More needs to be done to ensure communities not only see but feel the benefits of investment in Cumbria’s nuclear sector, industry figures have been told.

Rick Wylie, the Samuel Lindow Academic Director for the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) based at Westlakes Science and Technology Park, laid down the challenge at the third warm-up arm-up event to September's Cumbria Nuclear Conference, hosted by Carlisle MP John Stevenson.

Mr Wylie stressed the important work the nuclear industry had already done to support communities and the aspirations of young people and adults, by supporting projects such as the new West Lakes Academy and Well Whitehaven.

But, in a speech at Castle Green Hotel in Kendal on Thursday night, he said: “Nuclear investment needs to have wider public value. It is not just about money, it is about ensuring people not just see but feel the benefits of it.

“The public value of nuclear is very significant at all levels and across many sectors. It is not always properly appreciated.

“It is about security and energy, and new nuclear in West Cumbria will have a huge impact. But it is also about communities, social cohesion and relationships, locally, nationally and internationally. It affects people’s lives on a day-to-day basis.”

On West Lakes Academy, which was supported by, among others, UCLan, Sellafield Limited and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and recently achieved an “outstanding” rating from Ofsted, he added: “When you strip it down, its success is largely down to the organisations involved. It has allowed students to come out with the skills needed to support the place and themselves.”

He also praised the work of NuGen, who along with other business and entrpreneurs, are supporting the Well Whitehaven project, which aims to raise aspirations among young people, encourage entrepreneurialism, and develop a new relationship between the community and the nuclear industry.

NuGen has already outlined its desire to see the proposed £15 billion Moorside nuclear power station leave a lasting legacy on West Cumbria and the wider county.

Further afield, Mr Wylie added that the nuclear industry could help to retain links overseas after Brexit.

UCLan is currently working with organisations including the National Nuclear Laboratory and the NDA to help them develop strategies and activities to deliver and measure the public value of their work.

Jo Lappin, the chief executive of Cumbia Local Enterprise Partnership, outlines the many positives of Cumbria’s nuclear sector, with world-class skills and facilities based in the county and the “significant” contribution it makes to Cumbria’s economy directly and indirectly through its supply chain.

She also highlighted the corporate social responsibility activities of key players in the industry.

“There has been a big public value commitment from the nuclear industry in many ways; through financial investment, leadership and joined up working with other sectors,” she said.

“If things go to plan we are going to have some huge projects taking place it he county and we need to gear up to deliver them. Going back to the public value, we need to ensure that our communities and people benefit.”

But Ms Lappin added that the industry’s status as the major employer in the west of the county in particular also had negatives, in terms creating dependency among businesses and sometimes stifling career aspirations.

They are challenges that Cumbria’s emerging Local Industrial Strategy could help to overcome, she stressed.

“What is exciting about the strategy is that people and places are embedded in to the document,” she said.

“What we need to do to have a growing county with prosperous communities and citizens.”

Event host John Stevenson MP said a growing population would be key to Cumbria’s economic prosperity.

“Put simply, we need to increase the population of the county,” he said.

“The nuclear sector has a major role to play in that when it comes to creating the jobs and the investment opportunities that will attract people here.”

The Cumbria Nuclear Conference takes place at Carlisle Racecourse on September 21.