Behind this year's historic numbers are tens of thousands of stories behind each high-skilled, high-paid civil nuclear career. Hear first-hand what a job in nuclear means to people across the industry.
Tom Bell, Strategy Manager, United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory
“I’m a mid-career switcher into the nuclear sector. I’d previously spent time in the Army and then in consulting, working on a range of projects across transport and local government. I was finding strategy work most interesting, so I started looking for an in-house strategy role, and the opportunity that came up was at UKNNL.
“I haven’t looked back. Working here has been absolutely fascinating, and I love the fact that we’re tackling some of society’s biggest problems, such as climate change, energy security and even health.”
Mike McLean, Head of Technologies, AtkinsRéalis
“Absolutely. One of the things I’ve valued most about a career in nuclear is that it has allowed me to build an international career without sacrificing the place I call home.
“What’s remarkable is that while I’ve stayed rooted in a community I love, my work has connected me with organisations and projects across Europe, North America and South East Asia.
“It’s given me the best of both worlds: building a life in a community I love while working on projects and with people from around the globe.”
Ishy Aldean, Business Development Scientist, Lucideon
“Both fission and fusion energy have supported numerous businesses and, by extension, careers in the nuclear industry in these local communities.
“To deliver these opportunities, businesses require a complex network of diverse skills and expertise which creates job opportunities for people across disciplines, including administration, finance, project management, science, engineering, commercial, and marketing.”
Harry Taylor, Human Factors Consultant, Abbott Risk Consulting (ARC)
“New nuclear investment will create even more opportunities for people to join a diverse and evolving industry. One of the things that makes nuclear so interesting is the variety of work taking place at the same time. There is decommissioning work on older sites, alongside the construction and development of new projects such as Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C.
“For people looking for jobs, this means there are opportunities across the full lifecycle of nuclear projects, from design and construction through to operation, maintenance and eventual decommissioning. It is an industry where people can build long-term careers and continue developing their skills over time.”
Harvey Laker, Project Management Degree Apprentice, Cyclife UK
“The nuclear industry offers the chance to work on complex and nationally significant projects that contribute to the UK’s energy security and net-zero ambitions. It provides opportunities to excellent training, development of transferable skills, and opportunities to collaborate with experienced professionals across multiple disciplines.
“The combination of continuous learning and meaningful work is something that makes the industry unique.”
Archie Thorne, Project Controls Apprentice, Framatome UK
“I would like to see continued investment in new nuclear projects and the development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) to help meet the UK’s future energy demands.
“I would also like to see more young people entering the industry through apprenticeships and graduate programmes, ensuring the sector has the skills needed to deliver the next generation of nuclear projects safely and efficiently.”
Farooq Khan, Design Engineer, Alpha Engineering Ltd
“Investing in new nuclear solutions such as SMR offers the UK clean energy generation, new and increased job opportunities for the people of Britain, and an energy solution that is resilient and adaptable to the changing weather climate and geopolitical dynamics. Some will even have the footprint of a football pitch for example the Westinghouse AP300 Small Nuclear Reactor (SMR).
“New nuclear means jobs creation including operating and maintaining the powerplants, nuclear fuel production, and decommissioning.”
