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Skills are an essential part of the solution for a nuclear sector on the cusp of renaissance. Never before have policy, public sector and private sector intent been so aligned with the technological solutions and skills planning. The consensus arises because nuclear is widely accepted as an important part of a future and diverse energy strategy. Yet these are transition years in which the industry's decisions on skills will define the sector for decades to come. In this transitional term, it is therefore crucial that the skills and productivity of the workforce demonstrate early potential of UK capability. In response, Cogent Sector Skills Council has undertaken labour market research to establish the current state of skills in the industry and to model the future skills requirements. This analysis is the first stage in a process that leads to training and skills interventions to prevent predicted skills gaps arising and to ensure that the industry has a sustainable skills base, and is in a position to take advantage of the new build opportunities. The research addresses a major gap in national data and provides the evidence base for the authoritative voice on skills needs. Three skills drivers are analysed: an ageing workforce driving replacement demand; a shift in skills to decommissioning; and, demand for skills to operate a new fleet of nuclear power stations. While, the sector may have been aware (anecdotally) of these drivers, the defining contribution of this report is in the robustness of the figures, the in-depth primary data and the peer-reviewed analysis. This will feed the subsequent reports in the 'Renaissance' series which will carry recommendations.

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