Offering opportunity for the future fuel cycle workforce

AFCP is positioning partners across the UK to influence national nuclear ambition. David Hughes, Head of Advisory at DBD, summarises the impact that AFCP collaboration is having on future-proofing his company’s talent pool and work opportunity.

Challenge

Retaining skills on a national scale

At a time when future large-scale nuclear projects are shrinking, the UK must maintain and grow our experienced nuclear fuel cycle capability to be in a position to take advantage of future opportunities.

Solution

Shaping opportunity for training and influence

AFCP allows DBD to develop and maintain fuel cycle capabilities and experience at a time when commercial opportunities are reducing in the UK, whilst enabling us to help shape a national mission. And as an SME, this programme enables us to us to have a “voice” in steering a national programme.

Impact

Providing meaningful foundations for future innovation

In being part of a national UK programme that supports Net Zero, our work in AFCP is positive from a reputation point of view and allows us to develop and maintain fuel cycle capabilities and experience – especially within junior members of staff – to support future new missions in the UK and internationally.

Our AFCP project has provided a stable level of work, which has enabled us to invest in developing our early career resources in fuel cycle technology. This is invaluable at a time when it is becoming harder to gain real experience in this area.

AFCP has provided a base load from which DBD can build and maintain resources in fuel cycle technology that support future projects when they arise in 5-10 years, but where there is no current commercial mission.

Our work has also enabled us to form working relationships with other organisations we’d met through AFCP. By being a national programme, AFCP also helps establish credibility in this area for us as an SME, which will translate to opportunities outside the UK.

AFCP is part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) £505m Energy Innovation Programme.