The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Awards for aspiring youngsters

11 March 2008

 

Springfields Fuels Limited has held its annual apprentice awards, recognising the achievements of young engineers and business administrators.

This year saw a new category in business administration and the top award, the Westinghouse Guild Trophy for the Apprentice of the Year, went to 22-year old David Fox who works as a mechanical craftsman in the site’s Oxide Fuels Complex.

Mike Tynan, managing director at Springfields near Preston, said:

“Springfields has always been committed to providing quality apprentice training and this scheme provides the basis of a great career for these trainees.

“The training they receive will help to equip them with the necessary skills to be part of, not only Springfields’ future, but also the industry as a whole as interest in the resurgence of nuclear energy increases worldwide.”

The apprentice scheme has trained more than 1,600 youngsters over 57 years. For past 11 years Springfields has also provided training for apprentices from external companies.

One of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s roles is to promote and ensure the development in the UK of a skilled workforce to undertake the operations at its nuclear sites.

Peter Harrop, the NDA’s programme manager for Springfields, congratulated the winners and added:

“This is a valuable scheme as it helps the nuclear industry to ensure that there are the right skills in place now and in the future, to enable it to meet the needs of decommissioning and operational work.”

Earlier this month Springfields was named as an integral part of a new National Skills Academy for Nuclear (NSAN), which will aim to tackle skill shortages in the nuclear industry across UK.