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Contents

What is nucleargraduates?

Why nucleargraduates?

Electrical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Chemical Engineering

Civil Engineering

Chemistry

Physics

Geology

Environment

Commercial

Learning and Development

Corporate Social Responsibility

The nucleargraduates Community

Rewards

How to Apply

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38Energus - the home of nucleargraduates.

WHAT IS nucleargraduates? WHAT IS nucleargraduates?

“nucleargraduates is one of the most ambitious programmes put together by a formidable partnership of international companies.”

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Established in 2007 by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, the nucleargraduates programme was created to recruit and develop a new generation of talented graduates for the nuclear industry. The UK’s nuclear industry is facing its biggest challenge in decades. Existing power stations near the end of their working lives are ready to be decommissioned, while a new wave of plants has been given the go ahead.

Nuclear is back on the agenda.

Since 2010, nucleargraduates has been wholly funded by organisations across the nuclear industry, all of whom recognise the benefits of developing graduates with an awareness of the political and commercial aspects of the industry, as well as developing technical depth in different subject areas. One of these organisations will sponsor you through the nucleargraduates programme before you join them in a substantive role on completion.

Our sponsors

WHY nucleargraduates?6 7WHY nucleargraduates?

Remarkably different to other graduate programmes, nucleargraduates offers you a unique opportunity to design your own development programme. A bespoke two year plan, devised with the help of your own personal, professional mentor will allow you to develop both your technical and behavioural capabilities.

Our programme offers you a level of involvement and experience that is unmatched:

• You’ll have a dedicated industry sponsor and join them in a substantive role on completion of the nucleargraduates programme.

• You’ll complete three placements with different organisations across the nuclear industry and gain a wide variety of experience.

• You’ll organise your placements with the support of a personal mentor - meaning that you take the lead in your own development.

• You’ll complete technical and behavioural training modules with access to your own individual training budget.

• You’ll be assigned a personal professional mentor to take you through to chartered status.

• Community is at the heart of everything we do: you’ll become part of the thriving nucleargraduates community and dedicate 10% of your time to corporate social responsibility activities.

• You’ll be joining a professionally accredited and award winning scheme.

Begin a substantive role with your sponsor organisation.

Offer from nucleargraduates and matched with a sponsor organisation

Programme Induction &

Nuclear Industry

In sponsoring organisation

Business Skills & NTEC Options

In sponsor’s supply chain or industry regulator

Leadership & Management and

NTEC Options

In sponsor’s potential or

primary customer

Repatriation & Decommissioning

& Waste Management

TRAINING ZONE

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PLACEMENT

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TRAINING ZONE

2

PLACEMENT

2

TRAINING ZONE

3

PLACEMENT

3

TRAINING ZONE

4

Programme Structure

2WEEKS

2X1WEEKS

81/2MONTHS

2X1WEEKS

61/2MONTHS

2X1WEEKS

71/4MONTHS

Corporate Social Responsibility: STEM Engagement, Business & Communities

Don’t just take our word for it…

95%would recommend the programme to other graduates

like them.

86% of nucleargraduates saw the scheme as

establishing them on a route to management

in their companies.

Photo page

WHY nucleargraduates?8 99

93%of nucleargraduates saw an increase in their employability

skills.

97%say the programme has improved the breadth of their

nuclear knowledge.

93% say that their personal

and professional networks are broader and deeper than they

would be without nucleargraduates.

nucleargraduate Lucy Miller with Professor Brian Cox at a nuclear industry event.

10 11ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

Electrical EngineeringWhat attracted you to the nuclear sector and the nucleargraduates programme?I was attracted to the nuclear sector because of my interest in energy and engineering. I’m an advocate of a balanced energy mix and I believe the nuclear sector has a crucial role within this. Also, the nuclear sector holds unique and complex challenges that all engineers would relish.

As for choosing the nucleargraduates programme, the main attractions for me were the extensive and valuable opportunities you are presented with while on the scheme. Whether in terms of placements, technical and non-technical training, STEM work, community work or Continuing Professional Development activities. All have been fun, interesting, rewarding and played a key part in my professional development.

What is the standout moment from your time on the nucleargraduates programme?This is a hard question to answer. I’ve visited some amazing places, been involved in a lot of very interesting, challenging and rewarding work and met many inspiring and supportive people. But the first 3 that come to mind are: the Outward Bound Training Course we attended recently in Eskdale, West Cumbria; our International Footprints trip to Sweden in February of this year; and presenting the work I completed during my second placement to the Executive Board of the company I was working for.

I could carry on listing the highlights from my time with nucleargraduates with ease and with very different examples which I think really shows the breadth and depth of the scheme.

What are your plans for the future? At the end of the programme I will be returning to my sponsor company, Sellafield Ltd, to take up my previous role of Systems Engineer at Calder Hall Nuclear Power Station. In this role I will take ownership of the Reactor Monitoring and Protection Systems. Whilst at Calder Hall I will be given further training on the Systems Engineer role and I will spend the next couple of years working towards Chartership status with the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET).

Name:Robert Philips

Degree and University:(MEng) New & Renewable Energy - Durham University.

Current job title, placement host and duration: EC&I Design Engineer: NUVIA Limited, 6 months.

Previous roles, placement hosts and durations: • Business Analyst: Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, 8 months.• Systems Engineer: Sellafield Ltd., 8 months.

Sponsor Company:• Sellafield Ltd.

What is your current role and what does it involve? For my current and final placement of the nucleargraduates programme I have taken up the role of an EC&I (Electrical, Control & Instrumentation) Design Engineer within the EC&I Team at NUVIA Limited. I am based in Nuvia’s head office on Birchwood Park in Risley near Warrington. As a Design Engineer I spend all of my time on Electrical Design and Electrical Safety work. The design work includes reviewing, correcting and modifying existing designs, planning and sketching my own designs and producing CAD drawings from my designs and the designs of others. The safety work involves carrying out electrical safety assessments of systems in line with regulations and standards through calculation and on-site inspections.

12 13MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Mechanical EngineeringWhat attracted you to the nuclear sector and the nucleargraduates programme?When looking for graduate schemes to apply to, I was attracted to nucleargraduates because of the variety of opportunities that are available throughout the programme. I thought “if I gain a place on this scheme, not only will I be able to undertake a range of placements in different companies, but I will also have dedicated time for training and development, as well as an instant network of contacts across the nuclear industry”, what more could I want?

What is the standout moment from your time on the nucleargraduates programme?A key moment for me was standing at the entrance of Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment on the north coast of Scotland. As part of a Continuing Professional Development trip to Dounreay, I had organised an opportunity for my cohort to visit Vulcan and participate in several tours of the facilities on site. To get to this point, I had made use of my contacts within Rolls-Royce, liaised with the Chief Engineer at Vulcan, organised 30 graduates into groups and ensured they all had appropriate Personal Protective Equipment, coordinated the submission of security clearance information, and worked alongside my colleagues to deliver a successful trip to the most northern nuclear site in the United Kingdom. Standing there and realising what I had achieved was a proud and memorable moment.

What are your plans for the future? Following completion of the nucleargraduates programme I aim to take up a permanent position within my sponsor company, Rolls-Royce. I am hoping to start my career with Rolls-Royce in Devonport Dockyard, training to become an Assistant Resident Engineer. It will take me two to three years to become qualified, and I am likely to spend 5 years at the Site Office before returning to the hub of the business in Derby to further my career. Looking further into the future, I hope to move into a management position. The learning and development experiences I have gained through the nucleargraduates programme have put me in a fantastic position to build my management skills in the years to come.

Name: Abigail Monkhouse Degree and University: (MEng) Mechanical Engineering – Durham University.

Current job title, placement host and duration:Graduate Design Engineer, International Nuclear Services, 4.5 months.

Previous roles, placement hosts and durations:• Graduate Mechanical Engineer, Nuclear Propulsion:

Ministry of Defence, 5 months.• Graduate Mechanical Engineer, Devonport Site Office:

Rolls-Royce Submarines, 4 months.• Graduate Manufacturing Engineer, Primary Component Operations:

Rolls-Royce Submarines, 8 months.

Sponsor company: • Rolls-Royce Submarines.

What is your current role and what does it involve? My current role is as a Graduate Design Engineer within an Engineering Design team. Every day I have to use and apply concepts and learning that I gained through my Engineering degree. Most of my time is spent using 3D modelling software to generate designs, from basic concepts through to extremely detailed designs. I have also gained experience in producing technical drawings which are to be sent out to manufacturers, and through this I am able to gain an understanding of how designers and manufacturers interact and work together. Other tasks which form part of the design process include writing functional and manufacturing specifications, and performing calculations to support the designs.

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

14 15CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Chemical Engineering What attracted you to the nuclear sector and the nucleargraduates programme?During my A-Level studies I developed an interest in the science behind nuclear power. When it came to applying for jobs at the end of university, the nuclear sector jumped straight out to me as a good career for a young engineer. For me, the main appeal of the nucleargraduates programme was the chance to move around and try different areas of the industry before settling down to a permanent role. University can only do so much to prepare you for working life and nucleargraduates was a great opportunity to find out what I would like to do; whether it be design work, working on plant or anything else I might be thrown into. The other aspects of the scheme, such as the amount and the quality of the training provided and the interesting and varied site visits, really cemented this as the graduate scheme I wanted to be a part of.

What is the standout moment from your time on the nucleargraduates programme?There have been quite a few but I think the best was the week we spent in Sweden as part of the international Footprints (Corporate Social Responsibility) visit. This was a week in February 2015 that was organised by nucleargraduates and involved visits to Swedish nuclear sites, discussions with leading Swedish nuclear professionals, time to explore Stockholm, and an overnight train to the north of the country to spend time with the indigenous Sami people, feed reindeer and see the northern lights. An opportunity like that is unlikely to come around again anytime soon! Other great moments include a trip to the Houses of Parliament, three days doing Outward Bound training in Cumbria and visits to a wide range of nuclear sites and conferences all over the country.

What are your plans for the future? I see myself staying in the nuclear industry long term and would like to be involved in decommissioning projects or operating facilities. At the end of the nucleargraduates programme I will be returning to Sellafield’s West Cumbria site to take on a permanent role as part of the team decommissioning one of the legacy ponds. Thanks to the training and opportunities I have been given on the nucleargraduates programme I will be going straight into a role which will see me helping to manage one of the most challenging and high profile projects on site. Hopefully this leads to me staying on site for a number of years, helps me to obtain chartership with the Institute of Chemical Engineers, and move further up in the organisation to positions of greater responsibility.

Name: David Oakley

Degree and University: (MEng) Chemical Engineering - University of Manchester.

Current job title, placement host and duration: • Engineering Support, Waste Directorate:

Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd (DSRL), 5 months.

Previous roles, placement hosts and durations: • Process Design Engineer: Nuvia Ltd for 7 months. • Operations Support: Sellafield for 8 months.

Sponsor company • Sellafield Ltd.

What is your current role and what does it involve? My current role at Dounreay involves planning and carrying out plant upgrades and project support for one of the plants built in the 1950s to store highly active liquid wastes. This work sees me split my time between task planning at my desk and being out on plant and seeing the jobs happen – which gives a good balance to my day. It is interesting and varied work as no two jobs are ever alike thanks to the age of the facilities and the way they were operated in the past. The three main tasks I am involved with see me replacing some old cooling equipment, assisting in the planning for a task to decontaminate the storage tanks and drilling holes into the containment cells to allow us to carry out radiation surveys on the tanks.

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

16 17CIVIL ENGINEERING

Civil Engineering What attracted you to the nuclear sector and the nucleargraduates programme?The challenge, the opportunities and the nuclear ‘cool’ factor – during the final year of my MEng course, I was involved in a group feasibility study on the UK’s Geological Disposal Facility (GDF). We were lucky enough to have a representative from the nuclear industry acting as an intelligent client to the project, who made several visits to the university. This guy clearly enjoyed his job and was somewhat of a personal inspiration! This project was easily the most interesting for me during my time at university and led me to job searching under the words ‘nuclear graduate’. Of course, nucleargraduates then came onto my radar. I was seriously impressed by the breadth of experience on offer and loved the idea of working at different organisations. I applied, interviewed, learned more about the scheme, got an offer, and bit their hand off. Here I am!

What is the standout moment from your time on the nucleargraduates programme?Visiting a mock-up Geological Disposal Facility (GDF), the world’s largest iron ore mine and seeing the northern lights in Sweden were all standout moments. With regards to my day job however, this is an easy question:

During my Project Engineer placement at the Nuclear AMRC, I drafted the proposal for a collaborative research & development (R&D) project and submitted it for match-funding through a European competition. The application was successful and awarded €200,000. My previous Research Manager secondment at the NDA involved me managing the NDA’s collaborative R&D funding strategy and measuring the benefits of R&D proposals. So, to be able to sit on two sides of the fence, understand exactly what a customer is looking for and use this knowledge to deliver such a measurable result summed up just what can be achieved on the nucleargraduates scheme and was a very rewarding experience for me.

What are your plans for the future? I have very recently accepted a role as Project & Business Development Manager at the Nuclear AMRC, to commence at the end of the scheme. This role will involve me helping UK companies to win work in the global nuclear marketplace through developing high-value advanced manufacturing solutions and leading supplier development programmes. I was delighted to be offered this key role; I can’t wait to see what challenges, opportunities and fortunes will follow.

Name: Jack Hardy

Degree and University: (MEng) Civil & Structural Engineering - University of Leeds.

Current job title, placement host and duration: • Civil & Structural Engineer: Idom Nuclear Services,

Madrid, Spain, 8 months.

Previous roles, placement hosts and durations:• Project Engineer: Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre

(Nuclear AMRC), Sheffield, 8 months.• Research Manager: Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA),

Cumbria, 8 months.

Sponsor company:• Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA)

What is your current role and what does it involve? My current role as a Civil & Structural Engineer at Idom Nuclear Services involves analysing and designing structures on Spanish nuclear power plants to resist extreme load cases such as seismic activity and impacts.

Day to day, I use Finite Element Method (FEM) software packages to carry out the work and then validate the results with hand calculations. To be involved in this type of work in a different country, climate, culture and language with a wide range of international suppliers, customers and standards has been a once in a lifetime opportunity and a massive learning curve for me.

CIVIL ENGINEERING

18 19CHEMISTRY

Chemistry What attracted you to the nuclear sector and the nucleargraduates programme?The nuclear industry offers a much greater diversity in roles and career options than lots of other sectors, and nucleargraduates reflects exactly that. The scheme offers a great way to experience a range of roles within the nuclear sector which is exactly what I wanted on leaving university. Apart from the placements there are also a lot of opportunities to visit sites and other organisations in the UK and abroad to get a much broader understanding of nuclear. The industry is keen to welcome new talent and the chance to explore different roles within different companies over these two years was a huge driver to apply. The industry itself has a number of challenges to overcome, enough to keep you occupied for an entire career!

What is the standout moment from your time on the nucleargraduates programme?The standout moment for me was visiting the Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory in Sweden. This is Sweden’s geological disposal research facility where experiments are being carried out related to the disposal of radioactive waste from their nuclear programme. This was a particularly interesting visit for me as I had just spent 8 months on secondment with Radioactive Waste Management Ltd who are the UK equivalent to SKB who operate the Swedish facility. Traveling 500m below the surface to see the huge tunnels that have been built to host a range of experiments provided a real insight into the extent of the work involved in developing a geological disposal facility. It was really useful to consider how that would translate to the UK’s programme for developing a geological repository.

What are your plans for the future? My plans for the immediate future are to return to Magnox (my sponsoring organisation) at the end of the graduate programme on one of their twelve sites. I am hoping to work in Higher Activity Waste management; using some of the experience I gained working at Radioactive Waste Management to help manage the disposability of Higher Activity Wastes. I am also hoping to gain chartership during the next two years. Beyond that I would like to work internationally for a year or two, gaining experience of waste management in another country. In the longer term I am hoping to progress my career within technical roles for as long as possible, moving into project managing technical projects.

Name: Laura Daubney

Degreeand University: (MChem) Chemistry with Analytical Chemistry (Industrial) - University of Leeds.

Current job title, placement host and duration: • Environment Officer: EDF Energy, 6 months.

Previous roles, placement hosts and durations: • Project Chemist: Magnox Ltd (Bradwell site) 8 months.• Packaging Assessment Manager:

Radioactive Waste Management, 8 months.

Sponsor company: • Magnox Ltd.

What is your current role and what does it involve? My current role is an Environment Officer as part of the Generation Environment Management Team at EDF Energy. The team provides environmental support to all of EDF Energy’s operational UK power stations, including their nuclear fleet. My work involves reviewing the operational radioactive waste management strategies for each of the nuclear power stations in the fleet to allow me to build a tool that will combine all of the fleet information in order to understand where priorities lie at a station and fleet level.

CHEMISTRY

20 21

© Magnox

Trawsfyynydd nuclear power station that is in the process of being decommissioned by the NDA.

22 23PHYSICS

Physicscontribution to it. The nucleargraduates programme stood out immediately from the other graduate programmes I looked at due the opportunities it provides. The structure of 3 placements over the 2 years attracted me as a unique feature that few others would have. In addition to the secondments, we also have access to a wide variety of learning and development opportunities and funding in order to improve ourselves.

What is the standout moment from your time on the nucleargraduates programme?As part of the nucleargraduates scheme, we spend 10% of our time doing corporate social responsibility work in order to give back to the local communities in which we are based. As part of this we regularly attend STEM events and clubs in order to help and encourage young people to undertake careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. I find great satisfaction in working with young people and possibly making a difference to their future careers.

How has the training nucleargraduates have provided helped with your professional development? The nucleargraduates scheme provides training in a wide variety of ‘soft skills’ that are not necessarily concentrated on during degree work. For instance, we work on project management, communication and commercial awareness, amongst others, and these are skills that I have taken back to the workplace. We are also encouraged to take on further technical training, so I have undertaken a PgCert in Nuclear Security and Safeguards with the University of Central Lancashire in order to improve my knowledge.

What are your plans for the future? My plans for the immediate future are to successfully complete the nucleargraduates scheme, and personally and professionally develop as much as possible in that time. Once the scheme is complete, I would like to return to ONR to continue my work in the security programme, and begin training to become a fully qualified inspector.

Name: Sam Hardy

Degree and University: (MPhys) Physics - University of Liverpool.

Current job title, placement host and duration: • Nuclear Security: ONR, 8.5 months.

Previous roles, placement hosts and durations: • None

Sponsor company: • Office for Nuclear Regulation.

What is your current role and what does it involve? My current role is working for the Civil Nuclear Security Programme in the Office for Nuclear Regulation. My day to day work includes writing guidance documents for inspectors, conducting surveys on security systems and assisting inspectors on interventions at nuclear licensed sites. I find inspections the most interesting part of my role as each one is so different to the last.

What attracted you to the nuclear sector and the nucleargraduates programme?The main thing that attracted me to the nuclear sector was the scale of the challenges and problems it faces. The nuclear industry is a key part of our country’s energy mix, and I wanted to make a

PHYSICS

24 25GEOLOGY

GeologyWhat attracted you to the nuclear sector and the nucleargraduates programme?I was attracted to the role my sponsor company were offering, which was research and development of a geological disposal facility for radioactive waste. Using my degree to help solve such an important and immediate problem was really interesting to me. The more I researched the more I saw that the nucleargraduates programme had a lot to offer in terms of training and development throughout the two year scheme.

What is the standout moment from your time on the nucleargraduates programme?My most memorable moment so far has been presenting the current status of the UK waste disposal programme to a group of international experts at a conference in Sweden. I never thought I would get such a big opportunity within my first few months of working. The conference was coupled with a trip to the Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory, which is a demonstration facility.

How has the training nucleargraduates have provided helped with your professional development?nucleargraduates training has given me a really good foundation in industry knowledge. Understanding the history and complexities of the industry is really important and particularly useful at my current placement working in Public Affairs. I have improved my communication skills and increased my commercial awareness. This has helped me see the bigger picture in my placements and understand how companies work and perform well together.

What are your plans for the future?I am still finding my feet in the world of work and have no concrete plans with where I want to be at a certain point. I’m very easy going when it comes to future career plans, and will go where the work takes me. My main motivation at the moment is to be working on something that I believe makes a positive difference, so if I can continue doing that I’ll be happy!

Name: Rob McLaverty

Degree and University: (MSci) Geology - University of Southampton.

Current job title, placement host and duration: • Geological Disposal Facility Policy Advisor: Department of Energy

and Climate Change (DECC).

Previous roles, placement hosts and durations:• Geologist, Siting Team: Radioactive Waste Management Ltd.,

8.5 months.

Sponsor company:• Radioactive Waste Management Ltd.

What is your current role and what does it involve? I have just started as a Policy Advisor in the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s Office of Nuclear Development. I will be working predominantly on a policy document focusing on geological disposal of radioactive waste. The role will include drafting a policy document (which will eventually be debated on the floor of the House of Commons!) as well as liaising with other government departments such as DEFRA and the Treasury. I am really interested in the political and social side of radioactive waste disposal so I think this will be an ideal role for me. I am really looking forward to living and working in London and being in the heart of government at such an interesting time.

GEOLOGY

26 27ENVIRONMENTAL

EnvironmentalWhat attracted you to the nuclear sector and the nucleargraduates programme?As is the case with many graduates coming out of university, I had no particular career plans. I had hoped to begin my career in a more scientific role or sector, and not just a mundane office job. After searching the internet for relevant schemes, I came across the nucleargraduates programme. Though I had no knowledge or experience of the nuclear sector, the more I looked, the more it appealed to me. I was particularly attracted by the central and important roles of environmental professionals within the industry, as well as the breadth of roles available.

What is the standout moment from your time on the nucleargraduates programme?I have just returned from a week in Paris on the European Nuclear Young Generation Forum 2015, an event organised for students and young professionals of the nuclear sector from all over the world. It was a fantastic opportunity to meet new people and learn about what’s going on in other countries,

How has the traning nucleargraduates have provided helped with your professional development?The scheme offers numerous training and professional development opportunities. I am currently studying a postgraduate certificate in Nuclear Technology at Lancaster University as part of the scheme. This has been useful in bringing me up to speed on the industry and will add another qualification to my CV. The programme has four themed training zones, covering topics from Influencing and Negotiating to Power and Leadership. The nucleargraduates programme also gives you access to events, conferences and networks of other young professionals and people within the industry.

What are your plans for the future?I intend to apply for a role within my sponsor company, the Environment Agency, as an Assistant Nuclear Regulator. From there I hope to further my experience and knowledge of the industry and see where it takes me!

Name: Alex Lord

Degree and University: Natural Sciences – Durham University.

Current job title, placement host and duration: • Environment Team: NuGen, 8 months.

Previous roles, placement hosts and durations: • ILW Team: Magnox Corporate, Berkeley Centre, 4 months.• Environment Team: Magnox - Berkeley Site, 4 months.• Radiation Incident Management Team:

Environment Agency, 8 months.

Sponsor company: • Environment Agency.

What is your current role and what does it involve? I currently work in the environment team at NuGen, who plan to build 3 new AP1000 reactors at the Moorside site in West Cumbria. The team is rapidly expanding, and has input to most areas of the business. This has allowed me to take on numerous roles and projects within the company, including:

• Carbon Management and compliance (CRC and ESOS submissions)• Environmental and sustainability management• Environmental Management System management, and ISO14001

compliance • CSR; including community engagement• Waste and environmental protection planning• Supporting the submission of the EIA and HRA, as part of the DCO

submission

ENVIRONMENTAL

28 29COMMERCIAL

CommercialWhat attracted you to the nuclear sector and the nucleargraduates programme?I have always been interested in the energy sector as my father worked in the oil and gas industry. So when I started reading about the nuclear sector it piqued my interest considerably. The nucleargraduates programme offered not only the opportunity to work within one company but to move around on different placements and, as someone who likes to work in different environments, this was very attractive. I also liked the idea of having a mentor to go to for advice and being able to benefit from the support and share the experience with other nucleargraduates.

What is the standout moment from your time on the nucleargraduates programme?A very difficult decision!

nucleargraduates are responsible for organising their own International Footprints (CSR) trip, an opportunity to learn about another countries nuclear industry and their social, economic and political outlook on it. I was a part of the organising team for my groups’ trip to Sweden. It took a lot of time and effort to organise it all but it was well worth it to see everyone in a learning environment and enjoying themselves. We were able to see the SKB facilities in Oskarshamm, take a 16hr train journey to Kiruna to learn about the Sami people and the Iron Ore mines, and held discussions with Swedish nuclear professionals in Stockholm.

What are your plans for the future? I would like to continue to work in the nuclear industry in the future as there are many exciting opportunities and challenges available in different areas. It is an industry which I have grown to enjoy working in and have learnt and continue to learn a lot whilst being in it.

Name: Elizabeth Page

Degree and University: (BA) International Business - Strathclyde University, Glasgow.

Current job title, placement host and duration: • nucleargraduate: UK Trade & Industry (UKTI)

at UK Embassy in Beijing, China, 6 months.

Previous roles, placement hosts and durations:• Transport Project Coordinator: INS, 7 months.• Transport Advisor: World Nuclear Transport Institute (WNTI), 6 months.• INS Coordinator: Dynabond Powertech Services,

Beijing, China, 4 months.• INS Representative: UKTI, British Embassy, Beijing, China, 6 months.

Sponsor company: • International Nuclear Services

What is your current role and what does it involve? I am working on the UK-China 4 party Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreed between the Department for Energy and Climate Change and China’s Atomic Energy Authority and signed jointly with International Nuclear Services in the UK and China National Nuclear, which enhances cooperation in the different areas of the civil nuclear fuel cycle. My responsibilities involve implementing activities agreed under the work plan; working with nuclear commercial and policy leads for nuclear at the Embassy; acting as point of contact in China for CNEA and CNNC on matters related to progress and implementation of activity agreed under the work-plan; and supporting preparations for missions and visits of the Four-Parties both to the UK and China.

COMMERCIAL

30 31LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT

PlacementsYour first placement is with the organisation sponsoring you through the nucleargraduates programme. Here you’ll learn more about your sponsor and take your first steps into the exciting world of nuclear. Placements two and three give you the opportunity to gain experience and training in a supply chain, governmental or regulatory organisation. You’ll get to see the nuclear industry from different perspectives and develop a big-picture understanding – something you’ll put into practice as the next potential leaders of the industry.

With the support of a personal mentor, you’ll decide which organisation your second and third placement will be with. As a nucleargraduate your development truly is unique to you. You’ll benefit from the diversity and expertise of the people you’ll meet and gain hands-on experience and training across the industry.

Training ZonesIn between each of your placements you will attend a residential training zone of up to two weeks. These training zones will focus on developing both your technical and behavioural competencies. You’ll further your knowledge and skills in a range of environments while enjoying the company of your fellow nucleargraduates.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) & Chartership – To hit the heights of the nuclear industry, chartership is now a necessity. As a nucleargraduate you will be given the support, guidance and funding you need on the path to chartered status.

Having completed your two year initial professional development (IPD) phase with the nucleargraduates programme, you will return to your sponsor in full time employment. Here, your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) phase will progress through to chartered status and beyond.

Those graduates following a commercial or non-technical route will also be supported in pursuing professional development with an appropriate institution, such as the Association for Project Management (APM) or the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD).

nucleargraduates is accredited by the following institutes:

“The key developments for me have been my confidence and communication skills in the workplace. I’ve improved my problem solving, leadership and teamwork skills too.”

nucleargraduates is approved by the Nuclear Institute (NI) and works in partnership with the National Skills Academy for Nuclear (NSAN)

FootprintsFootprints is our corporate social responsibility programme that sits at the heart of the nucleargraduates scheme. During your two years, 10% of your total time on the programme will be dedicated to Footprints activity.

During this time you will become a STEM ambassador and pass on your knowledge and enthusiasm to the next generation. You’ll establish a start-up company to help understand the challenges that small companies face and you’ll work with local community projects where you’ll meet some inspirational individuals. International Footprints visits will further expand your knowledge of the nuclear industry and its communities on a global scale.

Footprints is your chance to affect real change in the real world, allowing you to engage with and understand the communities we work in and with. This is the platform for you to see and do things your peers on other schemes may never get the opportunity to experience.

CASE STUDYCORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

International Footprintsnucleargraduate Jonathan Hart took this image of the group under the Northern Lights during their International Footprints visit to Sweden. Thirty seven nucleargraduates spent five days exploring the Swedish nuclear industry, holding discussions with industry representatives and engaging with local communities.

The Small and Medium Enterprise ChallengeEstablished in 2014 as part of Footprints’ Small and Medium Enterprise Challenge, The Chalk Bag Company is a not-for-profit business which aims to provide novel alternatives to existing climbing equipment and foster links between animal conservation and climbing communities.

The Company launched the Figure of Ape product after a successful Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. All profits from sales of the chalk bag go to the ‘Go Orange for Orangutan’

campaign. This campaign seeks to provide funding for the ongoing conservation of Orangutans who have lost 80% of their forest home in the last 30 years.

For more information on The Chalk Bag Company and to buy a Figure of Ape chalk bag please visit:www.thechalkbagcompany.co.uk

32 33

34 35THE nucleargraduates COMMUNITY THE nucleargraduates COMMUNITY

One thing that our nucleargraduates appreciate is the company and support of other nucleargraduates. Throughout your time on the scheme you will be part of a close cohort of other like-minded graduates that includes everyone from scientists to engineers, accountants to project managers. Your colleagues will always be there, and the bonds you form in that group will be some of the strongest you have ever made. Why? Because only other nucleargraduates will understand what it’s like to be a pioneer – changing the face of our industry forever.

Benefits

36 37REWARDS

Potential to travel the

world

£1,000 Golden Hello

Exceptional training and

support

25 days annual leave

plus Bank Holidays

Membership of up to two professional institutions

Pension Scheme with

employer contributions

Individual travel and

subsistence budget during

the two yearsUp to six

discretionary days leave per year for study,

relocation, etc.

Starting salary of

£25,000 rising to £26,000 in your second

year

nucleargraduate Bevan Newell enjoying his community activities with the RNLI.

38 39HOW TO APPLY

Applications Process Three simple steps to unlock your potential:

STEP

1Online Application Form & Verbal, Numerical and Logical TestsYou’ll fill in an online application form at www.nucleargraduates.com/apply that tells us more about you and complete some tests to show us what you are made of.

Once you’ve demonstrated that you have what it takes to be part of the exciting world of nucleargraduates you will normally receive your offer within a week. Congratulations!

STEP

2Video Interview & Situational Judgment QuestionThe video interview gives you the chance to stand out and impress us at a time and in a place that is comfortable for you. While the Situational Judgment Question allows you to demonstrate individuality and creativity in an applied setting.

STEP

3

OFFER

Assessment CentreDuring the two-day assessment centre you’ll take part in a number of exercises – individual interviews, role play and group exercises. It gives us chance to get to know each other and allows you to find out more about the scheme, the nuclear industry and the organisations looking to sponsor you.

“nucleargraduates has made me feel at home in this industry. I have a credible nuclear knowledge base and the confidence to make decisions and drive progress.”

© Rolls-Royce

www.nucleargraduates.com www.facebook.com/nucleargraduates @nucleargrads