Nuclear benefits

A new report today (December 4) highlighting the economic and employment benefits of the UK’s civil nuclear industry has received support from Unite.

The study by Oxford Economics revealed that the UK’s civil nuclear sector contributed £6.4bn to the UK economy last year and its 65,000 employees are part of one of the most productive workforces in the country.

“This is an important piece of research demonstrating the importance of nuclear in developing highly skilled workers and sustaining a large supply chain,” said Unite national officer for energy Kevin Coyne.

“The civil nuclear industry is a major generator of low carbon energy and, importantly, a creator of thousands of well paid jobs which, in turn, help to regenerate the communities in which these workers live.

“It is time that we realised the very positive and vast implications of this sector for the UK economy and hope the government, through its much-heralded industrial strategy, will recognise the strategic importance of developing a UK-designed nuclear reactor,” he added.

“Such a reactor would prove significant in meeting our carbon emission targets, developing key export opportunities, and ensuring specialist skills and significant job opportunities for the future.”

The study, commissioned by the Nuclear Industry Association, shows the economic impact increases to £12.4 billion and 155,000 jobs when the sector’s spend on associated goods and services in the supply chain and the wages spent by employees is taken into account