The world’s first Fusion Energy Café, that will fuel hungry minds as well as appetites, is taking its next steps by recruiting for education and catering providers now that its construction is underway.
Located at The Bridge Skills Hub in Worksop, the café will help to inspire the local community to generate an interest in the field of fusion energy and encourage aspirations to study or work in this sector.
The café will also help to provide training and volunteering opportunities in catering and hospitality and Bassetlaw District Council is now searching for a dynamic café operator and training provider to manage either or both aspects.
Cllr Julie Leigh, Cabinet Member for Identity and Place at Bassetlaw District Council, said: “The Fusion Café is an exciting and unique opportunity to get involved in a once in a generation project.
“It will bring the groundbreaking work taking place at West Burton closer to our communities and inspire young people who could one day work at the prototype fusion energy plant.
“It also opens up possibilities for people to work in the catering and hospitality industry as well as wider industries in the Science, Technology and Engineering sector.”
Work on the café’s kitchen, food prep area and seating are already underway ahead of a planned opening in the autumn.
Alongside the catering and hospitality training, the café will provide work placements for learners with a disability, those not in education, employment, or training (NEET), or those who are long term unemployed.
Funded by Bassetlaw District Council and the UK Atomic Energy Agency (UKAEA), in collaboration with North Notts Business Improvement District (NNBID), the café will also support upskilling and career opportunities as the STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) prototype Fusion Energy plant is developed just a few miles away at West Burton.
UKAEA Head of Fusion Skills, Nick Walkden, said: “We are proud to be working with Bassetlaw District Council on this unique and exciting community-focused initiative in Worksop.
“The Fusion Energy Café will highlight the opportunities of fusion to local communities, including through the STEP Programme at West Burton, and push forwards our ambition to maximise the social benefits fusion has to offer.”
Sally Gillborn, Chief Executive at North Notts BID, said: “We are delighted to have partnered with Bassetlaw District Council and the UKAEA in the creation of the Fusion Energy Café in Worksop.
“The café will also provide invaluable information on the opportunities and careers available at the STEP fusion site in West Burton as it is developed as a flagship plant in the fusion energy sector for generations to come.
“As part of the BIDs second-term vision, the café will offer hands-on experience, primarily to adults and young people with learning difficulties, whilst offering them inclusive training in catering and hospitality.
“As an all-encompassing initiative, the café builds on the BIDs commitment to upskill our communities, support local employers and ultimately to boost the local economy.”
