A COHORT of apprentices are being put at the centre of the battle to protect the nuclear decommissioning industry from the threat of cyber attacks.

A total of nine apprentices have been placed at five Nuclear Decommissioning Authority sites across the UK – including west Cumbria – as part of a government push to protect the nation’s key infrastructure from the increasing cyber threat from around the globe.

The NDA said the first programme of its kind for the agency was an important step in ensuring the sector was developing the right skills to tackle the threat.

Bill Taylor, lead programme manager at the NDA, said: “Cyber is one of the greatest security related challenges we face, something that has been recognised by UK government and our regulators.

“Having high calibre people with the right skills to tackle this 21st century threat is crucial.

“Our apprentices will join the existing cohort of cyber experts who will play a vital role in protecting our national security."

The Department for Culture Media and Sport is promoting cyber security careers through its critical national infrastructure apprenticeships for sectors including the civil nuclear industry, telecommunications, electricity generation, oil and gas and transport infrastructure.

Maryport-based company Indelible Data Limited, which provides advice on training on data security, has also taken on an apprentice as part of the government scheme.

Their apprentice will train alongside the NDA cohort at Energus in Lillyhall.

Tony Wilson, managing director, said it was helping to support the company’s growth at a time when data security was becoming ever more important.

He said: “We took the decision to employ an apprentice due to the severe lack of skills in the sector affecting our ability to grow and meet demand for our services.”

Indelible Data specialises in offering advice and support to companies in the nuclear supply chain and has been approved to assess and certify companies to the government’s Cyber Essentials Scheme.