Fuelling the Core: Apprenticeships, Industrial Strategy, and the Derby Nuclear Skills Academy

This report examines the Derby Nuclear Skills Academy (NSA), a landmark partnership between Rolls-Royce and the University of Derby. Established in 2022 to secure the talent pipeline for Britain’s nuclear submarine fleet, the NSA has become a vital model within the UK’s 2026 industrial landscape. As the Government implements a new Industrial Strategy and transitions to a Growth and Skills Levy, this report evaluates how such place-based initiatives can address national skills shortages.