May 25, 2023 – Framatome announced today the relaunch of the Framatome Nuclear Technology Academy, a collaborative workforce training program in partnership with Central Virginia Community College (CVCC). Available to current and future CVCC-enrolled students, this program provides both classroom and hands-on training for those interested in ensuring a clean energy future.
The program provides flexibility for students to pursue Associate of Applied Science degrees in nuclear technician specialties, alternating between the classroom and work in a real-world environment at a Framatome project site. Upon successful completion of the Framatome program, participants begin their full-time careers as nuclear technicians.
“As the demand for clean energy increases, so does the need for skilled employees,” said Katherine Williams, chief financial officer and incoming chief executive officer of Framatome Inc. “Workforce is a significant challenge in most industries and through this program, Framatome and CVCC are developing the skillsets needed to ensure that the nuclear sector will continue to thrive as a low carbon energy choice.”
The program was initially launched in 2004, and many of the graduates are employed in various roles at Framatome. The renewed focus on the importance of nuclear power in the future of clean, low-carbon energy requires a greater emphasis on expanding the nuclear workforce. As the demand for skilled technicians continues to increase to meet national and international energy needs, Framatome has modernized the program, working with CVCC, and is investing $400,000 over the next four years in the program as part of its commitment to maintaining the industry’s future workforce.
“The labor challenges facing the nuclear industry are clear indicators that we must proactively develop new training opportunities for current and future employees,” said Dr. John Capps, president of CVCC. “The relaunch of the Nuclear Technology Academy is an essential part of our dedication to partner with private industry in this effort.”
The Framatome Nuclear Technology Academy will welcome 30 participants for the fall 2023 cohort. The curriculum is not limited to the nuclear industry and other companies in the region may also participate in order to train and develop skilled workers for their own workforce needs.
"The Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium reports that 100,000 jobs in the Commonwealth are tied directly to the nuclear sector,” said April Wade, executive director of the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium. “In order to support the ambitions of low-carbon energy, we must commit to supporting the future of energy workers.”
The Framatome Nuclear Technology Academy is part of a strategy to aggressively hire in various fields to support the growth of the business and the industry.
*Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium: 95% of the carbon-free energy in the Commonwealth is generated by nuclear power. Link to statistics