Published at 15:40, Wednesday, 27 January 2010

A NEW nuclear course could see the West Cumbrian workforce gain ground-breaking skills. The National Skills Academy for Nuclear is celebrating the launch of its first online training course – the Award for Nuclear Industry Awareness.

The significance for the course has been recognised by the National Nuclear Laboratory, a skills academy member organisation, which is funding up to 20 places in the course.

They will be available to people who are looking to move to the nuclear industry from another sector.

The course has been designed with industry to provide people who are embarking on a career in nuclear with the specific requirements for the sector.

It will be open to apprentices, graduates, non-nuclear personnel and people starting out in the nuclear sector.

Jean Llewellyn, chief executive of the National Skills Academy for Nuclear, said: “It is essential that new entrants to the nuclear sector have a good level of awareness of the industry.

“The nuclear environment and safety culture is quite unique, and this course is designed to provide all new entrants with a high level of awareness of these requirements, and ease their induction to the nuclear sector.

“The online learning option provides people with the opportunity to study at their own pace and at times which suits their lifestyle, enabling people from outside of the industry to study alongside their current employment or family commitments.”

Mike Lawrence, managing director of the National Nuclear Laboratory, said: “NNL is proud to be able to offer these free places on this prestigious new qualification and hope that it helps successful applicants set out on a great career in the nuclear industry.

“One of NNL’s strategic objectives is to help maintain and improve the UK nuclear skills base. Working in close partnership with the National Skills Academy for Nuclear is clearly an effective way to do this.

“Their innovative approach to learning is driving forward the process of ensuring the nuclear industry can bring in new people and continue to grow. And that growth is essential in order to help meet the Government’s commitment to nuclear power.”

For further information on the Award for Nuclear Industry Awareness and to demo the e-Learning material visit www.nuclear.nsacademy.co.uk/services/ award-nuclear-industry-awareness

Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk