Atomic energy authority aims for diversity and inclusion with fusion energy employment scheme

The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) will fill over 100 roles in its fusion energy programmes with an equality, diversion and inclusion-focused scheme.

The four-year programme, filling roles worth £9.5m to the economy, is aimed at reducing social and economic inequality while providing a ‘fast and flexible’ approach to recruitment. 

Engineers, project managers and apprentices will be seconded from six companies, chosen via a competitive tender process for demonstrating a clear commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. This includes: 

• Established partnerships with organisations such as BAME Apprenticeship Alliance, STEM Network, and LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall 

• Adding social value to communities as they rebuild post Covid-19 

• Working with social mobility charity Career Ready 

• Employing apprentices that will work at UKAEA’s Oxfordshire and Yorkshire sites, in addition to delivering outreach events to encourage careers in STEM. 

Secondees will contribute to UKAEA programmes including Step (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production), which aims to deliver a prototype fusion energy plant and a path to commercially viable fusion. 

The six successful companies selected for the programme are: Atkins (with Faithful+Gould), Arcadis (with DBD and Enkom), Gleeds, Mace, Prima Uno and Turner & Townsend. 

Ian Chapman, CEO of UKAEA, said: “We are delighted to launch UKAEA’s Project Delivery Services Framework, to bolster the range of expertise across the UK’s world-leading fusion energy programmes. It will provide increased flexibility to our project teams as we work together with industrial partners to deliver fusion as an important part of addressing climate change and providing energy security.” 

Dev Reedha, framework director at Arcadis, said the company is “looking forward to supporting a wider mission of taking fusion to the world as a safe and sustainable low-carbon source of energy.” 

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