My experience as a degree apprentice at Sellafield Ltd
Our apprentice programmes aren’t just academic programmes, they provide opportunities for you to get involved in ground-breaking nuclear projects from the very start of their career.
Our apprentices get the opportunity to make a meaningful difference to our mission of creating a clean and safe environment for future generations. For degree apprentice Lewis, this has meant designing a pumping system that supports the integrity of one of our nuclear facilities.
Lewis is a mechanical design engineering degree apprentice based in our Warrington office.
Delivering real projects
As a degree apprentice, I get to help deliver real projects. For example, I have designed a sludge sump piping system to manage liquor ingress into a sump near to one of our highest hazard retrievals facilities.
The system discharges liquor from the sump to prevent a buildup and any subsequent structural failure.
The best part of my apprenticeship experience so far has been to see my design work manufactured, installed, and used on the plant at Sellafield. It is a really rewarding feeling.
Working with industry experts
Getting to study while also working alongside industry-leading, and at times world-leading, experts to deliver complex engineering solutions means that I feel valued, respected, and included.
As an apprentice, I initially expected to be in the corner, completing admin tasks and being on tea making duty.
I quickly realised this wasn't the case at Sellafield. Not only are you a respected member of the team, you are also a valued and often vital member of the team.
You are trusted and supported to find solutions to challenges and deliver crucial pieces of work. The work I get to deliver directly helps Sellafield achieve key decommissioning milestones.
Doing this important work is why I chose Sellafield for my apprenticeship. There aren’t many places where you can say that you are contributing to an important national mission that will positively impact future generations.
Professional and personal growth
Because my course is accredited, I can apply for ‘incorporated engineer’ status when I finish my degree. After that I might take a bit of a break from academic study and focus on developing my professional competence for a while.
Ultimately though, I would like to progress and complete my master’s degree, achieve Chartership status and become a ‘responsible engineer’ at Sellafield.
As an apprentice at Sellafield, I have access to experienced mentors who provide guidance and accelerate your development. To work somewhere that provides a career pathway for my future growth, and the support to help me achieve that growth, is really special.
But it’s not just professional growth. I’ve also been able to join a brilliant apprentice community. I’m surrounded by peers at a similar stage of their career, making it easier to share ideas and learn from others' experiences. It allows you to build relationships with peers, which opens doors to future opportunities.
The apprentice community also has access to experienced mentors who provide guidance and feedback to accelerate your development.
