3 February 2023
Nuclear power was the hot topic in Westminster this week with dozens of MPs attending the Nuclear Week in Parliament showcase hosted by the Nuclear Industry Association and sponsored by Assystem.
The annual event provides an opportunity for the nuclear industry to engage with Parliamentarians and brief them on the key opportunities and challenges currently facing the sector today.
Assystem and the importance of Franco-British collaboration
New nuclear power is central to the UKs energy transition programme, and it will involve the development of multiple nuclear technologies, including EDFs EPR reactor, which is under construction at Hinkley Point C and planned at Sizewell C. Assystem hosted the event: Nuclear renaissance in the UK: Exploring the vital role of Franco-British collaboration, which was chaired by Virginia Crosbie MP. The event’s panel session explored the actions that can be taken to create and enhance links between French and British companies and academic institutions to establish a strong pathway of knowledge transfer that will support the successful deployment of these new power plants.
Exciting careers in UK nuclear
A key focus of Nuclear Week in Parliament was to highlight the recruitment challenge facing the nuclear sector, and at the Skills & Apprenticeships Fair, Assystem’s graduates Rosie Knight, Jenna Zerti, and Carolina Pena Alvarez talked with MPs including Toby Perkins, Sir Graham Brady and Jack Lopresti, to discuss the many opportunities in nuclear for school leavers today.
Matt Gallimore UK Chief Sales Officer at Assystem said: “Forthcoming and ongoing nuclear projects will create thousands of jobs across multiple disciplines, with many opportunities for school leavers and graduates with companies such as Assystem. It will require collaboration and a groundswell of support at all levels to ensure that national investment in our energy infrastructure is a success. We need MPs to take this message back to their constituents, so that we can begin to mobilise the nation around the challenge facing the country today – to build 24GW of nuclear power by 2050 and make our Net Zero commitments a reality.”
