University of Lincoln Supports Fusion Energy Collaboration to Boost Regional Career Opportunities
1 July 2025
Written by: Callum Thomas
The University of Lincoln is part of a landmark new collaboration that will shape the future of clean energy and boost skills and career opportunities across the East Midlands.
The Fusion Skills Collaboration, a 20-year strategic partnership between the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), was announced on 30 June, focused on developing the specialist skills needed to deliver the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP).
The STEP programme, led by UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS), is a major national initiative that will see the creation of the UK’s first prototype fusion energy powerplant at West Burton, near Gainsborough. Construction is expected to begin in the early 2030s, with first operations targeted for 2040.
The Fusion Skill Collaboration will deliver fusion-related education and training, including apprenticeships, vocational courses, and specialist high-level qualifications through a network of regional providers, including in Greater Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire, and the wider East Midlands. The collaboration will not only provide crucial skills for the STEP programme but also support the growth of the fusion industry across the region.
The University of Lincoln is a partner in the collaboration working to ensure the region’s workforce is equipped to captialise on this once-in-a-generation opportunity.
Julian Free CBE, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Regional Engagement) at the University of Lincoln, said: “The University of Lincoln is proud to contribute to this strategically important collaboration, which supports our vision to be a transformative university driving regional prosperity.
“The Fusion Skills Collaborative presents a significant opportunity to strengthen the talent pipeline, support innovation in clean energy, and ensure that our region is equipped with the high-level skills needed for the industries of the future.”
Initial training will focus on the engineering and project delivery skills needed for the plant’s design phase, evolving over time to include construction and operational expertise. Training provision will be designed to remain flexible, adapting as the STEP programme develops throughout the 2030s.
The STEP programme is expected to generate up to 6,500 high-skilled jobs at the West Burton site and surrounding business park, with the majority requiring Level 3+ and Level 4+ qualifications.
This long-term investment in skills and training will underpin the UK’s global leadership in fusion energy and contribute to clean, sustainable growth in the region and the formation of the Fusion Skills Collaboration comes just weeks after the government announced it is investing £2.5 billion over five years in research and development for fusion energy.
More information on STEP is available at: https://step.ukaea.uk