Nuclear

Sellafield

Sellafield faced several significant challenges in recruitment and skills development. They needed to fill niche engineering skills gaps, attract staff with specialised skills to run courses, and support disadvantaged young people from areas of high deprivation. Additionally, many young recruits were not work-ready, requiring substantial investment in developing their workplace behaviours and professionalism.

We took a collaborative and long-term approach to support Sellafield. We focused on developing a pipeline of work-ready talent tailored to the nuclear sector’s specific needs. This included co-creating bespoke courses and apprenticeships that aligned with Sellafield’s requirements and the Greater Manchester skills agenda.

To address Sellafield’s needs, we implemented several key measures:

• Investment in Facilities: In 2022/23, we invested £1.1 million in four specialist labs, including facilities with electrical maintenance rigs.
• Greater Manchester Institute of Technology: As a leading partner, we helped open this institute in 2023, unlocking £2.1 million for engineering labs. This enabled us to offer niche engineering programs and exceeded our recruitment targets by 6%, addressing regional skills shortages.
• Dual Professionals: We collaborated with employers to attract industry experts, particularly those nearing retirement, and invested in developing their teaching skills.

The partnership with Sellafield had a profound impact:

• Capability Building: Our collaboration now benefits six supply chain businesses.
• Apprenticeship Development: We co-created six apprenticeships at various entry points, including Level 5 and Level 6 ‘trailblazers’ that set industry standards.
• Accreditation: We secured Institute of Engineering & Technology accreditation.
• Mentorship: Graduate apprentices now support new cohorts, enhancing the learning experience.

Overall, our partnership with Sellafield and other industry leaders has been instrumental in improving social mobility, meeting regional skills needs, and maintaining a high progression rate to employment or higher apprenticeships.