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Regional West Cumbria

MP wants a review because Cumbrian firms keep losing staff to Sellafield MP asks for review as Cumbrian firms lose staff to Sellafield

By Kris WM, editor 3 min read From timesandstar.co.uk
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MP asks for review as Cumbrian firms lose staff to Sellafield
Photo: Reading Tom via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Penrith and Solway MP Markus Campbell-Savours says Cumbrian firms are losing admin staff, tradespeople, nurses and teachers to Sellafield. He's asked the Government to review the NDA's social impact duties.

If you run a business in West Cumbria and you've lost someone to Sellafield, you're not on your own. An MP's just said so in Parliament.

Markus Campbell-Savours, Labour MP for Penrith and Solway, has asked the Government to review the social impact duties of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). He said the draw of Sellafield and the wider nuclear industry isn't just about engineers. It's pulling in administrators, tradespeople, nurses and teachers too, and businesses across Cumbria are frustrated about it.

He asked whether the Secretary of State would consider "a review of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's social impact duties under the Energy Act 2004, and its impact on the growth and diversity of the wider Cumbria economy."

Dan Tomlinson answered for the Government: "Nuclear and Sellafield are an important part of Cumbria's economy, and the NDA's social impact work is vital." He also said: "I agree that all parties must continue to work together to grow and diversify Cumbria's economy, and the Government have provided good growth funding to the new Cumbria strategic authority to do just that." In the reply reported, he didn't promise a review.

Sellafield's spokesperson said: "We are delivering a nationally important clean-up mission while providing significant opportunities for local people and businesses." They said the site works with its supply chain, education providers and employers, and "invests millions of pounds each year in social impact programmes that support local communities".

It's a tension plenty of local employers will know. Sellafield offers good, steady work, but a small firm is competing for the same people. If it's hitting your business, tell your MP or your local business group.

Markus Campbell-Savours told MPs that businesses are losing administrators, tradespeople, nurses and teachers to Sellafield and the nuclear sector. He asked the Government to review the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's social impact duties.

This is for West Cumbrian employers, anyone hiring for a local business, and people weighing up a move into the nuclear sector.

Markus Campbell-Savours, Labour MP for Penrith and Solway, has asked the Government to review the social impact responsibilities of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). He raised it in the House of Commons, saying the pull of Sellafield and the wider nuclear industry reaches well beyond specialist engineering jobs.

He said businesses across Cumbria are frustrated at losing staff to Sellafield, including administrators, tradespeople, nurses and teachers, as well as engineers and project managers. He asked whether the Secretary of State would consider "a review of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's social impact duties under the Energy Act 2004, and its impact on the growth and diversity of the wider Cumbria economy."

Replying for the Government, Dan Tomlinson said: "Nuclear and Sellafield are an important part of Cumbria's economy, and the NDA's social impact work is vital." He added: "I agree that all parties must continue to work together to grow and diversify Cumbria's economy, and the Government have provided good growth funding to the new Cumbria strategic authority to do just that." He did not commit to a review in the reply reported.

A Sellafield spokesperson said: "We are delivering a nationally important clean-up mission while providing significant opportunities for local people and businesses." They said the company works with its supply chain, education providers and employers, and "invests millions of pounds each year in social impact programmes that support local communities".

The exchange shows a tension that many West Cumbrian employers will recognise: the nuclear sector offers well-paid, secure work, but small firms in other trades compete with it for the same people. Anyone running a local business can raise the issue with their MP or through local business groups.