Rolls-Royce Submarines has revealed that the iHub, on Derby’s Infinity Park, will be the home of its new nuclear training academy.
The engineering giant, which powers the UK’s underwater defence, announced last month that the dedicated Nuclear Skills Academy in Derby will launch along with 200 new nuclear apprenticeships in September 2022.
Now it has announced that it will be based at the iHub, which is owned by Derby City Council and managed by Connect Derby.
The academy will be run in partnership with the University of Derby and offer 200 new apprenticeship places every year for at least the next 10 years.
Steve Carlier, president of submarines at Rolls-Royce, said: “We are fortunate enough to have some of the smartest minds on the planet working for us and the iHub is the perfect place to nurture and develop the nuclear experts of tomorrow.”
Rolls-Royce Submarines has been providing and managing nuclear propulsion plants for the UK’s nuclear sub fleet for 60 years. That includes frontline support across the world from its operations centre in Derby and in the Barrow-in-Furness shipyard and the naval bases at Devonport and Faslane.
Its work ensures submariners have the power to protect the UK’s interests at home and further afield and the new Nuclear Skills Academy will maintain that capability into the future.
Mr Carlier said: “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.”
The new apprenticeships will be led by the University of Derby and will be spread across four courses – nuclear engineering degree apprenticeship, business degree apprenticeship, nuclear engineering technician apprenticeship and advanced engineering apprenticeship.
As well as being home to the Nuclear Skills Academy, Infinity Park will also be home to a Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre.
Currently under construction, the Nuclear AMRC building will be dedicated to research and development, supporting productivity growth and sustainability within in nuclear manufacturing.
The building will also be home to the University of Derby’s Institute for Innovation in Sustainable Manufacturing (IISE), which will carry out research, innovation, supply chain development and teaching.
The Government wants nuclear power to underpin the country’s move away from fossil fuel.
Councillor Chris Poulter, leader of the city council, said: “It’s so important that we grow and nurture talent in Derby, and with 2,000 apprenticeships set to be created over the next 10 years, we’re delighted to be facilitating such a significant project through the use of our iHub. The creation of this Skills Academy is a really exciting opportunity for Derby.
“We have already firmly cemented our name as world leaders in innovation and technology, and with the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC) and University of Sheffield, the National College for Nuclear, and the University of Derby all supporting this project, we’re poised for success once more.”
Professor Kathryn Mitchel CBE, vice-chancellor of the University of Derby, said it would “further enhance Derby’s international reputation as a centre for industrial innovation and keep the city at the cutting edge of engineering and manufacturing”.
https://www.business-live.co.uk/manufacturing/rolls-royce-submarines-reveals-site-24124326