UKAEA and MTC Training launch cross-sector skills apprenticeships

The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) Training are joining forces to launch two apprenticeship programmes – Nuclear Health Physics Monitor, and Nuclear Operative (Decommissioning) – which will both bolster the future workforce and open pathways to learners who may not have had the opportunity to consider careers in the fusion and nuclear sectors.

With Sizewell C greenlit and £2.5bn committed to fusion in the 2025 Spending Review, both the UK’s fusion and nuclear industries are at a pivotal moment and the demand for skilled workers is soaring.

As highlighted in the UK Government’s Clean Energy Jobs Plan (October 2025), meeting the twin targets of the Clean Energy Superpower Mission could see the clean energy workforce nearly double between 2023 and 2030.

To support this increasing demand, UKAEA and MTC Training are expanding their training offer at the Oxfordshire Advanced Skills (OAS) Training Centre at UKAEA’s Culham Campus. MTC Training has already delivered high-quality engineering training to over 400 apprentices at this purpose-built facility since 2019.

The initiative is supported by UKAEA’s Fusion Opportunities in Skills, Training, Education & Research (FOSTER) programme, part of the Government’s Fusion Futures investment, which aims to build a robust pipeline of talent for the UK’s clean energy sector.

To date, qualifications in Health Physics and Nuclear Operations have been concentrated at the Nuclear College in Cumbria and Bridgwater & Taunton College in Somerset. However, this Autumn, OAS has welcomed its first cohort of 36 learners on the new programmes.

The new apprenticeships have been developed in close collaboration with UKAEA subject matter experts, ensuring they are aligned with real-world industry needs.

For Health Physics, the curriculum includes the selection and use of monitoring instruments and the recording of results; the identification of and application of control measures, responding to changes in radiological conditions using safety management systems, and compliance with legislative regulations and guidance.

For Nuclear Operatives, the curriculum includes safely minimising and packaging waste material within a decommissioning environment; the ability to assemble and dismantle equipment and plant items; and to operate effectively in Personal Protective Equipment such as respirators and pressurised suits.

Learners will also benefit from hands-on experience at Culham Campus, home to world-leading fusion research facilities, as well as a variety of research and development programmes.

Nick Walkden, Head of Fusion Skills and FOSTER Programme Director, UKAEA:

UKAEA is committed to expanding the qualified workforce in the fusion sector. We also recognise there are several areas where there is a need across multiple adjacent sectors, which makes establishing and delivering these courses more cost effective and efficient.

Having these courses at Culham has many advantages. UKAEA has a wide range of experienced experts who have worked with MTC Training to develop the courses. And of course, we have facilities for students to get first-hand experience in an industrial environment, along with the intangible benefits of learning alongside their peers from other companies and organisations. Finally, we are creating opportunities for new learning pathways in an area of the country where these haven’t traditionally been available.

We’ve been thrilled by the reception that these new courses have had from industry and are looking forward to growing our skills offerings in the future.

Chris Rooum, Business Development Director, MTC Training:

As the country undergoes a nuclear renaissance and starts to introduce a new generation of nuclear power technologies, demand for skilled professionals in this sector is expected to rise even further. By collaborating with UKAEA to design and offer these apprenticeships, we can provide the industry with a future workforce to support clean energy transition in the UK.

Beyond apprenticeships, UKAEA and MTC Training are also developing specialist courses in Nuclear Welding Inspection and Nuclear TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) Welding, with a Level 3 Engineering Maintenance Technician course launching in September 2025. A Level 6 Nuclear Science apprenticeship is also in development.

To find out more about any of these courses and training opportunities visit mtc-training.org/subjects/nuclear.