Bridgwater & Taunton College’s National College for Nuclear, Southern Hub (NCfN) has won the SEMTA award for Skills Innovation of the Year, beating stiff competition from Jaguar Land Rover and Toyota Manufacturing.

The Skills Innovation of the Year category examines the ways in which organisations have harnessed the latest technology to improve their delivery of skills training, and the positive impact this has had on the workforce.

The College has used virtual reality simulation to recreate a ‘live’ installation, meaning that students become immersed a nuclear environment. Working in teams on ‘live’ work-based projects, they assimilate and practice skills in complete safety, whilst also coming to understand the protocols and behaviours so important to nuclear safety.

Andy Berry, Principal of Bridgwater & Taunton College (BTC) said “New technology has an important role to play in training the nuclear workforce of tomorrow. Virtual reality enables students to experience and learn from a range of different scenarios, honing their skills and required behaviours in a safe environment, which would not be possible in a live installation. To be recognised as a leader in this field against stiff competition, is a demonstration of our commitment to partner industry, and support them in the creation of a highly skilled and dynamic workforce needed to re-energise UK industry and drive its future success.”

Bridgwater & Taunton College successfully applied for grant funding from the Edge Foundation and Ufi Charitable Trust in support of this project and has also received financial support from Framatome.