forefront of technological advancements, and this should be celebrated rather than viewed as merely closing the door on the past.”
“Spot” the robotic dog used at Sellafield.
Lord Hunt, Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero, echoed that view, seeing the vital work of Sellafield, the NDA, and NRS as contributing to a growing sense of momentum in the sector. That makes him optimistic for the future.
“The enthusiasm and potential in the sector are undeniable,” he argued. “We are on the edge of doing something really brilliant. It helps us in our growth agenda. It helps us towards net zero. It provides fantastic work opportunities for so many people.”
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