Horizon Nuclear Power on Thursday said it would partner with Tecnatom, a global nuclear training services provider, as it looks to grow the future operational workforce for the Wylfa Newydd nuclear power plant project in Anglesey, North Wales.
Tecnatom provides training services to a range of nuclear power stations around the world. It will take the lead role in a training support team that includes GEN II Engineering and Technology Training Ltd and GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy. "Collectively they bring a vast amount of global experience both in nuclear operations training generally and in ABWR reactor operations training specifically," Horizon said in a statement.
The Tecnatom training support team will work alongside Horizon’s in-house training team and local training providers to enhance and refine the company’s existing apprentice program and advise on other local apprentice programs in collaboration with Grŵp Llandrillo Menai, the main college in North West Wales. This partnership will also see Horizon strengthening its links with Bangor University to introduce nuclear elements into its existing courses and working with both the University and Grŵp Llandrillo Menai to look at the feasibility of introducing degree apprenticeships, the company said.
The training support team will provide a Systematic Approach to Training (SAT) in line with global best practice. The initial phase of work will deliver a comprehensive training needs analysis and set the scope of the training requirements for all licenced company roles including the Control Room Operators, Field Operators, Engineers, Maintenance Technicians, Radiation Protection Technicians, Chemists and other support staff. Further phases of work will cover the delivery of training.
Horizon is aiming to bring in a number of global partners to help it grow into a successful nuclear operator and ensure the transfer of global excellence in nuclear skills to Horizon’s growing team on Anglesey and at its Gloucester HQ. The company's Chief Executive Officer Duncan Hawthorne noted the partnership provided a team with experience "working with personnel from a range of different cultures globally often in bi-lingual communities."
"This is especially important as the vast majority of our operations workforce will come from Anglesey delivering on our commitment to provide work opportunities for three generations on the island," he said.
This announcement comes as Horizon continues to build momentum in all areas of its project. It recently completed a third and final round of Pre-Application Consultation on Anglesey ahead of its main planning consent, a Development Consent Order due for submission later this year. Its technology, the UK ABWR continues to make good progress through the fourth and final stage of the Office for Nuclear Regulation Generic Design Assessment process, on target to complete in Dec 2017. In addition Horizon submitted an application for a Nuclear Site Licence in March 2017 which if successful, will be granted in 2018.