The Nuclear Skills Plan
Introduction
The Nuclear Skills Plan brings together the brightest minds from government, industry, and education to tackle one of our sector's biggest challenges: building the workforce of tomorrow.
Think of it as our collective roadmap for nuclear skills development. It's ambitious, it's exciting, and it's already making waves across the UK.
With a projected need for 40,000 additional skilled workers between 2023 and 2030, we've got our work cut out for us. But through genuine collaboration and fresh thinking, we're creating pathways that will bring new talent into our sector and help experienced professionals develop further.
The Challenge and Opportunity
The UK's nuclear sector stands at a pivotal moment. We're not just maintaining what we have – we're growing in exciting new directions. With ambitious plans for defence, energy, and decommissioning, we need a skilled workforce ready to deliver:
- Keeping our nation safe through the nuclear deterrent
- Building new nuclear power plants to deliver clean, reliable energy
- Tackling complex decommissioning projects across the UK
- Working with international partners on groundbreaking programmes like AUKUS
By 2030, we’ll need to grow from 83,000 to 123,000 skilled professionals – that’s nearly 50% more people than we had in the sector in 2023! This challenge also presents an extraordinary opportunity for organisations throughout the supply chain to be part of a project of national significance while opening doors for talented people to build rewarding careers with real purpose in the nuclear sector.
The Nuclear Skills Charter
At the heart of the Nuclear Skills Plan is the Nuclear Skills Charter – a commitment signed by chief executives and government leaders across the nuclear sector. The Charter is our collective promise to tackle the skills challenge together:
Our Behaviours:
- Standing together to solve common problems
- Doing things differently and taking a long-term view
- Inspiring today's and tomorrow's workforce
- Being visible, rolling up our sleeves and leading by example
Our Commitments:
- Collaborate across the sector to build partnerships
- Deepen our talent pool through creative education and recruitment
- Invest in the brilliant people we already have
- Lead with vision and purpose for the long-term
Our Transformative Projects
Apprenticeships
Bursaries
Career Switchers
Creating a Nuclear Community
Destination Nuclear
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Graduates
Interchange
Optimising Training Landscape
PhDs
Regional Skills Hubs
Sector Experts into Training
Sector Leaders
Sponsorships
Our Progress
Nearly 4,000 early-career starters entered the sector in 2024/25, including over 1,300 graduates and 2,500 apprentices
We’ve funded an additional 20 nuclear fission PhD students to push the boundaries of nuclear science
Regional Skills Hubs are buzzing with activity in the North West, South West, and Midlands, with more on the way
Phase one of the Destination Nuclear campaign has already increased public awareness of nuclear career opportunities
Our Nuclear Interchange Hub is helping people move between different parts of the sector, broadening their experience
Governance and Delivery
The Nuclear Skills Plan is delivered through a robust governance structure:
Nuclear Skills Executive Council (NSEC): Comprised of chief executives from across the nuclear sector who provide strategic leadership
Nuclear Skills Delivery Board (NSDB): Co-chaired by Skills Directors from the Ministry of Defence and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Nuclear Sector Skills Team (NSST): A dedicated team responsible for the day-to-day delivery of the plan
Play Your Part in the Skills Plan
For organisations in the nuclear supply chain, the Nuclear Skills Plan offers opportunities to:
- Access practical resources to develop your workforce
- Join forces with major industry players on skills initiatives
- Connect with Regional Skills Hubs to solve local challenges
- Help shape future skills programmes that work for your business
For education institutions, the plan provides:
- Partner with nuclear employers who need your expertise
- Get industry insights to make your courses even more relevant
- Create clearer pathways for your students into nuclear careers
- Get support for inspiring STEM activities
For individuals exploring career options:
- Discover the incredible variety of roles in our sector
- Find training and development opportunities that match your interests
- Connect with employers through Destination Nuclear
- Be part of an industry that’s truly making a difference
Ready to chat about how you can get involved?
Contact us to learn more about partnership opportunities and how you and your organisation can play a part in building the UK's nuclear future.
