Thursday, 03 December 2009 19:51 A new £25m centrally-funded nuclear engineering skills facility in Rotherham, near Sheffield, provides an important boost for British industry, says Prospect, the largest union in the UK representing professional engineers.

The centre will coordinate work on new materials and components to support the government's planned nuclear expansion. Business Secretary Lord Mandelson believes a skilled workforce is crucial to guide the UK's transition to a low carbon economy.

Mike Graham, Prospect's national secretary, which represents 15,000 nuclear professionals, agrees the UK needs proactive preparation for the programme of new nuclear build.

"The government's own low-carbon industrial strategy recognised that key to developing the UK nuclear supply chain will be the supply of a skilled workforce to manufacture, build, operate and maintain the new nuclear fleet," says Mr Graham.

According to research by the Nuclear Industry Association, British industry could supply roughly 70 per cent of the total requirement of such a programme. Mr Graham says that with more investment in facilities and training of personnel this figure could rise to 80 per cent.

"The need to address skills issues was further highlighted by this week's Engineering and Technology Board report, which said the UK needs an extra 587,000 engineers between 2009 and 2017, all with advanced skills, so that the country can compete with other developed economies," he adds.

"This new facility will help UK manufacturers to build skilled capacity, increase jobs and more effectively compete for contracts. It is very good news."