Motions at Energy Sector Conference set policies for the future
Lobbying for greater investment for nuclear decommissioning, tackling sexual harassment and a campaign to rejoin EURATOM, were among the motions carried at the Energy Sector Conference in Birmingham on Wednesday, 11 June.
As Audrey Uppington, the Sector President, said in her opening remarks to conference:
“We meet at a critical time within our sector. The UK government’s recent announcements on new nuclear marks a significant step forward in securing low carbon and resilient energy for the future.
“Decarbonisation of the grid isn’t just a technical challenge, it’s an economic and social one. That’s why Prospect continues to push for meaningful investment in energy infrastructure, skills training and research and development. A just transition needs a workforce equipped and empowered delivery.
“Throughout the day we will debate motions that will direct the energy sector executive in the challenges ahead, supporting our members and developing policy for the future.”
About 90 reps, from branches across the energy sector, attended the Conference and they voted to carry the following motions:
Funding for nuclear decommissioning
In their motion, moved by branch secretary Paul Johnston, the Sellafield branch brought attention to the funding challenges faced by companies within the NDA group following the outcome of the government’s spending review.
The motion said, “This conference recognises that nuclear facilities and assets, due to their nature, inevitably age and deteriorate over time. Acknowledging that decaying nuclear assets pose significant risks, including environmental contamination, public health threats, and potential security breaches.”
It called on Prospect to:
- Lobby government decision makers to commit to sustained or increased funding in real terms for nuclear decommissioning.
- Support investment in research and development in advanced decommissioning techniques to enhance efficiency and safety.
- To invest in the skills required for the legacy clean up mission and future new nuclear projects.
CARRIED
Sexual Harassment
James Burton-Sweeten (for the Sector Executive Commitee) moved this motion on sexual harassment on behalf of Drax, whose delegate was absent.
James Burton-Sweeten, Prospect Energy Sector Conference 2025
He said: “The impact of discrimination against colleagues is severe for the individual involved, distressing to colleagues who observe this behaviour and damaging to the business where it occurs. Conference recognises the positive steps taken by Prospect to highlight this issue and to take practical steps to change cultures so sexual harassment is minimised.”
The motion instructs the Sector Executive Committee to:
- Ensure that local Branches show leadership in tackling sexual harassment;
- Arranging training for reps so they have the practical skills to address sexual harassment;
- Providing a forum for reps to exchange experience and best practice.
CARRIED
Prospect campaign to rejoin Euratom
Sophie Gribben, UKAEA, spoke for this motion on behalf of her branch. She acknowledged that the UK government had just announced funding for fusion energy but added, “Good science doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and we need to be collaborating with others for fusion.”
Sophie Gribben, Prospect Energy Sector Conference 2025
After Brexit, the UK was no longer a member of Euratom, which supports nuclear energy and nuclear research across the EU, and, for instance, has not been taking part in ITER, the world’s largest fusion experiment.
The motion calls on Prospect to campaign with the government to rejoin EURATOM as soon as possible, in order for the UK to participate in ITER and other projects.
CARRIED
Support for Sizewell C
Having been one of the Prospect reps to meet with the Prime Minister just the previous day to discuss the government’s £14.2bn investment for Sizewell C, Ryan Broadhead admitted that his branch, EDF Energy, had debated whether the motion was still needed.
Ryan Broadhead, Prospect Energy Sector Conference 2025
However, he told conference that, while confidence was now very high, a Final Investment Decision was still needed and there was still work to be done.
As well as creating thousands of jobs, Ryan said, “Sizewell C will play a crucial role in diversifying the UK’s energy mix, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and mitigating the impacts of climate change.”
The motion instructs the sector executive committee to “urge the current government, and any future Labour government, to pledge its support for Sizewell C as part of their commitment to sustainable energy policies that prioritize both low carbon power generation and economic growth, maximising benefits for workers, local communities, and the environment.”
CARRIED
Support for neurodivergent members
Moving this motion, Sam Beecher-Jones (Scottish & Southern Energy), said that some people were facing real difficulties seeking formal assessments of neurodivergent conditions. He added that although a formal diagnosis wasn’t strictly necessary for an employer to agree to make reasonable adjustments, the branch did know of some cases where the employer has demanded the formal assessment before acting.
It calls on the sector executive committee to make its best efforts “to both inform Branches of the duties on employers in making reasonable adjustments for such conditions, and to support them in engaging with employers to ensure such adjustments made when required for neurodivergent members.”
CARRIED
Composite motions on energy supply resilience, national infrastructure and electricity supply disruption
Sam Beecher-Jones (Scottish & Southern Energy) also spoke on behalf of his branch on motions concerning the recent fire at a substation, which caused the closure of Heathrow. The issue had highlighted the issue of energy supply resilience and critical national infrastructure.
“Conference instructions the SEC, using the expertise within the Sector, to continue to proactively engage with NESO, Ofgem and the other relevant bodies for these investigations, assess how any recommendations from the reports will impact on both Members and the industry and brief members accordingly.”
CARRIED
The widespread energy blackouts that affected Spain and Portugal in late April was the cause of another motion from the Scottish & Southern Energy branch, as it shows “the essential nature of electricity to modern society and how networks are continually becoming more complex.”
In reference to ongoing investigations of the incident on the continent, the motion said:
“When the root causes are known there will undoubtedly be a review of the UK electricity networks to see how these can be applied, therefore this Conference instructs the SEC to engage with any such reviews and to review its own energy policy in the light of the findings.”
CARRIED
