What is it?
The UK’s nuclear power stations may be nearing the end of their working lives, but last year the Government gave the go-ahead for a new generation of plants and construction of these is likely to begin in the next 18 months. As a result, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) — in charge of cleaning up the UK’s nuclear sites — has brought together the industry’s leading businesses, such as Rolls-Royce, AMEC, Sellafield and the Environment Agency, to create an innovative graduate programme called nucleargraduates.
What graduate jobs are on offer? Nucleargraduates is the most comprehensive development scheme that the industry has offered, with up to 60 places available in 2010 for graduates interested in engineering, science, business or management. Training lasts two years and includes three placements at different businesses within the industry.
Where are the jobs?
Graduates’ first placement is usually at the NDA’s headquarters in west Cumbria, with subsequent secondments focused around three main areas — the South West of England, the Lake District and Caithness, in Scotland. Up to half of graduates also complete a three-month overseas placement.
Advertisement
What’s the pay?
The starting salary for the nucleargraduate scheme is typically around £24,000, plus five weeks’ holiday and six days’ study leave annually. Recruits also spend 10 per cent of their time helping the communities in which they work.
What’s the competition?
This year, Britain’s big industrial and engineering employers received at least 40 applications for each of their graduate vacancies.
How is it rated?
Advertisement
The nucleargraduates scheme is the second-highest new entry in this year’s edition of The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers and is the only industry-wide recruitment programme ever to be featured in the rankings.
How do I apply?
Applications for places on the 2010 nucleargraduates programme close December 7. The selection process includes an online application, two telephone interviews and a two-day selection centre. www.nucleargraduates.com
www.Top100GraduateEmployers.com