Operational Inspection

Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) sponsored nuclear graduates may undertake a range of activities with ONR inspectors including:

• inspection of nuclear installations and transport activities;
• permissioning of licensee’s activities based on safety case assessment;
• securing improvements at site and strategic level when necessary;
• interacting with and providing advice to a wide range of stakeholders including government departments;
• assessment and inspection of local authority emergency plans.

The role of an ONR sponsored nuclear graduate involves providing technical support to ONR inspectors in managing, planning and carrying out their regulatory duties.

The role of an ONR sponsored nuclear graduate provides a potential development route to become a Band 4 Associate and later a Band 3 Inspector. As an ONR sponsored nuclear graduate, you will be part of ONR’s Initial Professional Development Programme (IPDP) alongside Degree Apprentices, Band 4 Associates and Band 3 Equivalent Inspectors.

ONR sponsors nuclear graduates in a range of disciplines. Previous ONR sponsored nuclear graduates have had backgrounds in a range of areas including physics, chemistry, chemical engineering, geology, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, cyber security, aerospace engineering, materials science, electrical engineering, mathematics and psychology.

Established in 2007 by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), the Nuclear Graduates programme was created to develop the next generation of young professionals for the nuclear sector.

There has never been a more exciting time to join the UK’s nuclear sector. With new technologies, systems and processes, requiring new ideas to drive the challenges at the heart of the sector including decommissioning, new build and the contribution to the energy security strategy.

Nuclear Graduates is sponsored by prominent employers across the nuclear sector. Our partner employers will support you throughout the two-year programme, initially in your first secondment then as you progress through your two years, playing an active role in your development as we advance the workforce of the future.

Your sponsor will vary depending on the role you’ve applied for.

Remarkably different to other graduate programmes, Nuclear Graduates offers you a unique opportunity to design your own development programme. A bespoke two-year plan, devised with the help of your own personal, professional mentor will allow you to develop both your technical and behavioural capabilities.

The Nuclear Graduates programme and its sponsors have developed an attractive package of support that reflects your, and your sponsors, ambitions for your development as a nuclear professional.

In addition to the world-class training and development on offer, Nuclear Graduates can also look forward to:

• Salary £30,000 per year
• £5,500 individual travel budget
• £3,500 flexible individual training budget
• £9,900 core training & development
• Access to three secondments to give you experience across the breadth of the UK nuclear sector
• A dedicated team of experts to support your development and progress throughout your time on the programme
• A sponsor company lead to provide you with day-to-day support during your programme and with your secondments
• A dedicated mentor, assigned to you upon starting the programme who will stay with you throughout your Nuclear Graduates journey
• A comprehensive, tailored programme of professional development
• The support of a dedicated Nuclear Graduates programme team throughout the two years of your graduate programme. As Mental Health First Aiders the team are fully equipped to assist you through your Nuclear Graduates journey
• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
• 6 discretionary days leave for study and relocation
• Energus contributory pension scheme
• Energus Employee Assistance Programme and DigiCare+
• EnergUS Extras, providing in-house news, wellbeing resources and employee discounts
• Membership of up to 2 professional institutions
• Access to an independent Employee Assistance Programme service offering a 24/7 support line
• Opportunity to participate in our Cycle2Work Scheme

Total Two-Year Package: £78,900

In between secondments your cohort will come together for training and development sessions. These pathways will focus on developing both your technical and behavioural competencies, these include.

• Induction to the Nuclear Industry
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Adaptability / flexibility
• Business Awareness
• Leadership
• Problem Solving

These are critical skills needed by the nuclear sector and will help you to develop your knowledge, skills and experience alongside your fellow Nuclear Graduates.

Footprints

Footprints is our corporate social responsibility programme that sits at the heart of the Nuclear Graduates programme. During your two years, 10% of your total time on the programme will be dedicated to Footprints activity.

During this time you will become a Science Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) ambassador, passing your knowledge and enthusiasm to the next generation. You will also have the opportunity, as part of a cohort of Nuclear Graduates, to undertake a footprint that will drive your understanding of the sector at a community level. This could be within the UK or an international opportunity that you will develop.

Footprints is your chance to affect real change in the real world, allowing you to engage with and understand the communities we work in and with. This is a platform for you to demonstrate the skills you have acquired, develop your understanding and gain experiences that are unique to the Nuclear Graduates programme.