UK and France agree to strengthen nuclear skills development

Both organisations said they were committed to developing stronger bilateral Franco-British cooperation on skills for nuclear, and said they were keen to demonstrate how the two countries could work together through and beyond the implications of Brexit.

NSAN chief executive Jean Llewellyn said the agreement recognised the importance and need for the continued cooperation between France and the UK. 

Llewellyn added: “As the UK moves to action Brexit it is vital that our relationship with Europe is strengthened through collaborations such as this.”

Part of the agreement includes the development of a joint quality standard for skills provision and training that can be applied in both countries. This is designed to facilitate the movement and recognition of training and personnel between the UK and France. 

“Through international collaboration and joint working, NSAN hopes to promote the skills solutions developed by the nuclear industry in the UK for use abroad, and to build on and utilise the expertise of INSTN in the UK,” Llewellyn said.

The agreement was officially launched on 25 April from the French ambassador’s residence in London.

In June last year, the Nuclear Industry Association and the French Nuclear Society also committed to work together to further the French and British nuclear sectors.