Tag: Work Force

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Future Talent: Women in Construction

Unlocking an Overlooked Talent Pool: Women in Construction & What Nuclear Can Learn šŸ’”

As the construction sector accelerates efforts to diversify its workforce, the nuclear industry stands to benefit from similar strategies. Two recent initiatives highlight ways to systematically empower women in traditionally male-dominated fieldsā€”and their lessons are directly transferable to nuclear careers.

1.ā€ÆWomen in Construction: The Power Within Training

Founded by Michaela Wain, Enas Fleming, and James Fleming, this UK initiative offers leadership and mindset development tailored for women entering and advancing in construction.

  • Leadership training through Motivational Intelligence (MQ): The program equips women with communication, resilience, and self-belief skillsā€”key for navigating workplace biases.
  • Holistic development community: A supportive space combining free webinars, eBooks, and workshops creates a network of peers and mentors.
  • Proven impact: Participants are rising into leadership roles, leading cultural initiatives, and being promoted faster than industry averages.

2.ā€ÆIndustry Push to Retain Women Apprentices

Data from the Construction & Industry Training Board reveals a 65% surge in women starting apprenticeships over five years; completion rates have more than doubled, from ~340 to 930 annually.

  • Despite this progress, women still occupy just 1% of site-based rolesā€”underscoring the need for retention strategies.
  • Major drivers of early exits include lack of support, poor workplace culture, and few visible role models.
  • Programs blending technical skills with emotional resilience training, and creating mentorship structures, have shown measurable success: more women complete apprenticeships and take leadership roles.

Sources: [women-in-c…tion.co.uk], [waterpower…gazine.com]

What Nuclear Can Learn & Implement

šŸ› ļø 1. Combine Technical Training with Mindset Development

  • Like construction, early-career nuclear roles (e.g., apprenticeships, engineering cadets) benefit when enriched with MQ-style workshops on communication and confidence.

šŸ‘„ 2. Build Supportive Communities

  • Create mentorship networks and peer groups, promoting belonging and shared guidance. Nuclear apprentices or junior staff mentoring each other and collaborating with senior women builds long-term retention.

šŸš€ 3. Champion and Showcase Leadership Role Models

  • Promote successful women in nuclear operations, engineering, regulation, and leadership, amplifying diverse voices to inspire incoming talentā€”especially at site or operational levels.

āš–ļø 4. Embed Equity in Culture

  • Tackle structural barriers: ensure equitable pay, flexible working, inclusive culture training, and safe grievance channels. This makes commitment to diversity more than just a tick box.

šŸ“ˆ 5. Track Impact through Data

  • Monitor hires, retention, progression, and workplace satisfaction by gender. Use results to refine programs and demonstrate ROIā€”mirroring the proof-backed benefits construction is seeing.
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Palisades receives new fuel for restart

The Palisades Nuclear Power Plant in Michigan has reached a key step toward restarting operations by receiving 68 newly manufactured fuel assemblies. This fuel delivery follows extensive planning and regulatory coordination, made possible by the plantā€™s recent reclassification from decommissioned to operational status by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Produced by a trusted domestic supplier, the fuel underwent thorough inspection before being securely stored in the Spent Fuel Pool Building, awaiting future installation in the reactor core. Alongside this, major restoration efforts continue across the facility, including the reassembly of the Main Turbine Generator and installation of the final refurbished Primary Coolant Pump motorā€”both essential for reactor function.

Additional work includes chemical cleaning of the Steam Generatorsā€™ secondary systems, following earlier tube refurbishments, to ensure long-term performance. These milestones are part of a broader effort involving over 1,800 workers, supported by government and industry partners, to bring the plant back online and contribute to meeting growing energy demands.

Read the original release: https://holtecinternational.com/2025/10/20/hh-40-22/

 

Picture courtesy of: Holtec

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