NWS leads hands-on STEM outreach
Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) has been offering its support and guidance to young people through a series of STEM outreach events around the country, working with its potential employees, community leaders and decision makers of the future.
STEM outreach focuses on initiatives designed to engage young people in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.
NWS took part in the Science and Careers fair in St Nicholas Gardens in Whitehaven, working in partnership with Sellafield Ltd and Whitehaven Town Council to plan and deliver a two-day programme focused on innovation, scientific curiosity and community engagement.
NWS also recently ran a three-day work experience to its Low Level Waste Repository (LLWR) site in Cumbria for a group of students aged 18 to 24.
Tracy Badham, NWS’s Social Responsibility Manager, said:
“The amazing young people we work with are often lacking in opportunities; it was a pleasure to work alongside them. We introduced them to our environmental work across the LLWR that underpins the work of NWS, as well as a range of other careers across the company. It gave the students a chance to meet experienced scientists rather than just reading about them in school textbooks”.
In addition to spending time with Martin Walkingshaw, NWS Chief Operating Officer, to learn about NWS’ operations, the group studied the organisation’s environmental protection work and were helped with CV writing and interview skills.
Brandon Lee Hudson-Williams was one of the young people to join the visit and plans to begin degree studies in Ecology and Wildlife Conservation at the University of Cumbria in September. He said:
“This opportunity has helped me massively. It was fascinating to learn how future waste can be managed, which is a good foundation for my career. The staff were fully professional and accommodating. I thank the team for accepting me so professionally.”
Last month, NWS, with other representatives from across the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) group, came together to talk to young people about careers on offer in the sector at the Big Bang Fair 2025. Big Bang was held at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham hosting 30,000 school age students from across the country.
Thomas Hogan, Communications Graduate at NWS, said:
“Representing NWS and the NDA group at the Big Bang Fair was an incredible opportunity to show the nuclear professionals of tomorrow the work of today, and the future. I feel very lucky to have had the chance to share with attendees the vast variety of opportunities to work in nuclear that I was personally unaware of at their age”.
ENDS
Notes to editors
About Nuclear Waste Services
Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) specialises in the management, treatment and disposal of radioactive waste produced by nuclear technologies in the UK. NWS is part of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) group, which is the non-departmental public body responsible for the clean-up of historical nuclear sites. Our goal is to ensure all categories of the UK’s radioactive waste are managed safely and securely through innovative and sustainable approaches to better protect people and the environment, both now and for the future.
About the Low Level Waste Repository
The Low Level Waste Repository in Cumbria is the UK’s primary LLW disposal facility. This nuclear licensed site enables the safe, secure, and environmentally compliant effective management and disposal of the UK’s radioactive low level waste.
In the last decade low level and intermediate level waste has been dealt with more sustainably. Alternative options such as re-use, recycling, decontamination, incineration, and specialised landfill, (for waste with the very lowest levels of radioactivity), are now preferred with disposal seen as a last resort.
Info about geological disposal: GDF (Geological Disposal Facility) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Media enquiries:
Kristina Drake, Media Relations Manager
07928513755 [email protected]
