Scientific Apprentice (Higher) Review
at Cavendish Nuclear
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Science
Whitehaven, Cumbria
Review Submitted: March 2023
Overall Rating
3.9 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
4/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
3.2/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
A varied job with multiple labs within the building testing various samples for radiation or beta emitters. Some analysis we do is for Iodine 129, Uranium, Plutonium, americium, carbon 14, technetium 99. Each analysis has a QAAM (quality assured analytical method) which we follow to ensure all the steps are met to provide the best analysis.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I love my programme at work, I always leave happy after a good productive day and never dread coming in the next day. I spend 1 day each week at college doing a degree in chemistry and this is in various sub groups of chemistry including physical, organic and inorganic.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
There are multiple skills i have learned such as developing my team working skills, enhancing my solo working abilities and working with various ages and diversities and making sure my communication is good to pass along any information about my job to a new employee that i may be training up.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
The apprenticeship could've been structured better as it is difficult getting all the college work completed with responsibilities at home and feel as though some time during work would be beneficial. Also having a mentor would be better and an actual plan as to when we would move labs at work.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
3/5
The colleagues around me are great for helping me and never leave me at a loose end. Some higher up don't really care as much and would leave you to do the work and use the apprentices as another set of hands rather than here to learn and work.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
My work are good with allowing me to go to college and join any meetings with them and they are also aware of the apprenticeship development programme I am going through where we have bi monthly meet ups on online calls or in person. They always sort the transport out and give sufficient time for travel
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
With the course being chemistry based and being in an analytical lab a lot of the subjects we revise at college are work based as well and help within my job it self. This means i can help provide improvements to methods or even help create new ones myself to analyse for different elements.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
2/5
There used to be some people doing football monthly on a Wednesday, however there has been nothing since covid. I would love to have some sort of activity like this again as it gave us time to relax and enjoy ourselves without being pressured and having to watch what we say in the tea bar.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Cavendish Nuclear to a friend?
Yes
Why?
A great company to work for and like i said i always enjoy coming to work. Its easy enough to get to and find. Most people get on and / or are easy to get along with. There are a lot of things to learn but its quite easy to grasp.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Cavendish Nuclear?
It isn't as hard as it seems all the methods are already written it is just like following a recipe. As long as you finish each step completely then you will receive good results and good recognition and increase your chances of getting a promotion or going on a works based trip.
