The message from employers within the nuclear industry is abundantly clear – there is an urgent and crucial need to upskill the UK workforce and position the UK at the forefront of global nuclear.

National College for Nuclear (NCfN) has commissioned Bridgwater & Taunton College to lead its Southern Hub (Cannington) to address these needs, designing and delivering a curriculum offer that will support the UK’s nuclear renaissance.

The College’s team of experts has worked in partnership with employers to design a suite of revolutionary training and education programmes at Levels 2 to 6, with state-of-the-art content that suits new entrants as well as those established within the industry and those looking to transfer from engineering and scientific backgrounds. These cutting-edge programmes are offered as modular, short-courses, as well as full-time, part-time, blended and block delivery options.

The Bridgwater & Taunton College nuclear team has extensive links with Nuclear South West, and is acting as a conduit between small local employers. They also have a wealth of expert knowledge in funding streams and the Apprenticeship Levy – working with both Levy paying and non-Levy paying employers – offering expert advice and support in its utilisation.

The National College for Nuclear Southern Hub, due for building completion in January 2018, will include structures which simulate a ‘licensed’ site, and replicate a nuclear decommissioning hall, offering a range of experiential learning opportunities across the key nuclear skills of construction, operation, and decommissioning. The combination of these structures will support up to 20 separate projects of differing scale and complexity, facilitating learning across multiple disciplines and levels, whilst also reinforcing nuclear behaviours via strict adherence to site regulations and protocols. Alongside these physical structures will sit a virtual reality replica.

NCfN courses with Bridgwater & Taunton College start in September 2017, and applications are now being taken. To find out more and to apply, see www.ncfn.ac.uk or call Paul Goss, Head of National College for Nuclear – Southern Hub, on +44(0)1823 366591.