Nuclear Engineer Apprentice Review

I am part of the electrical technical team, who review and check designs for Hinkley Point C to pass on to our contractors. I check that the designers' 3D models are compliant with official regulations with no operational issues, I write official papers for the ONR to answer queries they have, and review various other documents for the project. Day to day I hold/join in meetings, workshops, and reviews, give presentations to the teams and collaborate on documents.

Fairly well organised - the work placements are quite flexible, and the organisational responsibility is mainly given to the assignment manager, which I find a good thing. Information regarding college time could be a little more prompt and organised but generally things are well-communicated. This has been seen especially with the recent pandemic causing everyone to have to adjust to working from home. I have been delivered the right equipment quite quickly which has helped hugely, and my managers have been keeping me updated with relevant details.

EDF (and HPC especially) are constantly offering support in every aspect, mainly through online facilities. My managers have also been keen to ensure I am always happy, both with the level of challenge my workload presents, and also from a pastoral point of view which is very important. Again, working from home has not been easy to adjust to but the support offered by the company has made this process a lot more smooth which I am grateful for.

The tutors are always happy to talk over issues and there is a lot of contact time within the college blocks. The degree is challenging but the college keeps on top of monthly reviews and informal reviews more frequently. However I feel during the completion of assignments that the tutors could be more active in their support as the class sizes are big so it is not always easy to approach them directly. Generally I feel well supported, though, and the facilities are very useful for our needs.

The degree learning is generally of a higher level than what is needed for day-to-day working, but it does help to give an underpinning knowledge of engineering and nuclear science. The presentation and project-work skills gained from completing assignments also helps in the placements. The practical learning that takes place at college is particularly useful, for example working on the mock-up flow rig that imitates one that might be encountered on site. This is a good preparation for work in the nuclear industry.

Yes

This apprenticeship has allowed me to work and learn in a beneficial, fair and fun way. I can shape my own career path through the flexibility of the course structure, but also feel constantly supported by everyone around me. It is the perfect balance between the student life and the professional life, which I think is brilliant preparation for whatever my future holds. I recommend yhese courses to anyone with ambition, curiosity and a practical mind.