The Fusion Industry Taskforce (FIT) held its eleventh meeting at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) last month in the heart of Westminster.
FIT welcomed the recently elected MP for Bassetlaw Jo White to the meeting who has taken a great interest in fusion prior to and following her election to Parliament given the proximity of UKAEA’s STEP site to her constituency in North Nottinghamshire.
Jo talked about her recent work in raising the profile of fusion within Parliament requesting that organisations in the sector approach her so that she can raise questions on their behalf to MPs. She spoke about the opportunity for STEP to draw in supply chain companies from across the UK opening up jobs for young people in the area so that they do not have to move away to find well paid employment. Offering first-class training and skills development were central to this objective according to Jo.
Jo emphasised the importance of international collaboration too and that North Nottinghamshire offered other former coal-fired power station sites that might be attractive to fusion developers and supply chain companies.
David Sandford, a Deputy Director for Fusion Energy at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero also spoke at the FIT meeting and gave an overview of his department’s recent work in fusion. He mentioned Government consultations relevant to the fusion sector including the recent UK consultation on industrial strategy. David stressed the importance of international collaboration in fusion citing recent meetings between the department and their international counterparts.
FIT affiliates presented to David the recent progress of their work in different policy areas with a focus on manufacturing and the supply chain, investment and finance, and technology. Plans are underway to publish these policy positions in the months ahead. For those organisations wishing to learn more about FIT and its work please contact Chair Dr Michael Zdanowski at: mzdanowski@assystem.com
