University to help spearhead £65.6m bespoke nuclear training programmes

The University of Derby has been announced as part of a two university consortia awarded funding to lead new doctoral training programmes designed to develop the UK’s future nuclear workforce.

Last week, the Government confirmed a £65.6 million investment for a bespoke nuclear Doctoral Focal Award.

Delivered by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and match-funded by industry, the programmes will train more than 500 doctoral students at universities across the country, over the next four academic intakes.

Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL, the university’s vice-chancellor and chief executive, said: “Developing the skills and expertise of the next generation is essential to securing a sustainable talent pipeline for the nuclear sector.

“The University of Derby is committed to working with partners to drive bold action on the UK’s nuclear skills shortage.

“Together with our partners, we are creating clear pathways into specialised careers, delivering industry informed education, and supporting cutting edge research.

“Through this work, we are helping to build a stronger national workforce and ensuring the future success of this vital sector.”

The University of Derby is a partner in two of the six new national doctoral training programmes.

The first consortium, led by Bangor University, has secured funding to establish PANDA (the Programme for Accelerating Nuclear Development and Applications), which will train up to 100 doctoral researchers.

PANDA will be delivered by Bangor University in partnership with the UK National Nuclear Laboratory and the universities of Bristol, Birmingham, Cambridge, Derby, Imperial College London and Manchester.

Together, these partners will support a new generation of researchers equipped to meet the UK’s future nuclear and clean‑energy needs, including a specific focus on defence.

Derby is also a partner in the STAND-UP (Skills and Training driving availability of National Defence Assets UP skilling) programme, led by the University of Strathclyde, which will train 80 Engineering Doctorate researchers.

This programme aims to develop the next generation of nuclear engineers and support the transition to Net Zero.

It will help strengthen the UK’s capabilities in nuclear engineering, advanced manufacturing, digital technologies and nuclear decommissioning, bringing together partner universities Cumbria, Lancaster, Nottingham, Birmingham and Surrey.

Last week’s funding announcement follows the Nuclear Skills Plan, launched in May 2024, which contained a recommendation to quadruple the number of nuclear fission doctoral students to address the shortage of high-level nuclear skills across both civil and defence and replace an aging workforce.

Over 500 doctoral students will be trained at universities across the country in academic years 2026/27 to 2033/34, quadrupling today’s intake of nuclear doctoral students.

These doctoral students will be equipped with a broad range of advanced technical skills essential for the UK’s future civil and defence nuclear programmes, supporting the UK’s economic growth, energy and national security and net zero objectives.