The UK government has announced the roll out of nine new industry-designed Degree Apprenticeships, including one focused on nuclear engineering. The new initiative will lead to the development of practical, vocational engineering degree courses.
The Nuclear Degree Apprenticeships will be developed jointly by industry, government and academia, including: Sellafield Ltd, BAE Systems, Rolls Royce Plc, Atkins, Ultra Electronics, Jacobs, Westinghouse Springfields, the UK Atomic Energy Authority, the Ministry of Defence, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, the Office for Nuclear Regulation, Magnox Ltd, Research Sites Restoration Ltd, Low Level Waste Repository, EDF Energy, the National Skills Academy for Nuclear (NSAN), the National Nuclear Laboratory, Bristol University, Manchester University – Dalton Institute, Culham, Gen2 and the University of Cumbria.
The Nuclear Degree Apprenticeship programme will allow students to combine both the academic study from a traditional university degree and the practical experience and wider employment skills from working in a nuclear environment.
Apprentices will split their time between university study and the workplace and will be employed throughout. Higher Apprentices are already able study to degree level as part of their apprenticeship but Degree Apprenticeships will go further. They will involve a degree as an "integral part" of the apprenticeship, co-designed by employers to make sure it is relevant for the skills industry is looking for.
As with other apprenticeships, course fees are shared between government and employers.
Roland Fletcher, Apprenticeship Manager for the National Skills Academy for Nuclear said the new Degree Apprenticeships takes nuclear industry ‘Apprenticeships’ to a new higher level. "This further supports the proven success apprenticeships bring, to provide a balanced programme of academic learning and work based experience that the nuclear industry has to offer individuals looking for an exciting, challenging and long term career for their future."
