Reviving nuclear power in France is a major industrial and human challenge. With new projects such as the SMR and EPR2, as well as the extension of plant lifetimes, the French nuclear industry is in a major expansion phase. However, behind these ambitions lies a major challenge: a shortage of talent and know-how.

Faced with this challenge, agap2 Nuclear, which is 100% dedicated to the industry, is emerging as a strategic partner. Thanks to its expertise in the field, its agility and its ability to deploy operational solutions at every stage of the nuclear life cycle, agap2 supports stakeholders in the sector in their most demanding projects, integrating the challenges of performance and reducing lead times.

‍

A nuclear industry in full recovery, but faced with a skills shortage

The revival of nuclear power in France is accompanied by increasing pressure on skills. The know-how required at every stage in the life cycle of a facility, from design and construction to commissioning, testing and maintenance, is becoming increasingly scarce. Regulatory and standards expertise essential to safety and risk management is also rare.

This weakening of the skills pool is due to a large number of retirements and a lack of qualified new recruits. It is not just technical expertise that is disappearing, but also a valuable capital of feedback and know-how.

At the same time, needs are exploding: almost 10,000 people are expected to be recruited every year over the next ten years. However, the necessary technical skills are not yet available on a large scale, creating a worrying gap between industrial ambitions and human resources.

‍

In view of this challenge, agap2 is fully committed to supporting nuclear industry stakeholders in their efforts to attract new talent to the sector, develop skills and training and transfer know-how.

‍

agap2 at the heart of attraction, training and the perpetuation of know-how
‍

Attracting and retaining talent to meet the nuclear industry’s talent needs

To meet the challenge of this shortage, agap2 is focusing on an ambitious and targeted recruitment strategy. The aim is to attract new profiles to a meaningful and forward-looking sector, and to respond effectively to the growing need for specialist skills.

• Promoting projects and expertise by offering its consultants high value-added assignments, agap2 enables them to participate in strategic and innovative projects at the heart of France’s major nuclear projects. This exposure to emblematic projects is a real lever for attractiveness.
• Dedicated agency and ISO 19443 certification: the creation of the agap2 Nuclear agency in 2022 was a specific response to the growing need for specialised skills. It is ISO 19443-certified and provides a rigorous framework guaranteeing the quality, safety and compliance of technical operations and assignments carried out.
• Agile, targeted recruitment: agap2 supports its industrial partners in strengthening their teams by rapidly mobilising the necessary skills. Thanks to our in-depth knowledge of the market and profiles, we can match the most appropriate talent to the requirements of each project.
• Active presence in the nuclear ecosystem: agap2 is fully involved in the life of the industry: participation in the World Nuclear Exhibition (WNE), events run by Nuclear Valley, of which agap2 is a member, and membership of SFEN and GIFEN. These commitments enable us to meet the stakeholders in the sector, strengthen synergies and attract the talent of tomorrow.

‍

Training, an essential lever for overcoming the skills shortage

Le secteur exige une rigueur technique et réglementaire, que seule une formation adaptée et continue peut garantir. Training plays a central role in responding to the growing importance of nuclear power. The sector demands technical and regulatory rigour, which can only be guaranteed by appropriate, ongoing training.

agap2 has made skills development a cornerstone of its strategy, acting on several fronts:

• Partnerships with specialised organisations, such as the Union des Métiers du Nucléaire (UMN), notably through Nuclear trades week, to raise awareness among students and job-seekers to careers in the sector.
• Training programmes leading to certification, developed in collaboration with bodies approved by the nuclear safety authorities, to guarantee a high level of standards and compliance.
• Support for the retraining of talent from other industrial sectors (aeronautics, energy, rail), to transfer compatible skills and strengthen the available pool.

‍

Preserving and passing on knowledge: the strength of collective know-how

The success of the nuclear revival depends not only on training new generations, but also on preserving nuclear expertise. Experienced talent with decades of practical experience plays a key role in transmitting technical culture and best safety practices.

agap2 is making the most of this experience by setting up practical ways of sharing knowledge:

• Mentoring programmes, encouraging the transfer of skills between experienced experts and new talent.
• Workshops and feedback led by agap2 consultants, making it possible to capitalise on best practice from the field.
• Communities of in-house experts, which strengthen cohesion and promote the sharing of experience and skills.

‍

A shared vision: attracting, training and transmitting knowledge

The shortage of talent and know-how in the nuclear industry is a collective challenge that involves an entire industrial, educational and institutional ecosystem.
By promoting the attractiveness of its professions and passing on its expertise, agap2 is demonstrating its commitment to the success of France’s nuclear programme and to building a sustainable energy future.

Through its ability to attract the best people, train key skills and make the most of the experience of its experts, agap2 is helping to build the next generation of French nuclear industry stakeholders every day.

‍

To find out more about our offer: https://www.agap2.fr/expertise-nucleaire/

Focus on Lead Time: https://www.agap2.fr/leadtime-nucleaire/