A major new 20-year partnership between the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), aims to build the skilled workforce needed to support the UK’s first prototype fusion energy power plant at West Burton, Nottinghamshire.
The partnership, announced today, will focus on delivering fusion-related apprenticeships, vocational training and upskilling opportunities across the East Midlands, South Yorkshire and Greater Lincolnshire.
It will support the UK’s Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) project, which targets first operations in 2040.
An independent economic assessment estimates the West Burton site will ultimately support 6,500 full-time jobs, accounting for 12.5% of current workplace jobs in Bassetlaw.
Around half of construction jobs are expected to require Level 3+ qualifications, while nearly three-quarters of on-site roles will demand Level 4+ qualifications.
“People are the most important element of any programme or project,” said Nick Walkden, UKAEA’s Head of Fusion Skills and FOSTER Programme Director.
“We have listened and learned from other major research, engineering and infrastructure projects and believe that an early and focussed attention to local skills and workforce growth will be a critical enabler to success.”
Training will be delivered flexibly to adapt as STEP progresses, with initial focus on engineering and project delivery skills, followed by construction and plant operations training.
Paul Methven, CEO of UK Industrial Fusion Solutions, said: “Delivering STEP and commercial fusion beyond that, will require a strong skills pipeline, not only in STEM subjects, but in every aspect of running a complex business.”
Supported by the UK’s record £2.5 billion investment in fusion, the collaboration aims to create long-term regional benefits.
Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, said: “The Fusion Skills Collaboration embodies this goal and our outstanding colleges, training providers and universities will be front and centre in training people in the skills of the future.”
The training will feed into the government’s wider ambitions for clean, secure energy and provide new employment opportunities in a sector projected to be worth trillions globally in the coming decades.
Copyright © 2025 Energy Live News LtdELN