University of Cumbria to lead Project Academy

Previously known as the Project Academy for Sellafield, launched 2016, it has helped more than 7,000 people advance their careers through the academy’s programmes - from Sellafield Ltd staff to local people working for large and small businesses.

It will now expand to support employees across all four organisations of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), covering 17 sites nationwide.

In the 10 years since its launch, the academy has pioneered a fresh approach to education and professional development in programme and project delivery, setting new standards for the UK skills agenda.

Under the new contract, which started in January, the University of Cumbria will lead the academy for six years, with the option to extend for a further three. This long-term commitment ensures world-class project education remains accessible to communities, supply chains, and organisations across the UK.

Kate Dixon Director Institute of Engineering, University of Cumbria, said:

“We are delighted to continue our collaboration with Sellafield Ltd and the NDA Group. The academy has become an important part of our identity, benefiting thousands of people and many businesses across the region. Its success has inspired similar programmes with BAE Systems, the BBC, and the NHS — and it all began at Sellafield.”

The academy offers more than 60 courses across a range of professions involved in project delivery, from project management, to quality, health and safety, risk, stakeholder management and project controls.

These vary from short courses to a range of qualifications and degree programmes.

These pathways equip employees in West Cumbria, Warrington, and anywhere else in the UK with the expertise needed to meet the evolving demands of infrastructure delivery.

Jacq Longrigg, NDA Group People Development Director, said:

“It’s great that we have been able to take the project academy to the next phase and provide development opportunities for all our project and programme community across the NDA group.

“The academy provides education for Degree Apprentices at the start of their career through to professional development at all stages of the career pathway.

“We are proud to invest in our people, our communities, and in the successful delivery of our mission.

Andy Sharples, Project Director, Sellafield Ltd, said:

“I’ve seen first-hand the impact of the Project Academy has had on people, who are now helping us to deliver infrastructure projects at one of the UK’s most complex sites.

“We’re excited to help create a sustainable pipeline of talent to support not only Sellafield, but any infrastructure programme in the UK.”

Delivery partners for the new contract include nationally recognised training providers Provek, 20/20 Project Management, RPC UK and the CITB National Construction College, small and family businesses in Cumbria including C-OMS, Clint Stamper Training and Woodward SHE, and specialist providers Prendo and People Deliver Projects. 

The academy is available to members of the public and details of the courses available and how to apply can be accessed here  A Project Academy for Sellafield | University of Cumbria.

Case Studies

Sellafield Ltd.’s 3m3 Box Project Delivery Team

The Project Academy has been used to upskill the team responsible for developing nuclear waste storage boxes to support the retrieval of waste from Sellafield’s oldest and most hazardous facilities.

The whole 3m3 Box Project Delivery Team attended ‘Empowering Project Professionals’ training from the Project Academy, which has made a significant improvement to the performance and culture of the team.

Sam Moore, Project Manager at Sellafield Ltd

 Sam Moore, aged 28 from West Cumbria, began his career as a Project Management Apprentice and has used the academy to progress into his current role as a Senior Capability Manager, helping to deliver major projects.

He said: “I used the academy to obtain a University Certificate in Project Scope Baseline Management, which has me to understand the requirements of programmes and projects in more depth, as well as how to manage and control it. Using professional standards such as the Association for Project Management (APM), it also allows me to exchange learning with other companies.”

Our photo shows graduates from the Project Academy at a University of Cumbria graduation ceremony.