South West Regional Hub for Nuclear Skills officially launched

Image courtesy Babcock

The Skills Plan, launched in May 2024, 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 plan identifies regional collaboration as a key enabler to addressing the skills shortage.

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 to address the South West’s specific skills challenges. We’re proud to be a sponsor of the Hub and remain committed to ensuring that we have the people and skills needed in the South West to deliver the region’s critical civil and defence nuclear commitments.

Collette McMullen, Babcock’s Skills Director, is the South West Regional Hub Chair and attended the launch event yesterday alongside Harry Holt, Chief Executive of Babcock’s Nuclear Sector.

Collette 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.”

Mark Rouse, Skills Director for the National Nuclear Strategic Plan for Skills, said: “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.”

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.

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