A state-of-the-art skills centre, for the UK nuclear industry has been officially opened at Sellafield, promising to revolutionise skills development.

The Glove Box Training Facility upskills operators in one of the nuclear’s most important disciplines and is crucial to operations on nuclear sites. It also allows operators to handle hazardous material in a safe and controlled environment.

It’s demanding work which requires high levels of skill and dexterity, but now learners from across the country will get to hone their craft in a purpose-built facility.

Its aim is to get trainees work-ready quicker and with a broader skill set and it promises to reduce the amount of training done within plants and provide a standardised approach across the sector.

This will lead to improved safety and quality, helping the UK to deliver its critical nuclear missions.

Jacq Longrigg, group head of leadership, skills, and talent for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), said: “This facility will deliver a wide range of benefits across the sector, in terms of consistency, safety and efficiency.

“With 17,000 people working across the NDA group, ours is one of the largest and most experienced nuclear workforces in the world.

“Investing in skills and ensuring that we have the right people with the right expertise to deliver our mission today, and for decades to come, is a priority as well as a legal obligation. 

“We know that we can’t do this alone and this is a great example of how we are working in collaboration across the NDA group, with government and the sector to make a real difference and advance the wider UK nuclear industry.”

The facility has been delivered by the UK Alpha Resilience & Capability (ARC) programme. Kierra Desay, UK ARC programme manager, said: “As well as delivering a number of improvements for the industry, the facility will provide a better experience for trainees and an improved service to our customers.

“The potential benefits are huge and will underpin ARC’s vision to sustain and enhance the UK’s Alpha capability.”

Senior leaders from across the UK nuclear sector attended a launch event to mark the opening of the facility.

They got to test their own skills in a special ‘glove box Olympics’ as well as hearing how the facility will revolutionise skills development for the industry.

Historically, glove box training was often provided within nuclear facilities themselves. This meant training tended to be bespoke and opportunities for standardisation were lost.

The new facility will provide a more standardised approach, offering detailed training in glove boxes configured to recreate any scenario imaginable.

Lighting and temperature can also be controlled to replicate the conditions trainees will face in the workplace.

The training course content has been developed via the ARC programme and underpinned by a series of pilot training courses.