The announcements today by Siemens, Dassault Systèmes and the UK Atomic Energy Authority underscore the growing importance of industry playing a full role with government and academia in the future of skills and research in the UK.
The construction of two nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point C will see a new generation of British nuclear power stations provide secure, low-carbon electricity for millions of homes and businesses.
A new generation of small modular reactors and advanced modular reactors could be delivering electricity to UK’s power grid by the early 2030s, revolutionising the UK’s manufacturing base with new processes and designs.
According to statistics released last week from National Grid, Britain has now gone 114 continuous hours without burning coal to generate electricity, smashing the previous record of 90 hours. This is the longest period since the Industrial Revolution and is set to keep on rising.
The Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has announced a £400m investment in the Dreadnought nuclear-armed submarine programme at the unveiling of a new £25m BAE Systems training academy in Barrow-in-Furness.
With the country facing its greatest political crisis of recent years, it is unsurprising that manufacturers view their future with varying degrees of uncertainty and alarm.
The Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre has joined forces with Derby City Council and its Local Enterprise Partnership (D2N2) to support their bold strategy for improving the region’s economic growth, skills and jobs.
The University of Birmingham is leading a consortium of eight universities, with £42m of new investment, to establish the National Centre for Nuclear Robotics.
