The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has announced that its Culham Science Centre will undergo a £13m expansion.
The centre is funded through the Fusion Foundations Programme.
The UKAEA intends to use the extension as an opportunity to grow the Oxfordshire Advanced Skills (OAS) programme and launch new apprenticeships in space and robotics.
The centre’s launch ceremony included OAS apprentices, who were joined by representatives from UKAEA, as well as training, funding and construction partners.
David Martin, UKAEA’s director of OAS, said: “It is an exciting time for OAS as we look to build on our success of equipping the local community and employers with the skills needed to drive fusion energy and adjacent sectors forward.
“OAS aims to create the next generation of engineering talent and upskill the existing workforce.
“The new courses will empower UK manufacturers to adopt transformative technology in space and robotics, helping businesses to better compete in the global marketplace.”
The expansion is a UK government-backed initiative to support research into fusion, which has potential as a sustainable energy alternative.
