The government has talked a good game on the future of nuclear generation. It sees a strong civil nuclear sector as playing a crucial role in the UK’s energy mix and in providing resilience in a more turbulent world, underpinning growth and defence.
Recent actions have started to back up these ambitions. These include the prime minister’s recent decision to approve Sizewell C, the reform of the planning system to encourage new nuclear sites, and the results of its Small Modular Reactor competition.
Now, however, industry needs more specific details if it is going to move forward. Questions remain over where new sites will be, when they will be confirmed, and whether government or the private sector is in the lead. All this will impact how many workers are needed, where and with what skills. Given the long lead times for building new nuclear, it is critical that these questions are answered as soon as possible.
