The fusion industry is a rapidly growing industry, and more talent is needed to meet the UK’s ambitions of maintaining fusion global leadership. The Fusion Industry Programme (FIP) will aim to scale up the talent acquisition for fusion by funding industry placements each year and offering relevant and accessible careers information, advice and guidance.
For over half a century, fusion research has been almost exclusively performed by publicly funded organisations. This has been supplemented by a significant increase in private fusion investment in recent years, clearly showing an increased confidence in making the fusion dream become a reality.
To fully realise this goal, we must secure a thriving supply chain and talent capable of meeting the needs of a growing fusion industry.
To this end, the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has created the Fusion Industry Programme to stimulate growth of the UK fusion ecosystem and to prepare it for future fusion powerplant markets.
To achieve this, FIP will partner with host organisations to offer students fusion industry placements. FIP can provide funding to companies who have a short-term project (typically 8 weeks long) and would like to offer students the opportunity to gain new skills and an insight into their business.
Industry Summer Placements
UKAEA understands the benefits of providing students with work experience in the fusion industry can have to all parties. Therefore, we are offering undergraduates in the UK the opportunity to work with members of the fusion industry for eight weeks over the summer holidays. These placements will range from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) to key support functions, such as, business development, procurement, finance, project management and others.
How do I apply
If you are interested, the first step is to apply to the hosts you like the sound of. If you have any questions about the scheme and how it works, please do not hesitate to contact fipsummerplacement@ukaea.uk
Affordability
To ensure that people from all backgrounds are able to commit to the placement, UKAEA provides a subsistence payment of £3,000 to each selected applicant.
The UKAEA team have always listened and helped with our issues where they could. It’s not just the support staff, my fellow graduates on the scheme have been instrumental to my development during my time here. We are all supportive of each other and help whenever required.