Nuclear Graduate Review

My job relates to all nuclear aspects of working on submarines designed and manufactured for the Royal Navy. This could see me working on building the reactor compartment to power the submarine, to ensuring the licencing conditions are adhered to throughout the nuclear site. Most prominently, I have been working on build and commissioning phases

Yes. Technically I have learn a lot, as this is something you do not get first hand experience in while at university, due to the vast amount of theory having to be taken on board. The apprenticeship has given me the opportunity to put the theory into practise. Also communication wise I have grown leaps and bounds ,as there are all different types of people working in the yard, each different from one another.

I enjoy my programme, it gives me the opportunity to learn new skills, forge new contacts and work on some of the worlds most complex pieces of modern equipment. The company is good to work for with benefits galore and as stated before, having the opportunity to work on some complex pieces of modern equpiment

The structure and organisation is good, the opportunities for development within work placements and extra curriculum activities are plentiful and fit in around each other. The coordination between early careers and apprentices is usually plentiful with meetings and correspondence often paramount to keeping the early career population in the loop around the yard.

We receive lots of support. Throughout the early careers programme I personally have had support for a number of things. This includes personal support, academic support with the degree I am completing, development support through stretch activities, volunteering and behavioural improvements and just general support with adapting to life in a new place.

I personally have not used a great deal of support from my training provider, however I am under the impression that they offer a great deal of support with regards to a number of things. Most recently, due to having problems with installing software onto my computer the training provider opted to send computers up to our work place to complete the simulations for our assignment.

Unfortunately due to being in the early careers programme I have found that the majority of work I have been involved with does not correlate to some of the things I have been studying with my degree. I believe this to be because of the things we learn to be more applicable to a higher up position. I am sure in due course I will be more likely to utilise these skills.

There are a large number of extra curricular activities to get involved in, with the company taking a holistic stance that the business has a wider sense of giving to do with the community it is inter-dispersed with. I have taken full advantage of these opportunities to further develop myself as well as give back to the community that has welcomed me with open arms.

Yes

Great company to work for, good benefits with regards to pay, incentives and work/life balance, work is beneficial to development and the wider bigger picture of the UK, working on some great complex equipment, creating a good broad network within the nuclear sector, a big company that makes you feel like part of the whole team.

All you can do in the end is apply and see what happens. Best bet is to try and see how you can link your experiences in life to the companies core values as this will put you in good stead for starting work. Also must enjoy brews and getting stuck into work.