A new training initiative for nuclear employers to help increase workforce diversity and create more inclusive workplaces is now open to employers.
Delivered by training organisation EqualEngineers, the course – Engineering a Winning Workforce: Engaging the Majority – aims to help address industry skills gaps and improve staff wellbeing and retention.
Following on from Diversity and Inclusion in UK Nuclear’s 2019 landmark conference, which brought together the nuclear sector, the course aims to attract a wider array of new recruits to the nuclear sector, and, at the same time, tackle workforce diversity and inclusion. This action is in partnership with the ECITB, who are funding the course for all in-scope engineering construction employers, and Diversity and Inclusion in UK Nuclear, who are part-funding the course delivery.
Getting established
EqualEngineers founder Dr Mark McBride-Wright has created the course to encourage engineers to adapt their familiarity with positive safety cultures into new approaches to inclusive and safe workplaces using the same principles.
Dr McBride-Wright said: “Our training has been delivered to major engineering employers in the defence, aerospace, rail and energy sectors. We engage with these male-majority teams of engineers, technicians and operatives to reshape the narrative around equality, diversity and inclusion efforts in a way that they feel included and informed.”
Industry support
Chris Claydon, ECITB Chief Executive, said: “This is a great initiative that recognises both the need to recruit from a more diverse talent pool and to create an inclusive workplace that gives current employees a sense of belonging and purpose. We know from consultation with engineering construction employers that diversity and inclusion are priority issues and this is reflected in our new three-year strategy which received the overwhelming backing of industry in October.
“We are particularly keen to boost diversity in the sector and this is just one initiative to encourage, more ethnic diversity, more female representation, LGBT+ candidates, disabled candidates and those who are coming from more deprived areas, to embark on a career in nuclear,” Chris said.
Diversity and Inclusion in UK Nuclear co-founder, Monica Mwanje said: “The workshop shares practical tips and tools and provides space for important and nuanced discussion. By taking the workshop to different locations around the UK, we are aiming to make it easier for people to participate and benefit from this training.”
Workforce targets
Currently the nuclear industry is 22% female, but the Government’s Nuclear Sector deal sets a challenging target of a 40% female workforce by 2030. Research consistently demonstrates the diverse and inclusive workforces lead to better business, through increased productivity and innovation, and therefore will contribute to the cost reduction and export targets outlined in the Nuclear Sector Deal.
The ECITB is working in partnership with the Nuclear Skills Strategy Group (NSSG) to support entry of those from under-represented groups into the engineering construction workforce.
Booking
The course will be offered nationwide with key dates in locations where there are clusters of nuclear sector companies. For further information visit: http://bit.ly/NuclearTrainingTour2020
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Notes to Editors
About EqualEngineers
EqualEngineers is making the Engineering & Technology sectors more diverse and inclusive. Our belief is that the sector lacks in diversity and inclusion of under-represented groups, which is proven to increase performance, growth and innovation, as well as improve health, safety and wellbeing. EqualEngineers provides a solution to this through training, recruitment, consultancy and events including careers fairs, conferences and awards.
About the ECITB
The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) is the skills, standards and qualifications body for the development of the engineering construction workforce – the sector responsible for designing, installing, repairing and decommissioning process plant infrastructure in Great Britain. An arms-length body of the UK Government, the ECITB is funded by a levy collected from the industry, the proceeds of which are used to support employers train and upskill their workforce to industry standards.
About Diversity and Inclusion in UK Nuclear
Diversity and Inclusion in UK Nuclear was set up as a space for people managers within the UK nuclear industry to share ideas and experiences, ask questions and work together to achieve diversity and inclusion. The group provides useful, practical and balanced information and support around diversity and inclusion.