What’s In Store for Nuclear Energy Jobs in the UK?
The UK nuclear industry is at the cusp of a significant transformation. Much of this is due to an immense amount of government investment across the next five years that will create a plethora of new nuclear energy jobs. Engineers in all forms stand to benefit greatly, from those with civil and mechanical skills right through to those working in water management.
Whether you’re an Engineer looking for a fresh and exciting employment prospect or an employer in the nuclear industry, what you’ll find here is a comprehensive exploration of projected nuclear jobs demand, alongside the key skills needed for these positions.
Our technical recruitment experts also offer important advice about how to find talent with transferable engineering skills to fill these open nuclear roles.
While the UK currently generates 15% of its electricity from green nuclear, the government has set an ambitious target to increase this to 25% by 2050. With it comes an investment of £1.7 billion, much of this into new nuclear behemoth builds.
Of course, this means new nuclear energy jobs … and lots of them! According to the most recent Nuclear Workforce Assessment, from 2023 to 2043 the current 83,000-strong nuclear workforce is forecast to rise anywhere between 123,000 to 180,000.
That’s close to a 120% increase in new nuclear jobs, both for seasoned professionals as well as newcomers to the field. In addition, our industry intel tells us that nuclear jobs are stable and very well paid.
To illustrate the scale of new nuclear builds, Somerset’s Hinkley Point C is one of the biggest, employing 9,500 employees. Over 1,000 apprentices have been trained on the project to date, with owners estimating the total project requires 25,000 workers, 900 of who will remain permanently.
Then there’s the Rolls-Royce-led development of Small Modular Reactors in Derby and Warrington. Over 530 jobs have been created, with estimates of 6,000 more.
There’s also recently been an important agreement signed between Australia, the UK and the US to collaborate on nuclear submarine construction. While this extends nuclear application from civilian energy production to a critical national security role, it will also significantly boost the Defence nuclear engineering workforce.
Along with new nuclear builds comes the decommissioning of older structures, many of which are scheduled to retire from 2026 through to 2028. These projects require a diverse team of skilled Engineers, each bringing specialised knowledge to ensure safe, efficient and environmentally responsible operations.
Nuclear Engineers lead with plans for radiation safety and waste management, while Mechanical and Electrical Engineers manage the dismantling of plant systems and electrical components. Civil Engineers focus on structural aspects, Environmental Engineers assess and mitigate environmental impacts, and Chemical Engineers handle the treatment and disposal of radioactive waste.
Health and Safety Engineers do their due diligence in ensuring compliance with safety standards, while Project Engineers and Project Managers oversee the entire undertaking.
As for regional demand, the Southwest, East, Northwest and Southeast are the major hotspots for nuclear jobs in the UK, according to the latest Nuclear Workforce Assessment data.
From our position in technical recruitment, we suggest you focus on candidates with a solid foundation of core engineering competencies. Depending on the role, this may include those from engineering disciplines such as civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering.
Project Managers with experience managing large-scale complex builds are highly valuable, as are those with digital transformation skills, especially as data analysis and cybersecurity are increasingly important in the nuclear field. Experience in a safety-minded industry is also an asset, such as those in chemical or oil and gas.
Soft skills are ever-important. Problem-solving prowess, critical and analytical thinking, and an aptitude for communication and teamwork are indispensable, especially in a field where collaboration across disciplines is the norm.
Ex-military engineers are one example of professionals with transferable skills for UK nuclear jobs. They’re uniquely positioned to bring a wealth of experience to the nuclear work environment, notably their experience with stringent safety protocols, proven capabilities in leadership and teamwork in pressure-filled environments, and problem-solving and resilience skills honed in challenging military contexts. Veterans with backgrounds in naval nuclear engineering and power generation could readily find a place in civilian nuclear environments.
As an employer, you have the chance to be at the forefront of uncovering new nuclear talent by utilising the right technical recruitment strategies.
Here at Alexander Associates, we have a sound knowledge of the UK Nuclear industry. We can be your valued partner in helping you source fresh Engineering talent, or a new opportunity for your Engineering career. Please connect with one of our technical recruitment specialists to find out more.
Whether you’re an Engineer looking for a fresh and exciting employment prospect or an employer in the nuclear industry, what you’ll find here is a comprehensive exploration of projected nuclear jobs demand, alongside the key skills needed for these positions.
Our technical recruitment experts also offer important advice about how to find talent with transferable engineering skills to fill these open nuclear roles.
UK Nuclear Jobs – Current Demand & Projections
According to the Nuclear Industry Association, nuclear energy has saved the UK 2.3 billion tonnes of carbon emissions, far more than any other source.While the UK currently generates 15% of its electricity from green nuclear, the government has set an ambitious target to increase this to 25% by 2050. With it comes an investment of £1.7 billion, much of this into new nuclear behemoth builds.
Of course, this means new nuclear energy jobs … and lots of them! According to the most recent Nuclear Workforce Assessment, from 2023 to 2043 the current 83,000-strong nuclear workforce is forecast to rise anywhere between 123,000 to 180,000.
That’s close to a 120% increase in new nuclear jobs, both for seasoned professionals as well as newcomers to the field. In addition, our industry intel tells us that nuclear jobs are stable and very well paid.
To illustrate the scale of new nuclear builds, Somerset’s Hinkley Point C is one of the biggest, employing 9,500 employees. Over 1,000 apprentices have been trained on the project to date, with owners estimating the total project requires 25,000 workers, 900 of who will remain permanently.
Then there’s the Rolls-Royce-led development of Small Modular Reactors in Derby and Warrington. Over 530 jobs have been created, with estimates of 6,000 more.
There’s also recently been an important agreement signed between Australia, the UK and the US to collaborate on nuclear submarine construction. While this extends nuclear application from civilian energy production to a critical national security role, it will also significantly boost the Defence nuclear engineering workforce.
Along with new nuclear builds comes the decommissioning of older structures, many of which are scheduled to retire from 2026 through to 2028. These projects require a diverse team of skilled Engineers, each bringing specialised knowledge to ensure safe, efficient and environmentally responsible operations.
Nuclear Engineers lead with plans for radiation safety and waste management, while Mechanical and Electrical Engineers manage the dismantling of plant systems and electrical components. Civil Engineers focus on structural aspects, Environmental Engineers assess and mitigate environmental impacts, and Chemical Engineers handle the treatment and disposal of radioactive waste.
Health and Safety Engineers do their due diligence in ensuring compliance with safety standards, while Project Engineers and Project Managers oversee the entire undertaking.
As for regional demand, the Southwest, East, Northwest and Southeast are the major hotspots for nuclear jobs in the UK, according to the latest Nuclear Workforce Assessment data.
Key Nuclear Jobs Skills Needed
As the UK nuclear industry experiences a significant resurgence, the key skills areas needed span three primary categories:- Foundational nuclear engineering skills found among university graduates
- Those with experience in nuclear-specific domains, such as regulation and risk management
- Experts in emerging nuclear technologies including new reactor types and Small Modular Reactors
- Specific examples of in-demand engineering roles include Nuclear, Radiation Protection, Nuclear Safety, Nuclear Decommissioning, Reactor Systems and Radioactive Waste Management Engineers.
Finding professionals with this direct expertise is challenging. It’s therefore important for employers to consider devoting parts of their technical recruitment efforts to identifying candidates with transferable engineering skills.
Finding New Talent with Transferrable Engineering Skills
Identifying candidates with the right mix of skills and experience for the nuclear industry involves looking beyond the conventional talent pool. This is especially the case when specialised nuclear job skills are in scarce supply.From our position in technical recruitment, we suggest you focus on candidates with a solid foundation of core engineering competencies. Depending on the role, this may include those from engineering disciplines such as civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering.
Project Managers with experience managing large-scale complex builds are highly valuable, as are those with digital transformation skills, especially as data analysis and cybersecurity are increasingly important in the nuclear field. Experience in a safety-minded industry is also an asset, such as those in chemical or oil and gas.
Soft skills are ever-important. Problem-solving prowess, critical and analytical thinking, and an aptitude for communication and teamwork are indispensable, especially in a field where collaboration across disciplines is the norm.
Ex-military engineers are one example of professionals with transferable skills for UK nuclear jobs. They’re uniquely positioned to bring a wealth of experience to the nuclear work environment, notably their experience with stringent safety protocols, proven capabilities in leadership and teamwork in pressure-filled environments, and problem-solving and resilience skills honed in challenging military contexts. Veterans with backgrounds in naval nuclear engineering and power generation could readily find a place in civilian nuclear environments.
Further Nuclear Energy Jobs Support
For Engineers looking to take an exciting new step in their career, the UK's nuclear industry offers myriad opportunities, ones that contribute to a more sustainable future.As an employer, you have the chance to be at the forefront of uncovering new nuclear talent by utilising the right technical recruitment strategies.
Here at Alexander Associates, we have a sound knowledge of the UK Nuclear industry. We can be your valued partner in helping you source fresh Engineering talent, or a new opportunity for your Engineering career. Please connect with one of our technical recruitment specialists to find out more.
