The Nuclear AMRC has secured additional funding from Innovate UK to develop and deliver training equipment for the new Nuclear Skills Academy in Derby.
The £1.3m funding will help fund bespoke training equipment and IT facilities for engineering apprentices at the new training centre at Infinity Park Derby.
The Nuclear Skills Academy will open its doors in September to train 200 apprentices a year for Rolls-Royce’s submarine propulsion business.
Andrew Storer, CEO of the Nuclear AMRC, said: “There are significant skills shortages across the nuclear sector, and we urgently need to develop a new generation of skilled nuclear engineers to deliver the UK’s commitments for low-carbon power and national security.
High-quality training needs high-quality equipment tailored to the needs of the industry, and this new funding from Innovate UK helps ensure that apprentices at the Nuclear Skills Academy will be able to develop their skills on state-of-the-art equipment for advanced manufacturing. As a former Derby apprentice myself, I am very proud that we are helping set a new standard for training in the sector.”
The Nuclear AMRC, based at the University of Sheffield, is part of the UK’s High Value Manufacturing Catapult, a national alliance of seven leading manufacturing research centres backed by Innovate UK. The new funding has been provided by Innovate UK to support the Catapult’s work in addressing future skills gaps in key industries.