A "Just Transition" for workers in the nuclear and wider energy sectors has long been a key part of Prospect's campaigning on energy and decommissioning issues.

Prospect national secretary Richard Hardy said that although the devil was in the detail, today's announcement is a clear statement of commitment to a "Just Transition" and Prospect applauds the company for taking this step.

Prospect activists at Dounreay have spent a long time working on the socio-economic issues facing members and the wider community of Caithness, Wester Ross and Sutherland as work toward decommissioning Dounreay continues.

Hardy said this announcement was a tribute to their engagement on a key issue for members.

"I'd like to thank Phil Craig and his leadership team, along with our team of reps at Dounreay for this excellent piece of work," said Hardy.

"Just Transition is vital for our members who are decommissioning the nuclear estate and I hope that other decommissioning sites will be able to follow suit."

"While not all of the future jobs will be in Caithness, Wester Ross and Sutherland, we hope that working with DSRL, the Cavendish Dounreay Partnership and local politicians Prospect can play its part in ensuring that as many high- quality union jobs are maintained in the region for the long term," concluded Hardy.

Prospect is the largest union across the civil nuclear estate and has more than 250 members employed at Dounreay.