Sheffield research centre jobs threat ‘hammer blow’ for nuclear – Research Professional News

Consultation underway on restructuring of Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre

The University of Sheffield is “actively working to reduce the need for redundancies” at its Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, amid reports that 80 per cent of staff are at risk of losing their jobs, described as a “hammer blow” for the nuclear industry.

It has been reported that just 30 of around 150 staff at the Nuclear AMRC will be retained as it becomes part of the university’s broader Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, although these numbers have not been confirmed. The university said that a consultation on the changes is ongoing.

The university-owned Nuclear AMRC is run in collaboration with a range of partners from industry. It was set up in 2011 with a remit to help companies in the nuclear sector solve their manufacturing challenges through research and innovation.

Sheffield vice-chancellor Koen Lamberts said the consultation proposals retain the “core manufacturing research and development activities” of the Nuclear AMRC. It is thought that some of the centre’s other activities—including work on supply chain development, business development and policy work—are no longer considered core to its work by university management.

“The proposals have been shared with our Nuclear AMRC staff and there will be a 90-day consultation to consider the proposals and explore future options,” Lamberts said. “We are actively working to reduce the need for redundancies where possible and we are supporting our staff throughout the change process.”

Martin Freer, director of the Birmingham Energy Institute at the University of Birmingham, said the Nuclear AMRC “forms one of the key cross-over points between university research and the scale up of innovative solutions, and as such the news is a hammer blow to the sector”.

He added: “The work of the centre with the nuclear supply chain related to the fit-for-nuclear programme has been crucial in ensuring UK businesses are able to take advantage of the economic opportunities that nuclear new build provides.”