New academy for nuclear industry The UK government has announced plans for a vocational academy for nuclear engineers as part of its flagship National Skills Academy programme. Three academies were launched this year – in financial services, construction and manufacturing – and nine more are planned by 2008. The academies aim to fill skill shortages in the UK and will be jointly funded by the government and industry. The nuclear academy is the latest in a string of projects to prepare the UK for a new generation of nuclear power stations, as much of the current workforce reaches retirement age.