Working with Horizon Nuclear Power Ltd to develop:

  • joint working on student work and study placements;
  • graduate talent for the nuclear sector;
  • collaboration for research and use of facilities; and
  • educational engagement with local young people to raise awareness of STEM subjects.

Bangor University and Horizon have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for joint working on student work and study placements; collaboration for research and use of facilities; and educational engagement with local young people to raise awareness of STEM subjects.

Horizon has been pro-actively supporting the implementation of this agenda in collaboration with the National Skills Academy for Nuclear (NSAN), the Nuclear Graduates Programme and Hitachi-GE. Horizon now runs annual workshops for students from disciplines ranging from engineering and chemistry to psychology and law. As well as emphasising the diversity of disciplines needed to develop and run a new, modern nuclear facility, Horizon has worked with students on the ‘softer’ employability skills and competencies needed to secure good graduate roles in business and industry

Groups of staff and students from Bangor have also undertaken NSAN Triple Bar accreditation, an assessed course that provides the induction and safety training required to work unsupervised on existing nuclear sites. Other students have taken advantage of the working partnership to undertake placement opportunities on Hitachi-GE’s Internship Programme in Japan. The University is now collaborating with the Centre for Nuclear Engineering at Imperial College London and Hitachi-GE on a newly formed ‘Boiling Water Reactor Research Hub and Network’. Joint appointments, the recruitment of new academic expertise at Bangor and the use of other University assets, such as its new Science Park, M-Sparc, will enhance the partnership. Further investment in this area will mean that Bangor University’s researchers and students become central to supporting Welsh and British nuclear expertise.

‘This agreement furthers our ongoing commitment to supporting skills development and training across North Wales, creating long term career opportunities for the region’s young people. We look forward to working with the University as the Wylfa Newydd project moves forward, utilising the first-class research and development facilities and expertise it has developed over many years.’ Sasha Davies, Head of Strategic Development Wales, Horizon Nuclear Power Ltd.