Last updated 19:43, Thursday, 10 April 2008

WEST Cumbria’s new £20m nuclear training academy has a new name – Energus.

Formerly the Nuclear Academy, the centre, at Lillyhall, Workington, is due for completion in February next year.

Its first intake of students should be later that year.

The name change is an attempt to encompass a broader remit for the centre – away from just developing nuclear skills to all types of energy production, including renewables.

It is hoped that, as a result, the academy will form a key plank in the Energy Coast plan for West Cumbria, which the government hopes will see the area become a world leader in power production.

The academy will employ between 100 and 150 staff and will offer courses to schoolchildren, school-leavers and adults.

It will be run by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) as the north west flagship of the National Skills Academy for Nuclear (NSAN).

Dr Ian Hudson, chair of Energus and head of engineering and technology at the NDA, said: “We want Energus to become a beacon of excellence within the Energy Coast initiative.

“Training and educating young people, reskilling the existing workforce and helping local business grow and prosper are all key objectives.”

Its first intake of students are expected to be Sellafield apprentices.