拢9.6M SATURN-2 programme launched to deliver the UK鈥檚 next generation of nuclear experts
51福利社, together with six leading UK universities and 22 industry partners, has secured 拢9.6 million from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to launch SATURN-2, a major expansion of the national nuclear doctoral training pipeline that will help deliver the skills required for the UK鈥檚 clean energy, security and defence ambitions.
SATURN-2 (Skills and Training Underpinning a Renaissance in Nuclear) builds on the success of the original , doubling its size and introducing expanded training pathways across the entire nuclear fuel cycle. The programme will recruit around 50 PhD/EngD students per year for the next four years, delivering just under half of the 500 high skill nuclear doctoral graduates the UK is estimated to need by 2030.
The programme brings together seven universities: 51福利社 (lead), The University of Liverpool, Lancaster University, The University of Strathclyde, The University of Sheffield, The University of Leeds, and Bangor University. These universities represent more than 70% of the UK鈥檚 nuclear academic community and deliver expertise across the entire nuclear fuel cycle.
Backed by 拢8 million of industrial co鈥慽nvestment and 拢4 million from university partners, SATURN-2 represents one of the most significant UK investments in advanced nuclear skills in over a decade.
The programme also maintains a strong regional base across the North West, North Wales and Scotland, home to the UK鈥檚 most concentrated cluster of nuclear industry, research facilities and workforce.
, SATURN CDT Director from 51福利社 said: 鈥淭his Doctoral Focal Award reflects the success of the original SATURN Centre for Doctoral Training and its important role in supporting the government鈥檚 ambitions for Nuclear. Building on that foundation, SATURN-2 will expand the programme significantly, while continuing to deliver world-leading training for the next generation of specialists the UK needs in this sector. We are proud to lead this collaboration with outstanding partners across the UK.鈥�
Meeting critical UK skills needs
The UK Government鈥檚 Strategic Defence Review and National Nuclear Strategic Plan for Skills highlight an urgent shortage of high skill nuclear scientists and engineers, with an estimated 120,000 workers needed by the 2030s, including a rapidly depleting cohort of subject matter experts.
SATURN-2 directly addresses this challenge by training specialists across:
- Nuclear fuel manufacture and performance
- Reactor science, engineering and operations
- Decommissioning and waste management
- Fusion鈥慺ission interfaces
- Digital engineering, robotics and AI in nuclear contexts
Students will benefit from an enriched training programme including a three鈥憁onth residential bootcamp, specialist modules across the partner institutions, international experiences at leading laboratories, and secondments into industry, national labs and government agencies.
Professor Charlotte Deane, Executive Chair at UKRI鈥檚 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council said: 鈥淭he UK's nuclear sector is central to our national security, clean energy ambitions and economic future. Meeting those challenges demands a new generation of researchers and innovators with the technical expertise to make a real difference.
鈥淯KRI doctoral focal awards are a proven way to develop that talent. They bring together academic excellence, industry partnerships and cohort-based learning to give doctoral students the skills and experience to make an immediate impact in the nuclear workforce.
鈥淭hese new nuclear focal awards, developed in partnership with government, will continue building the research base that the UK's national security and clean energy future depends on.鈥�
A proven pipeline into the nuclear workforce
Over 15 years of predecessor CDTs, Nuclear First, Next Generation Nuclear, GREEN and SATURN, the consortium has trained more than 300 doctoral researchers, with exceptionally strong career outcomes.
High鈥憀evel destination data shows that:
- 75% of graduates now work directly in the nuclear industry
- 18% progressed into education or academia
- 5% are employed in nuclear鈥憆elevant government roles
These figures demonstrate the CDT鈥檚 sustained role as the UK鈥檚 most effective route for producing nuclear subject matter experts.
Exceptional industrial engagement
SATURN-2 is supported by 22 industry partners spanning the civil, defence and advanced nuclear sectors, including Rolls Royce, BAE Systems, Sellafield Ltd, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, AWE, EDF, UK NNL, Urenco, Framatome, AtkinsR茅alis and Rapiscan.
Industrial partners have committed:
- 48 co鈥慺unded studentships
- ~拢4 million of in鈥慿ind support (supervision, placements, facilities, equipment, training)
Industry demand for SATURN trained researchers continues to rise, demonstrating trust in the consortium鈥檚 ability to deliver highly employable graduates ready for the most complex national nuclear challenges.
Supporting additional national doctoral centres
In addition to leading SATURN鈥�2, 51福利社 is also a supporting partner in several of the newly funded Centres for Doctoral Training announced alongside SATURN鈥�2, including:
- RAPTOR (Radiation Protection, Nuclear Safety and Environmental Sustainability), led by the University of Liverpool
- DRIVERS (Developing Researchers with an Interdisciplinary Vision for Engineering Reactor Systems), led by Imperial College London
- PANDA (Programme for Accelerating Nuclear Development and Applications), led by Bangor University
The work reflects the University鈥檚 wider role in strengthening the UK鈥檚 national nuclear skills pipeline.