29 June 2011

Costain, the largest provider of construction and engineering services in the UK nuclear decommissioning market, has committed to implementing the Nuclear Skills Passport* supporting the National Skills Academy for Nuclear in the launch of the scheme. 

Costain’s Nuclear Development Director, Alistair Smith, formally sealed the agreement at the Nuclear Industry Association’s Summer Reception.

Costain is working across numerous nuclear sites in the UK where safety and quality is delivered by staff and sub-contractors who are suitably qualified and experienced.  The Nuclear Skills Passport scheme will help to collate and securely hold the training records and accredited qualifications for staff working on nuclear sites which will allow their credentials to be used across all nuclear sites in the UK.

Paul Campbell, Costain’s Nuclear Sector Director, said: “For a company like Costain, which works across numerous nuclear sites, the Nuclear Skills Passport will be of great benefit as training and skills developed on one site can instantly be recognised at other sites making staff more flexible and useful to our clients.  This system will be of even greater value as we move forward to build new nuclear power plants when the demand for staff, with the right nuclear safety culture and training, will increase significantly”.

The Company Charter for the use of the Nuclear Skills Passport was presented to Costain by Jean Llewellyn OBE, Chief Executive of the National Skills Academy for Nuclear.  She said: “The system will revolutionise the evidencing of nuclear skills and is key to the implementation of nuclear industry standards.  I would urge any organisation that is operating in, or wishes to operate in, the nuclear sector to get involved by signing up to the Nuclear Skills Passport.”

* The Nuclear Skills Passport is being implemented across the nuclear industry and will become highly desirable in tendering for work as it will demonstrate capability to nuclear clients in an accredited and consistent manner.  The scheme provides secure Internet access to information on the nuclear skills database, providing a detailed overview of the training completed by individuals.  

 

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