The ECITB Council has appointed Jamie White, Director of Strategic Partnerships at National College for Nuclear (NCfN) and Construction Skills Capability Lead at EDF, as Chair of the ECITB’s new Nuclear Skills Forum.
The forum, comprising representatives from engineering construction industry companies operating in the nuclear sector, will identify the priorities to inform the ECITB’s Nuclear Skills Plan.
Jamie will also represent the voice of the companies in the sector at the ECITB Council where he will be the representative for nuclear sector skills alongside the ECITB’s regional chairs and other council members.
Jamie said: “With the government’s ambition to accelerate nuclear power in Britain over the next decade, our ability to attract new entrants and develop skills in the sector is crucial for us to deliver a secure, low carbon and sustainable energy source to the UK. I am delighted to take up this role and work with ECITB’s in-scope companies to ensure the key priorities of the sector are reflected in ECITB’s work programmes and strategies.”
Andrew Hockey, CEO at the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), said: “The Nuclear Skills Forum will be a central pillar to ensure the ECITB remains responsive to the nuclear sector’s changing needs.
“Through his skills, experience and knowledge, Jamie will be a real asset to the forum, the ECITB and the wider sector.”
Jamie has been involved in skills and training throughout his working life, starting with a 20-year career as an officer in the RAF.
He served in a number of war zones where leadership and meticulous planning were the expectation.
He was involved in Battle Management, Intelligence and Flight Operations as well as United Nations Peacekeeping and NATO Ambassadorial roles.
Jamie then joined the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), holding a number of senior roles in his 10-year tenure, including the Head of the National Skills Academy for Construction.
During that time he was involved in many large-scale projects including TTT, the Olympic 2012 build, Highways Agency projects (M25 widening) and Building Schools for the Future.
He joined EDF in 2014 as its Central Training Manager for Hinkley Point C (HPC) and has held roles such as the Construction and Onboarding Manager as well as Senior Strategic Partnership Manager, working both directly for HPC and the wider EDF business.
He was responsible for many strategic projects including HPC’s apprenticeship strategy as well as the ‘Centres of Excellence’ concept.
With a wealth of knowledge around funding and labour market intelligence, he is now on secondment to the NCfN team with an aim to expand the footprint of the college into the south east. This will have a particular focus on Sizewell C and the Green Energy Skills agenda.
The ECITB is working with in-scope companies operating in the nuclear sector to identify forum representatives. Any companies interested in getting involved should contact Thomas Docherty at thomas.docherty@ecitb.gov.uk
