The South West Regional Hub for Nuclear Skills, sponsored by Babcock International Group (Babcock), the defence company, and EDF, has officially been launched to support the delivery of the National Nuclear Strategic Plan for Skills (the Skills Plan). 

Launched in May 2024, the Skills Plan aims to address the national nuclear skills shortage and sets out targeted action that the UK will take to ensure it has the required skills to support the UK’s priorities for national security, energy resilience and clean energy. 

The Government, in partnership with the civil and defence industry, is making significant long-term investments in nuclear skills, jobs and education to help the sector increase its workforce by a net 40,000 people by 2030, almost doubling its current size. The Nuclear Skills Plan sets out how this will be achieved and identifies regional collaboration as a key enabler to delivering this successfully. 

The Regional Hubs have been designed to deliver joint actions across civil and defence nuclear organisations and enabling bodies, to secure the critical nuclear skills our nation needs. The South West Regional Hub is one of two founding Regional Hubs, with the other covering the North West. A third hub in the Midlands has also been established, with hubs in Scotland and Wales under development. 

Launched yesterday at an event at Sandy Park in Exeter, the South West Regional Hub brings together industry across nuclear civil and defence, key economic stakeholders and learning and educational providers, to maximise the impact of key activities that will positively increase, workforce mobility, STEM outreach, and foster supply chain relationships, for the benefit of the local communities. It is focused on supporting this collaborative approach, tailoring the national nuclear skills initiatives to address the South West’s specific skills challenges and local demands. The aim is to highlight and provide opportunities to work within the nuclear sector in the South West, enabling delivery of the region’s civil and defence nuclear commitments. 

Mark Rouse, Skills Director for the National Nuclear Strategic Plan for Skills (NNSPS), commented, “While the Nuclear Skills Plan is a comprehensive national strategy, it must also resonate with communities across the country who are facing different skills challenges. For our joint success, we must work together, leveraging our combined strengths and capabilities. 

“The launch of the South West Regional Hub provides an unparalleled opportunity to connect people in the South West and contribute to regional growth while supporting our national challenge of filling 40,000 more jobs by 2030 – doubling our current rate of recruitment – to deliver the UK’s priorities for national security, energy resilience and clean energy.” 

Collette McMullen, South West Regional Hub Chair and Babcock Skills Director, said, “Babcock is a major employer in the South West, delivering nationally important programmes through our defence and civil nuclear businesses. We are fully invested in regional collaboration to maximise the impact of our skills activities and secure the critical talent we need to expand the growth potential of the region.” 

Those interested in supporting or playing an active role in the South West Regional Hub can register their interest online here.