marines are being decommissioned
at Devonport Dockyard and the
industry is also investing in the
building of new facilities for waste.
‘Even without any new-build
there is plenty of work for regulators
to deal with all of this.’
As a high-hazard industry, the
nuclear sector has a great need for
safety standards regulators. The
Health and Safety Executive is
about to start a round of recruitment
in the nuclear sector that will last
until the end of the year. It aims to
increase the number of people
working in this division from about
155 to 192.
‘This is something that is
required regardless of the decision
over whether there will be any
nuclear new build,’ said the
HSE’s Britten.
In anticipation of what it believes
will be a green light for new build,
the HSE has already established a
division ready to undertake work
such as new build design assessment.
Although the unit is relatively
small, there are plans to expand it if
the government commits to nuclear
energy for the UK’s future.
‘Of course, if the decision to go
ahead with that is taken then we will
need an additional 35 members of
staff,’ said Britten. ‘We are having to
increase our numbers as we have to
meet growing demand for regulatory
services in this area — we are
already being affected without the
decision even having been made,
although we are anticipating that
this will be positive.
‘Another reason for recruitment
is that we will have a number of
existing staff retiring in the next five
years, though we have anticipated
this also.’
The HSE is looking for engineers
with a wide range of skills who are
also capable of dealing with the
human side of regulation, such as
presenting advice that may sometimes
face resistance.
‘We want people with good
degrees and who are chartered or
have membership of professional
organisations,’ said Britten.
‘We are seeking people who
have experience of high-hazard
industries but who also have the
personal characteristics to be able
the EnGIneeR 21 APRIL–4 MAY 2008
FOR THE LATEST JOBS BY EMAIL GO TO www.theengineerjobs.co.uk/jobalert
to deal with the work that we do.
They have to be adaptable, resilient
and persuasive in order to retain
credibility.’
Areas in which experience would
be welcome include internal hazards,
reactor fault studies, structural
integrity, chemical engineering, civil
engineering and criticality.
As well as seeking people for its
advertised positions, the organisation
is open to applications from
individuals who think they may be
able to match their skills to the
HSE’s needs. These would include
people who had worked at major
chemicals sites, in gas distribution
and the offshore industry.
Meanwhile AMEC, the largest
private sector engineering, consultant
and project management
‘We are looking for people who will
thrive on challenges and develop their
skills to the maximum’ Clive White, AMEC
company in the UK nuclear industry,
is also reaping the benefits of
the activity. It supports all of the key
nuclear licensees and the industry’s
regulators.
The markets in which it works —
new reactor build, performance
enhancement of the reactor fleet,
support to the UK’s strategic
nuclear deterrent, current and future
nuclear submarine programmes
and decommissioning and clean up
— are all benefiting from significant
investment in major, long-term
future work programmes.
As a result AMEC is looking for
more than 500 people this year and
plans for similar growth in subsequent
years. The company is looking
for a wide range of experience,
from recent graduates through to
strategic appointments, and also
welcomes applicants from outside
the nuclear sector, such as petrochemical,
process, oil and gas, rail,
aerospace, and pharmaceutical
industries.
‘Opportunities exist for both permanent
and contract staff at various
locations throughout the UK,’ said
Pauline Doran, resourcing manager
for AMEC’s nuclear business.
‘These locations include our head
office in Knutsford as well as Warrington
in Cheshire, Thatcham,
Berkshire, Gloucester and Cumbria.
To support our continued strong
growth, we have also just opened a
new office in Glasgow.
‘If you join us you get unrivalled
opportunity to work at the forefront
of an industry that makes daily
headlines and is benefiting from a
global renaissance.’
AMEC is seeking high-calibre
professionals, across a range
of disciplines and specialist areas,
including electrical, instrumentation
and control, safety case, mechanical
engineering, physicists, and project,
programme and asset
management.
‘As part of a FTSE 100 company
we want people who will make a
real difference to our business and
that of our clients,’ said Clive
White, vice-president of the
nuclear business.
‘There are opportunities to work
on projects around the world,
including Canada, Europe and
South Africa, as well as in the UK.
We are looking for people who will
thrive on technical and business
challenges and with our support
develop their skills and expertise to
the maximum.’
Given the amount of activity and
the level of recruitment taking place,
it seems the nuclear industry is an
attractive place to build an exciting,
long-term career.
‘Anyone thinking of going into
the nuclear industry should be
advised to go for it, if they have the
ability,’ said the HSE’s Britten.
‘As well as much demand and
the prospect of developing a longterm
career they will also gain some
very transferable skills — though
the industry will doubtless be keen
to fight to keep them.’
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