Katherine Hughes, Cyber Apprentice, at Energus
The annual awareness week, now in its 12th year, brings together apprentices and employers from across the UK to celebrate the success of apprenticeships. It encourages people of all ages to choose an apprenticeship as a pathway to a great career.
Running until 8 March, NAW 2019 theme of 'Blaze a Trail' highlights how apprentices bring new energy and passion into organisations.
The NDA group has supported around 2,000 apprenticeships and hundreds more are currently employed, training in the latest skills which include cyber, design, ICT, scientific, mechanical, electrical, project management and even firefighting.
Between now and 2021, the NDA group aims to support increasing apprenticeships in the nuclear sector from 2,000 to 4,000 per year. It will also focus on projects between civil and defence nuclear sectors.
Apprenticeships at supply chain firms will also increase by 20%, particularly at smaller companies.
The value of apprenticeships has long been championed: they providing students with vital on-the-job training as well as the chance to earn while they learn. They also form a crucial part of the NDA's commitment to the Nuclear Sector Deal which sets out the need to have a skilled workforce capable of tackling the future challenges of the nuclear industry.
Jacq Longrigg, Head of Skills at the NDA, said:
Apprenticeships are absolutely vital for us when it comes to making sure that we have the right skills in place to be able to complete the challenge of decommissioning our nuclear facilities.
Apprenticeships play a key role in bridging our nation's skills gap and play a part in our commitment to the Nuclear Sector Deal and the work of the Nuclear Skills Strategy Group.
