Monday 6 September 2021

The National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) is virtually welcoming thirty-eight graduates and apprentices this week, which will be the first step on the career ladder for many.

Nineteen graduates will be embarking on varied scientific opportunities across the main laboratory sites, including Chadwick House headquarters at Birchwood Park in Warrington. Joining the organisation from prestigious academic institutions, including the Universities of Manchester and Oxford, entry roles have been assigned to support critical areas including radiological safety, chemical engineering, environmental science and nuclear reactors.

The remaining nineteen apprentices will focus their efforts on delivering work alongside their study days at a selected local college. As well as nuclear engineering and scientific roles, NNL have also selected candidates for corporate functions, including project management, digital communications, information technology, business administration, finance and procurement.

Over the next few weeks, the graduates and apprentices will undertake a virtual induction in NNL, local inductions into their workplaces and commence their technical and behavioural training alongside their practical “on the job” learning.

From award winning graduates to internationally acclaimed subject matter experts, NNL’s workforce is here to deliver environmentally and financially sustainable solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges. And it is their skills, knowledge and enthusiasm that drives our work and fuels our purpose.

Dr Paul Howarth, Chief Executive Officer at the National Nuclear Laboratory, said:

“I was really pleased to greet the next generation of graduates and apprentices at the virtual induction this week. The ongoing commitment to our early career schemes is a critical necessity, despite the restraints of the pandemic – we have a great selection of top-calibre talent this year.

“Developing new skills to create more jobs in our quest to achieving net-zero by 2050 is an important reality. However, joining a new company amid a global pandemic is challenging and NNL have had to adapt the usual route to accommodate safety above anything else, with much of our workforce still working from home. Despite this, managers and teams continue to do a fantastic job to support each new starter and I look forward to seeing what this new group achieve.”

The most important asset for NNL’s future success is people and we are fortunate to be gifted with some of the most creative and inspired scientific minds in our sector, in the world.

Clare Barlow, Chief HR Officer at the National Nuclear Laboratory, added:

“I’m delighted to welcome each new graduate and apprentice to NNL, we are committed to establishing rewarding, long-term careers and this induction and early coaching will play a key part in realising that vision. There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes to support our early careers programmes, so thank you and well done to all the teams that have enabled a smooth transition. We all look forward to seeing every individual journey grow and develop into a rewarding career.”

To help us meet the opportunities of the new nuclear landscape, NNL is building a culture where everybody feels valued and can flourish, and a reputation as a home for stimulating, rewarding careers. People are the currency of the nuclear sector and we are determined to cultivate diversity, innovation and collaboration across all we do.

With the urgency of the climate crisis, there is a growing public consciousness about the role each and every one of us can play towards net zero. Across NNL, all our employees can be confident that they are making a positive difference to society, within their daily jobs and we look forward to seeing more of the new recruits across the business.

To find out more about early careers at NNL visit: www.nnl.co.uk/careers/early-careers/