National Apprenticeship Week Archives

National Apprenticeship Week – meet our PPP apprentices

Posted on February 13, 2025 by helent

As we continue our celebration of National Apprenticeship Week, meet Grace and Iain.

Before beginning her apprenticeship journey at Sellafield, Grace started her career in a property development company. When she discovered Sellafield and the opportunity to earn while she could learn, she felt it was the perfect fit.

Now in her third year of a civil and structural design degree apprenticeship, Grace continues her love of the construction and design environment.

In the past 18 months, her work has ranged from research tasks to gaining competence in AutoCAD, Excel, Revit and Navisworks. She has also supported two work experience students, used our Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology, and contributed to civil, structural and architectural teams.

Her main advice for anyone considering a degree apprenticeship is: “A degree apprenticeship will not be easy.

“You have to manage your work, college and personal life, but being fully immersed in the workplace alongside your studies is one of the best ways to learn.”

Meet Iain

Iain, who has recently completed a data analytics apprenticeship, wanted to expand his skill set and learn something new to support his role on PPP.

Iain works in our Project Services team as a performance reporting lead. He tracks and keeps all stakeholders informed about milestone progress across many corners of PPP.

Over the 18-month apprenticeship, he gained valuable insights into software systems such as Power Apps and Power Automate. Discovering these new tools showed him how much more is possible with modern performance reporting technology.

One of Iain’s biggest challenges was balancing his learning with a busy home life, especially with young children. By keeping in close communication with his line manager, he managed his workload and completed the course, which was all delivered virtually via MS Teams.

Now that he has completed his apprenticeship, Iain’s applying his new knowledge to develop automated reporting solutions, helping to streamline the production of our project status review (PSR) reports.

Iain said: “Despite being well into my professional career, learning is never too late. There are always new opportunities to improve skills and expertise in areas you may not have considered.”

Ella’s determination shines through with apprenticeship success

Posted on February 13, 2025 by helent

Resilience and determination were key for one of our apprentices who has recently completed her Level 4 Quality Practitioner apprenticeship.

Ella Dixon achieved her apprenticeship with one of our Key Delivery Partners (KDPs) Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick (BBK), marking the end of a journey filled with learning, challenges, and resilience.

Her interest in the nuclear industry began while studying design, engineering and construction at the Energy Coast University Technical College (UTC), in Lillyhall.

A Dream Placement week with Balfour Beatty on the Box Encapsulation Plant (BEP) project introduced her to different roles, and quality stood out as the perfect fit.

Ella said: “I knew, from UTC, that I wanted to learn and develop into the nuclear industry as I always had an interest in this field.”

During her apprenticeship, Ella developed key skills in quality improvement, risk management and analysis techniques, helping her to identify potential issues and improve workplace efficiency.

However, the journey wasn’t without its difficulties. In August 2023, she was made redundant from James Fisher Nuclear and, just two months later, her boyfriend Lloyd sadly passed away.

Determination

Despite these setbacks, she showed incredible determination, resuming her apprenticeship with BBK in February 2024 and passing her End Point Assessment first time in December.

She credits her success to the unwavering support of her colleagues at James Fisher Nuclear, her manager Jane, and her team at BBK. She shared: “The time and effort my team put in to help me complete my apprenticeship was limitless.”

Outside of work, Ella finds peace in the mountains. Walking with her “Walk for Lloyd” family, she completed all 214 Wainwrights in tribute to her partner, raising £33,000 for the charity Meningitis Now. She continues to challenge herself, with the National Three Peaks next on her list.

Reflecting on her journey, her advice to future apprentices would be: “Never be afraid to ask questions, buddy up with a mentor, and always seek out different explanations until things make sense.”

Celebrating PPP apprentices in National Apprenticeship Week!

Posted on February 13, 2025 by helent

It’s National Apprenticeship Week, an annual celebration which shines a light on how apprenticeships can help build skills for life. Our apprentices are vital in supporting Sellafield in delivering its mission of a clean and safe environment for future generations. Their dedication and enthusiasm, supported by their teams’ collaborative and encouraging environment, are helping them grow into the professionals of our nuclear future.

Contributing to this are some of our operative apprentices, delivering work for our Sellafield Product and Residue Store Retreatment Plant (SRP) and SIXEP Continuity Plant (SCP).

As we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, please read below to learn more about their work as part of team PPP.

Kerris is a second year apprentice with our long-term partner NG Bailey

Kerris is gaining valuable experience working in our Sellafield Product and Residue Store Retreatment (SRP) team, working on containment systems, aspirating pipes, and various electrical tasks.

This hands-on exposure has broadened her understanding and boosted her confidence. Inspired by her school engineering classes and encouragement from family members in the trade, Kerris chose this path for its dynamic challenges and opportunities.

What she enjoys most about PPP is the variety in her daily work, which keeps her motivated and engaged. She feels well supported by her mentors and colleagues, who regularly check in on her progress and encourage open communication.

Outside of work, Kerris enjoys spending time with friends and walking in her free time.

When asked if she had any advice for someone beginning their apprenticeship, she added:

“Be confident, communicate, and embrace the learning process – it’s a journey worth taking. We all have to start somewhere. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice or help from those around you; they’re there to support you

Charlie Agenew is an apprentice joiner with William King Construction

Charlie is a new apprentice, starting his journey five weeks ago joining our SIXEP Continuity Plant (SCP) team.

Though he is at the beginning of his training, he has already immersed himself in learning the ropes and adjusting to the fast-paced environment on site.

Charlie chose joinery because of its practical nature and the satisfaction of creating something tangible.

He appreciates the welcoming atmosphere at PPP, where supervisors and teammates have made him feel comfortable and supported.

When asked what his advice would be to someone considering an apprenticeship, he said:

“Embrace the challenge for what it is; it will benefit you in the long run. You’ll face challenges you haven’t had before, but learning to overcome them is rewarding and helps shape you to be a better person and helps you build a more rewarding career.”

Declan Faulkner is a fourth-year apprentice from Altrad, working on our SIXEP Continuity Plant (SCP)

In his fourth year, Declan is nearing the completion of his training. Over the years, he has built the confidence to tackle complex tasks and develop technical skills that have prepared him for a promising future.

Declan credits his interest in engineering to his fascination with cars, which motivated him to pursue a career in the trade.

When asked about his experiences and advice from working in his PPP team, he said:

“I work with a great team on site. All my colleagues and supervisors are approachable and always willing to help.

“I feel supported in my role, with regular check-ins to ensure I stay on track. For my overall experience, I like how collaborative the environment is. This has stood out for me as it has been different to how other sites I’ve worked on operate.

“My advice to aspiring apprentices would be to stick with the program as confidence and skills grow with time and experience.”

Jessica Todd, is a second-year electrical apprentice with NG Bailey

Jessica has been developing her skills in containment systems on the SRP project. While her classroom learning focuses on domestic electrics, her on-site work has expanded her practical experience in industrial applications.

Jessica’s passion for electrical work stems from her early exposure to engineering in school, which helped her discover her interest in this field.

When asked about her experience working at PPP, she said:

“I really value the supportive environment at PPP, and my supervisors and colleagues encourage me to check in regularly with them about my progress.

“I have learned that teamwork and good communication will be key to my success, giving me the confidence to learn and try new things to grow in my role.”

Jessica enjoys spending time outdoors and walking in her free time, a simple but refreshing hobby that balances her demanding work life. Her advice to newcomers? Stay determined —every challenge is an opportunity to grow and thrive.

Keep an eye out for more features from our apprentices!

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