Investing in the next generation in the nuclear industry

The partnership is transforming how major projects are delivered, fostering collaboration and innovation across a vast supply chain while delivering significant socio-economic benefits to the area.

Key to this legacy is empowering the next generation of major project professionals through a wide range of apprenticeship, intern, and graduate opportunities offered by the multitude of supply partners. As of today, the 20-year programme is only five years in, so the prospect of a long-term career opportunity is a major pull for job seekers. What’s more, interns, apprentices and graduates already make up more than 10 per cent of the PPP team.

Dan Costello, PPP’s Head of People, said: “At PPP, flourishing people is at the heart of our DNA, and we’re working hard to create long-term personal development and rewarding employment opportunities across our supply chain.

“We have approximately 175 early career professionals across multiple pathways, including our award-winning intern programme, apprenticeship programmes, project controls academy and our Lot Partner graduate programmes. These programmes are successful, not only in providing a healthy pipeline of talent for PPP, but also in providing employment opportunities for future generations.

“Last year we were proud to be listed in the UK’s top 35 inclusive workplaces, further demonstrating how we’re a great place to work, and a place where anyone can thrive.”

Wendy Mallard, PPP’s Internship Lead, added: “Our intern scheme offers those furthest from the job market an opportunity of an 18-month paid placement working for one of our many partners on PPP.

“The training programme gives individuals a chance to explore areas of interest without requiring previous experience or qualifications. We encourage all kinds of learning and interns develop vital behavioural skills, especially those required to work in a collaborative and sometimes challenging environment.

“The scheme started in 2020, and so far, we have had seven successful Skills Academies supporting over 75 individuals and raising over £1m in social value.

“I am excited about Cohort 8 Skills Academy starting this autumn.”

Emma Jackson

Emma Jackson left school and went straight into employment, despite not being sure on the career path she wanted to follow.

Following various college courses, while bringing up her young family as a single parent, she qualified as a teaching assistant but struggled to find a full-time position before enrolling on the PPP intern scheme.

Now embedded in PPP’s Social Impact team, Emma, 36, said: “I have a caring nature and love to help others. I enjoy volunteering at the Bransty community group, where I am the treasurer and part of the committee which organises fundraising events.”

Intern journey: I started my internship with the Sustainability team in October 2022. I enjoyed the start of my course and was keen to challenge myself and take on new opportunities. So, after six months I combined working in sustainability with PPP’s Learning and Development team where I co-ordinated training for the contractors and classification of information training. We then got approval to co-ordinate carbon literacy training, where I was able to truly bring sustainability and training together, and this is now my current role. At the end of my internship, I was really pleased when the Site-Wide Improvements team extended my course to give me an opportunity to work with their team and continue building on my experience.

What role were you offered, and what does that entail? I was offered a full-time position with the Site-Wide Improvements team as a Change and Transformation Assistant. This involves co-ordinating meetings for the team, owning the programme’s Ideas Portal and showcase pages, supporting the Social Impact, Sustainability and Improvements and the Benefits teams. Co-ordinating reports, document control and communications are also part of my scope. A key part of my role requires me to coordinate carbon literacy training, which is an important focus for the programme as it works towards ambitious net zero targets.

How’s it going? I am really enjoying it. The team have been really supportive of my learning in the new role and Cheryl Fawcett, my line manager, is challenging me and setting targets to ensure I achieve my goals.

Future goals: To continue to work in the Change and Transformation team and expose myself to new challenges and courses.

Advice for other interns: Take each day as it comes. Be adaptable and willing to try new things.

(Image: PPP)

Andrew Forbes

Since joining KBR as an apprentice, Andrew, 26, has applied himself fully in his placements within project management, project controls, commercial and EHSSQ, and now sits within the Benefits and Improvements team.

Andrew, who was born in Egremont, but now lives in Workington with his three-year-old cocker spaniel Kevin, is studying for a degree apprenticeship in project management at the University of Cumbria while working for KBR, as part of the Programme and Project Partners (PPP) at Sellafield. Having successfully completed his course, Andrew will become the first person in his family to earn a degree.

He said: “My main concern when joining the apprenticeship scheme was that being older, I wasn’t your stereotypical apprentice. I’d first joined university when I left sixth form, but left after realising it wasn’t for me.

“I went into the world of work, but always knew I wanted to gain a degree. The idea of a degree apprenticeship was ideal for me, as you earn while you learn, and you get that invaluable experience of working in the role as you learn the theory at university.”

Joining PPP: I started as an apprentice in September 2021 with no relevant project experience.

While it was a huge step to join PPP, I focussed on learning as much as possible from the different teams I contributed to, alongside best practices theory learning at university.

Working with different project professionals developed my understanding of collaboration to drive outputs and benefits as an effective team player.

Current role: I’m now in the final year of my apprenticeship and currently working in the Benefits and Improvements Team. The next step, after completing my apprenticeship and achieving my degree, is to gain a role of a planner on one of the projects within PPP.

This is the position and team that has felt most natural to me, and I have enjoyed the most, but it’s important to stress that I have enjoyed the culture across PPP, and I have worked with some great people in all departments.

Challenges: One of the biggest challenges I faced was developing my confidence. Through exposure to diverse teams, I overcame this, becoming a more effective and confident communicator, learning to lead discussions and manage stakeholder relationships effectively.

Advice: My advice to anyone considering a degree apprenticeship is to just go for it. PPP offers amazing opportunities to work on major projects within a challenging and complex environment.

It is hard, but also very rewarding and you get to work with the best people. Everyone across PPP understands you are an apprentice learning your trade and takes the time to ensure you have the best possible opportunity to succeed.

And remember, there’s no silly questions. The partnership can be a complex place to learn, and you will have a million and one questions, so don’t be afraid to ask them.

(Image: PPP)

Farooq Khan

Manchester-born Farooq Khan completed a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Salford and a post-graduate at the University of Manchester in thermal power and fluids engineering.

The 26-year-old is part of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ (IMechE) Greater Manchester Young Members Panel, which organises seminars and webinars and STEM competitions, as well as career events and other events.

Graduate journey: After completing my post-graduate studies, I started working for Morgan Sindall Infrastructure (MSI) in November 2022 as a graduate project engineer on the Sellafield Product and Residue Store Retreatment Plant (SRP) project, which is one of the major projects being delivered under the PPP framework. I have worked on managing the delivery of the fire systems and lifts packages of work for SRP, and through PPP, I have had the opportunity to complete a number of training packages, including Executive Programme in the CE Marking Process for Machinery, project planning, as well as soft skills in presenting with impact and emotional intelligence. PPP has given me an environment where I can do my work but also learn and grow personally and professionally such as helping with my chartership with the IMechE through the Monitored Professional Development Scheme (MPDS).

Current role: MSI is the construction management partner as part of PPP, and my role is oriented around construction management. I ensure communication takes place and is co-ordinated between the internal teams and the contractors delivering the work. This involves me arranging and chairing meetings and following up on actions to ensure the work progresses smoothly. The most enjoyable part is talking to people, and because construction sits in the middle of design and commissioning, I get to interact with design engineers and installation/commissioning engineers to ensure the design is built and works as intended.

Future goals: On other major projects across the UK, you’d have to travel to other partners offices or conduct meetings, but within PPP the standard of communication has been taken to a new level as I can see and speak to engineers, project planners, quantity surveyors and many more disciplines who are all employed by various different companies, but we all operate under the PPP way of delivering projects, based in one building. PPP has many opportunities to offer and in the future I see myself assisting it in a technical capacity.

Advice: PPP has the complete lifecycle of a project under one framework. You will have the opportunity to be involved in all stages of a project from concept through to completion, and in technical and non-technical roles. I believe graduates joining PPP will give themselves the opportunity to experience it all in one place in a supportive environment, accelerating their development professionally and personally.