Cath Richardson, Principal, Lakes College West Cumbria

Last updated 22:12, Tuesday, 25 March 2008

Cath Richardson

IN JANUARY the government announced plans to invest in the next generation of nuclear power plants, which may have caused uproar outside of the county, but within the county the news was welcomed with quiet anticipation.
Since the decommissioning of Sellafield began, councillors and locals have voiced concerns over the loss of a major employer and the impact that has on future generations, so the news of new power plants has been greeted with unfashionable positivity.
However, the first power plant is unlikely to be opened before 2021, so if West Cumbria is chosen as a location for the new power plants it secures jobs for future generations, but it is still decommissioning that will be employing people for approximately the next 13 years.
Lakes College has worked closely with the nuclear industry to choose the best courses to create the staff they need, creating engineering courses that will take students from leaving school right the way through to a foundation degree.
Starting with our new entry-level course, Certificate in Practical Engineering and Construction students can progress right through to existing nuclear Decommissioning Foundation degree or a planned Nuclear Related Technology, due to start in October 2008. Content in all of these courses is applicable to both the commissioning and decommissioning of the nuclear industries, so it is possible to hedge your bets!