LONDON, March 26 /PRNewswire/ --

Unite, the UK's largest trade union, is calling on the government and the UK's nuclear regulator to licence global designs for the new generation of UK power stations.

Unite, which has more than 26,000 energy sector members, says that a standard design is vital to encourage the largest number of bids for the new build nuclear contracts and to give UK industry the opportunity to supply the construction and manufacturing requirements.

The union says that as well as securing thousands of existing jobs, 10,000 additional jobs could be created if the UK regulator licence designs that could be used throughout the world.

Dougie Rooney, Unite's National Officer, said: "The licensing of a new generation of UK nuclear reactors provides UK industry with a fantastic opportunity to say to the world and to UK population that we are applying the highest possible global standards.

"It also sends a powerful message to the commercial world and to UK industry that it is safe for it to invest in new facilities, new product designs, training and jobs. If international standards are applied there's also a massive export potential here for UK industry to exploit but industry needs the certainty that this licensing will provide."

Unite wants a maximum of three designs to be licensed by the UK nuclear regulator, the Nuclear Installation Inspectorate (NII), to give UK business and potential vendors the opportunity to invest in long term product development.

The union says companies such as Sheffield Forge Masters, BAE Systems, facilities such as Toshiba's Springfield plant near Preston and engineering fabrication facilities across the country could expand and diversify as a long term planning opportunities that standard model licensing for new nuclear power stations would provide.

Unite is hosting an international nuclear conference in London today (Wednesday, 26th March 2008) at which the Secretary of State for Business and Enterprise, John Hutton MP, Nils Diaz, the former Chair of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the UK rail regulator, Chris Bolt, and Mike Weightman head of UK Nuclear Regulator will give presentations together with speakers from the vendors i.e. Areva, AECL, Westinghouse and GE. British Energy's Chief Executive Officer Bill Coley will also give a presentation.

The new build nuclear power stations are expected to be started to be built in just three years time with the new plants operational by 2017.

For more information please call Catherine Bithell in the Unite press office on +44-(0)20-7420-8909 or +44-(0)7958-473-224.