UK’s national lab for nuclear fission to fund doctoral researchers

In addition, NNL’s senior technical lead, Dave Goddard, is to be a visiting professor of nuclear fuels at the University.

The NNL is also increasing funding for nuclear research and development at Bangor University under the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s Advanced Fuel Cycle Project.

Paul Howarth, Chief Executive Officer of NNL, said:

“We believe Wales can and should be a flagship region for clean energy technologies – in terms of nuclear but also wind, solar and other low carbon sources – and, in the process, nurture the local supply chain and create more high-skilled, high-paid green jobs.”

These developments extend the University’s capacity in nuclear research and development at the University’s Nuclear Futures Institute.

The latest developments were announced alongside the announcement of a skills partnership with Coleg Menai-Llandrillo, Wales's largest further-education (FE) institution.

Bill Lee, Sêr Cymru Professor at the Nuclear Futures Institute at Bangor University, said:

“This is just the beginning of a close relationship between NNL and Bangor University to support development of all low carbon forms of energy for North Wales. We are excited by the research and training opportunities it will enable us to work on with NNL and Grŵp Llandrillo Menai colleagues.”

In recognition of the impact and value of Wales as a centre of nuclear science and innovation, NNL opened its first formal base in Wales at the University’s M-SParc Science Park on Ynys Môn this summer.

Together, these moves will help nurture the next generation of highly skilled individuals and bridge the nuclear industry’s skills gap. With an average engineer age of 54, the nuclear sector faces the challenge of an ageing workforce, leaving the industry with a skills gap. This makes recruitment and training of highly skilled individuals a key industry priority

Publication date: 26 October 2021