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4th February – MyKnowledgeMap support launch of National Skills Academy for Nuclear

MyKnowledgeMap (MKM) was delighted to support the launch of the National Skills Academy for Nuclear last week at an event held at the Science Museum, London.

The Skills Academy, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cogent, the Sector Skills Council for the chemicals, pharmaceuticals, nuclear, oil and gas, petroleum and polymer industries, will assist nuclear employers in tackling the current and future skills barriers and challenges facing the nuclear industry. Cogent SSC and Skills Academy research has identified the nuclear sector will need to recruit between 5,900-9,000 graduates and 2,700 to 4,500 skilled trades over the next ten years to meet the on-going needs of decommissioning, power generation, the fuel cycle and defence. In addition, there will now be further recruitment and training needs to deliver the recently announced new build programme efficiently and safely.

MyKnowledgeMap is providing a Passport and Upskilling Platform for the academy, a feature designed to record personal learning and development in a transferable record. The platform is being developed in partnership with Cogent as a result of evidence which indicates a clear demand for a tool that can record all skills development, training and Continuing Professional Development undertaken by individuals working across the sector. It will give employees a clear record of achievement and the ability to develop their careers throughout the sector. Leading personal identity card supplier Payne Security are partnering with MyKnowledgeMap to produce the cards for the system which integrates the contactless smart card technology used by Transport for London’s Oystercard with a version of MKM’s Multi-Port e-portfolio system to provide secure, web-based learning accounts.

This work complements MyKnowledgeMap’s recent work for various sector skills councils, including an online hub for the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink Manufacturing, a prototype online hub for SkillsActive’s National Skills Academy submission and the same Passport and Upskilling Platform for the National Skills Academy for the Process Industries.

MyKnowledgeMap CEO Rob Arntsen attended the launch on the 31st January, where the National Skills Academy for Nuclear was officially launched by Skills Minister David Lammy and Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks. The event attracted over 175 Nuclear employers, training providers and key stakeholders.

The Skills Academy operates via a network of Regional Training Clusters, developing and accrediting local high quality provision, and creating “centres of excellence” for the delivery of training to support the nuclear sector, enhanced where appropriate to respond to specific skills gaps as identified by employers. The National Skills Academy for Nuclear will play a transformational role for the sector. The changing skills mix required by the nuclear sector, demands increased flexibility and mobility. As the transition from operating, to decommissioning, through to new build takes place, a flow of matching skills will be needed.

Additionally the Skills Academy is leading on the development of a range of employer demanded activities including Apprenticeships, Foundation Degrees and other learning resources to further develop skills across the sector.

A pilot of the Passport and Upskilling Platform is due to start in March 2008.