THE Government has announced £15 million in funding to set up the National College for Nuclear headquartered in west Cumbria and Somerset.

The college is one of five National Colleges that will create the workforce of tomorrow by delivering high-level technical training to thousands of learners across England

Set across two hubs – one at Lakes College, Lillyhall, and one in Somerset  – the college aims to train more than 7,000 learners by 2020

The college  is set to open its doors in late 2017.

It will meet the demand for highly skilled workers in the nuclear sector and will offer courses designed by employers for a range of highly specialised careers.

Skills Minister Nick Boles said: “This is the investment in high-tech skills that businesses are crying out for.

"We have made it a priority to work with employers to deliver high-quality, technical education and clear routes to employment that deliver economic growth and create opportunities for our young people, and enable our existing workforce to upskill and retrain for the jobs of the future.

“The National Colleges have been designed with employers, for employers. They will produce the skills needed now and into the future to ensure the UK remains innovative and at the forefront of pioneering industry.”

The National College for Nuclear is being funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), with additional support from the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership for the southern Hub.

Sellafield Ltd and EDF Energy will lead industry input into the nuclear college, working alongside Lakes and Bridgwater colleges, plus higher education providers, University of Cumbria and University of Bristol.

Colin Reed, Sellafield Ltd human resources director and board chairman for the National College for Nuclear, said: "The announcement means that work will now begin on developing the curriculum which will help to train the next generation of nuclear workers.

"It is expected that new qualifications will be available in 2017 that reflect the needs of the nuclear sector and address the skills challenge facing the industry and its supply chain."