Members of Prospect, the largest union in the nuclear sector, are meeting with energy industry leaders to debate the way forward for the delivery of new nuclear provision in the UK at a meeting on Tuesday October 3. The event, which will be held in camera, will provide an opportunity for industry stakeholders to produce a consensus view on the how the government should shape the policy framework for the next generation of nuclear plant.

Keynote speakers addressing the meeting will be Bill Coley, Chief Executive of British Energy, and Vincent de Rivaz, Chief Executive of EDF Energy.

Speaking before the event, Prospect General Secretary Paul Noon said: "Nuclear must be part of the future energy mix and we must now move without further delay from policy to delivery. Ministers must come up with proposals to give industry and the City confidence over a long period that their money will not be wasted because of a change in political direction."

Similarly, warned Noon, action is urgently needed to ensure an adequate skills base across the industry, or nuclear new-build will never get off the drawing board. "Evidence already reveals skills shortages across industry, including power generation, nuclear and renewables."

Other speakers include: Rhys Stanwix, Head of Energy Strategy, Scottish and Southern Energy; Jim Wright, Director of Strategy and Development at Amec Nuclear Ltd; John Holton, Strategic Development Director of Cogent, the Sector Skills Council; Richard Waite, Engineering and Waste Management Director at the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority; David Powell, Regional Director of Westinghouse; and Peter Bleasdale, Managing Director of Nexia Solution. Views from the meeting will inform Prospect’s response to the government’s current consultation on a framework for new nuclear build which closes on October 31.