West Lindsey District Council has welcomed a strategic partnership which promises to boost local careers, training, and clean energy innovation.
A landmark 20-year collaboration between the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) to develop fusion energy skills was announced today (30 June Monday).
The Fusion Skills Collaboration will play a critical role in preparing the region’s workforce to support the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) – the UK’s first prototype fusion energy powerplant – at the West Burton site, close to Gainsborough.
As a named partner in the collaboration, West Lindsey District Council has pledged to help ensure that local communities benefit directly from this once-in-a-generation investment in clean energy and workforce development.
Cllr Lesley Rollings, Deputy Leader of West Lindsey District Council, added:
“Working with our partners in the East Midlands, we are delighted that the Fusion Skills Collaborative has reached this important milestone. We will now work together to ensure that our communities can benefit from the training opportunities that the STEP Programme offers to our area.”
The news comes just weeks after the government announced it is investing £2.5 billion over 5 years in research and development for fusion energy.
It also follows an economic impact assessment jointly commissioned by the council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Bassetlaw District Council and Lincolnshire County Council and partly funded by UKAEA. The assessment identified the economy of West Lindsey could grow by over £100 million for the next 40 years.
Director of Planning, Regeneration and Communities at the council, Sally Grindrod-Smith said:
“This is a significant moment for West Lindsey and the surrounding region. The collaboration to develop fusion-related skills and training will place our residents and young people at the forefront of one of the most exciting clean energy developments in the world. As a partner to this long-term collaboration, we are committed to ensuring local people can access the high-quality training, apprenticeships and future employment opportunities that STEP will generate. This is about creating a highly skilled, future-ready workforce right here in our communities – and making sure that the benefits of this investment are felt locally for decades to come.”
The STEP programme, led by UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS), is expected to generate up to 6,500 high-skilled jobs at the West Burton site and surrounding business park, with the majority requiring Level 3+ and Level 4+ qualifications. Training will be delivered through a network of regional providers, including sites in Greater Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire, and across the East Midlands.
This long-term investment in skills and training will underpin the UK’s global leadership in fusion energy and contribute to clean, sustainable growth in the region. Construction of the prototype powerplant is expected to begin in the early 2030s, with first operations targeted for 2040.
Julian Free CBE, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Regional Engagement), University of Lincoln, commented:
“The University of Lincoln is proud to contribute to this strategically important collaboration, which supports our vision to be a transformative university driving regional prosperity.
“The Fusion Skills Collaborative presents a significant opportunity to strengthen the talent pipeline, support innovation in clean energy, and ensure that our region is equipped with the high-level skills needed for the industries of the future.”
More information on STEP is available at: https://step.ukaea.uk