A new branch of Women in Nuclear for Cumbria will be launched on Thursday to coincide with International Women's Day.

The launch event will be held at the National College for Nuclear, at Lillyhall, near Workington.

Women in Nuclear was set up in 2014 to encourage gender balance and improve the representation of women in leadership. Currently, only 22 per cent of the UK’s nuclear industry is female.

Claire Gallery-Strong is chairman of the Women in Nuclear Cumbria team.

She said: "There is a unique concentration of nuclear capability in Cumbria and by strengthening links here, WiN UK can help the local industry reach its full potential by maximising the talents of all.

“At the launch we are letting people know how we can help, whether that be through training, mentoring services and building a valuable network in the area.

“However, this is also a call to action. It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure we create an inclusive and fair environment that helps attract, retain and build a diverse workforce of the future, for Cumbria and the UK."

Speakers include Cumbrian entrepreneur and managing director of Prima Uno Limited, Sarah Purdham, equality and diversity expert Alison McDermott and Sellafield Ltd’s Dorothy Gradden OBE.

Claire added: “The overwhelming response shows that there is a real appetite for collaboration in this area. We have people at various stages of their career, from a broad range of organisations and disciplines, all hoping to share ideas and experiences.”

Nikolaos Adamidis is also a member of the new Cumbria team, and recently won the Women in Nuclear Ally of the Year award for his inspiring attitude to diversity and inclusion, and his work to encourage businesses to sign up to the WiN Industry Charter.

He said: "Diversity and inclusion in the nuclear industry is a topic close to my heart, and I’m looking forward to helping more businesses become part of a national conversation to create a more diverse, world-leading workforce.”