Nuclear project academy goes national
26/05/2026
A UK-wide training programme is being launched by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) to support the development of project professionals across the nuclear sector. The One NDA Project Academy is an expansion of a programme initially launched at Sellafield in 2016 and will support employees at the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s 17 sites in England, Scotland and Wales.
The news comes as the University of Cumbria was confirmed as the academy’s operator, continuing a relationship that began when the initiative started ten years ago.
Previously known as the Project Academy for Sellafield, it has helped more than 7000 people advance their careers through the academy’s programmes. Primarily for Sellafield Ltd employees, the academy also took learners from large and small businesses in Cumbria.
It offers more than 60 courses across a range of disciplines, including project management, quality, health and safety, risk, stakeholder management and project controls. From short courses to degree programmes, all are designed to meet the evolving demands of infrastructure delivery.
Jacq Longrigg, NDA Group People Development Director, said: “The Project Academy has pioneered a fresh approach to professional development in programme and project delivery, setting new standards for the UK skills agenda.
“Now, the academy will move onto the next phase and provide development opportunities for all our project and programme community across the NDA Group.
“We are proud to invest in our people, our communities and in the successful delivery of our mission.”
Under its new contract, the University of Cumbria will lead the academy for six years, with the option to extend for a further three.
Kate Dixon, Director of the Institute of Engineering at University of Cumbria, said: “We are delighted to continue our collaboration with Sellafield Ltd and the NDA Group.
“The academy has become an important part of our identity, benefiting thousands of people and many businesses across the region. Its success has inspired similar programmes with BAE Systems, the BBC and the NHS, and it all began at Sellafield.”
Andy Sharples, Project Director for Sellafield Ltd, said: “I have seen first-hand the impact the Project Academy has had on people, who are now helping us to deliver infrastructure projects at one of the UK’s most complex sites.
“We are excited to help create a sustainable pipeline of talent to support not only Sellafield, but any infrastructure programme in the UK.”
www.sellafieldsites.com
