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Celebrating nuclear degree success
The first group of Sellafield Ltd Technical Specialist Trainees have attended a celebratory dinner having successfully achieved their Foundation Degrees in Nuclear Related Technology.
The dinner was attended by students, their families, representatives from Sellafield Ltd and GEN II, as well as Allerdale council leader, Tim Heslop who commented: “This course changes the pattern from one of importing specialist skilled staff, who stay for a short term and then move on, to one in which we 'grow our own'”.
The degree was the ‘first of its kind’ jointly developed by GEN II and Sellafield Ltd and validated by the University of Central Lancashire. It forms part of the Sellafield Ltd Technical Specialist Trainee Scheme - a joint venture between GEN II and Sellafield Ltd - and is designed to provide opportunities for students in the local area. Students benefit, not only from being able to study high quality degrees locally, but also from the valuable source of industrial experience on the Sellafield site.
The group of nine students started their training with GEN II in September 2007, initially undertaking a BTEC programme in just 16 weeks before progressing on to the new foundation degree.
Debbie Keighley, head of profession for Technical, added: “We are extremely proud of our first cohort of Foundation Degree students. We have had a 100 per cent achievement rate with very high scores. All nine passed their degrees first time, four with distinction grade and five with merit. The successful students were: Glen Caldock, James DeWolf, Chris Fairclough, Scott Kaighan, Tom O’Neill, Natalie Robinson, Jade Leonnard, Hannah Steele and Robin White. The students are now working on the Sellafield site as plant specialists.”
“Eight students have now progressed onto the new GEN II Bachelor of Engineering Honours Degree programme in Nuclear Plant Operations and Process, combining their studies with their full time roles on site, where they are proving to be an asset to their Directorate departments.”
Jean-Paul Griffon, Technical Director, Sellafield Ltd congratulated the students saying: “Sellafield Ltd has high expectations of these young graduates and the contribution they will make to the challenges and opportunities which lie ahead.”
GEN II and Sellafield Ltd are now recruiting for their next cohort (cohort 5) of students to commence on the Technical Specialist Trainee Scheme programme in September 2011.
