Derby is home to a number of major employers, but one it is renowned for is Rolls-Royce.
The company will be setting up a new nuclear engineering academy in Derby and has announced it is looking for 200 people for its first intake of apprentices.
The new Rolls-Royce academy will offer hundreds of budding engineers access to some of the finest training expertise in the country when it opens in September.
The new training centre is backed by the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, who are building a £15 million research facility at Derby’s Infinity Park, the National College for Nuclear, the University of Derby and Derby City Council.
The apprenticeship scheme will run every year for at least 10 years, a company spokesperson said. Four different types of apprenticeships are on offer, offering a degree-level qualification in conjunction with practical training. Degree, technician and advanced engineering apprenticeships are available in nuclear engineering, with a business degree apprenticeship also on offer.
Managing Director of Marketing Derby, John Forkin, reacted to the news with: “This news is as significant as it is welcome. Derby hosts one of the UK’s largest clusters of nuclear expertise and the investment in future skills by Rolls-Royce will help deliver greater opportunities for young people to join this growing sector.”
Steve Carlier, president of submarines at Rolls-Royce, said: “We are proud of our unique nuclear capability, and we are fortunate enough to have some of the smartest minds on the planet working for us. But we must maintain this capability if we want to continue to innovate and evolve.”
“Being born and bred in Derby, I am immensely proud that we are playing our part in further boosting the area’s reputation for engineering excellence. The UK is embarking on a nuclear renaissance, and we are determined to make the East Midlands the home of nuclear expertise for decades to come.”
Rolls-Royce, alongside BAE Systems, has recently been awarded contracts worth over £2 billion to build four new Dreadnought nuclear submarines, replacing the Royal Navy’s existing fleet.
Lee Warren, Rolls-Royce Submarines engineering and technology director, said: “Our new academy will not only maintain and develop our nuclear capability for years to come, but it will also provide invaluable STEM qualifications for hundreds of individuals at the very start of their careers. Generations of submariners have put their faith in our nuclear expertise and our new academy will mean we can keep providing them with cutting edge technology to keep them, and the UK, safe.”
Adam Ellis, director of talent and HR at Rolls-Royce SMR, said: “This is a perfect opportunity for talented individuals to join our team and bring new ideas and concepts to the table that will create a legacy for generations to come.”
“We want to build a diverse team of people with a background in science, a passion for nuclear, or from a sector with transferable skills, with a diverse mix of skills and experiences.”
It has appointed recruitment specialists RPOne, part of Salford-based global recruiter, Morson Group, to support its largest recruitment campaign to date. Roles will be open to experienced nuclear professionals, young talent and graduates alike, creating a diverse workforce.
