Technical Specialist Trainee Review

For the four days a week I am at Sellafield, I undertake a variety of basic, plant based tasks - more specifically looking at future, remedial ways to decommission Sellafield site. I speak with a wide range of people across the site in order to gain a wider scope of learning if I feel my knowledge is lacking in areas. I also actively engage with the supply chain to liaise on certain parts of a project.

I would say the biggest new trait I have learned is how to be confident. Previously, I was extremely anxious to speak in a room full of people and throughout my first 15 months of being at Sellafield I have been able to develop this trait to the point where I am now comfortable chairing a meeting. I would also say I feel like I have developed my communication skills which is closely linked in with the know how of being confident.

I enjoy the plant based learning side of the programme as I feel a sense of personal development. Working in the engineering sector is something I have always wanted to do since I was young and I feel like I have been very lucky with landing a Degree Apprenticeship at Sellafield.

For the first 12 months of being here, I wasn't given a clear structure of criteria that must be fulfilled in order for my apprenticeship to be complete. I found this was really challenging as I did not know what skills I needed to grasp - it meant I was unable to plan a secondment as I did not know where the skill gaps were. However, now a criteria has been agreed - it just feels like a year has been wasted!

Within my unit, I receive ample amounts of support which is beneficial for me as a Degree Apprentice. This involves regularly having 1:1 with my line manager who ensures my workload isn't too much / too little. There is also support from my mentor who was assigned to me by the company as an imp[atrial body.

The support from Gen2 is mixed. Leading up to the exam period, some tutors endeavour to facilitate extra support sessions if needed, however, others do not offer any support outside of the standard lectures. This makes it extremely difficult if you were trying to seek further clarity on a topic and has previously caused me to struggle in exams.

In some aspects of my working life, yes I feel like qualification being delivered helps me in aspects of my day to day working. I can understand the whole nuclear process better due to one of the modules being specifically that. However, the Maths and Electrical I have done at college, I've never utilised this learning in the workplace which seems a little bit of a waste to me.

From time to time, there is a notification about special events e.g. speakers hosting a conference. However, most of these are outside of normal working hours and requests to attend events during working hours are normally denied. There are no sports teams that I am aware of and not many social events unless organised by an individual employee (i.e. the company does not cater for this).

Yes

Sellafield is an accommodating and welcoming company which has a wide range of support networks for new starters. Overall, I have found the apprenticeship to be rewarding but something which has been challenging and has allowed me to demonstrate a wide variety of skills and develop me as a person.

Research the company - there are facts on their website which were covered in my interview. Prepare answers to standard interview questions so that you are ready in that aspect. I'd also say understand the basic concept of nuclear power plants and maybe learn a few quirky facts about the business too. All will aid in the interview process. But most of all, be sure that it's something that interests you and it is something that you want to do.