Nuclear Graduates 2025 - Chemistry

One Programme, Two Years, Three Secondments, Endless Opportunities

There has never been a more exciting time to join the nuclear sector. From energy generation to waste management, transport through to decommissioning, the Nuclear Graduates programme provides you with the opportunity to contribute to some of the biggest challenges facing our society.

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has brought together leading businesses and organisations to create the award winning & professionally accredited Nuclear Graduates programme.

Whether your passion lies within science, engineering or business, Nuclear Graduates will ensure that over two years you will gain an invaluable insight into the breadth of the UK’s nuclear sector, giving you the opportunity to contribute to innovative designs, systems, products, and services.

As a Nuclear Graduate, you will have the opportunity to see the nuclear sector from different perspectives, learning from leading experts on projects that have real impact. You will also receive a programme of professional development to enhance your skills and expertise, whilst also demonstrating a commitment to understanding the communities in which the nuclear sector works.

As a chemist on the Nuclear Graduates programme you can expect to find yourself:

• Supporting with the regulation of nuclear sites – from design and construction to operation and finally through to decommissioning
• Monitoring the management and disposal of radioactive waste
• Working on the processing of nuclear waste or working with radioactive materials
• Providing technical information to engineers and physicists to support decision-making and plant operations
• Conducting investigations, recording your findings, analysing data and generating reports
• Working closely with internal and external stakeholders such as the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, regulators and local stakeholders

In addition we have an unique opportunity for a graduate to work within the Office of Nuclear Regulation (ONR). The role of an ONR sponsored nuclear graduate involves providing technical support to ONR inspectors in managing, planning and carrying out their regulatory duties. The ONR Chemistry & Chemical Engineering team considers chemistry & chemical engineering aspects over the whole facility lifecycle:

• Site equipment/arrangements for maintaining containment, cooling and control of radioactive material & nuclear matter.
• Assessment of reactivity behaviour, chemical and thermal stability in specific operations, considering both radiological and non-radiological to ensure hazards and risks are appropriately considered, understood and safely controlled by the licensee.
• Identification of potential fault and accident conditions appropriately identified and mitigated

Throughout your two-year journey on the Nuclear Graduates programme you will be employed by Energus whilst being supported by an industry leading sponsoring organisation.

At the end of your two-year programme, you will be supported in securing a role with your sponsoring organisation or within the wider nuclear sector.

Entry requirements

• A minimum of a 2:2 in a relevant degree subject, achieved within the last 5 years
• Candidates need to have the right to work in the UK by the start of and for the duration of the 2 year programme. Any offers will be conditional upon satisfactory right to work checks
• Successful completion of security clearance checks
• Applicants must be willing and able to travel and relocate. Energus head office is based in Workington, Cumbria, however role locations will vary dependent on sponsor location.

Start date: September 2025

Recruitment stages

The recruitment and selection process consists of the following stages:

• Online application form - please complete all required sections of the application to ensure this is submitted successfully.
• Online assessments & videos - throughout your recruitment journey you will be invited to complete online assessments which may contain video elements.
• Assessment centre – these will be delivered face to face and will involve various activities, alongside insightful information around the nuclear industry and our programme.
• Offer - following our assessment centres, we aim to issue outcomes within two weeks. Successful candidates will begin their exciting journey as a Nuclear Graduate, working with our dedicated Energus People & Skills team to complete security paperwork ahead of starting the programme in September 2025.
• Onboarding - we welcome all our graduates ahead of the start date, through social media groups and welcome sessions, ensuring you are prepared, and any support required is in place, providing you with the best start to your exciting future as a Nuclear Graduate.

Face-to-face assessment centres will take place week commencing 17th February 2025. If you are invited to an assessment centre and unable to attend, unfortunately you may be unable to complete the selection process.

We encourage you to regularly check emails (including any junk mail/spam folders) throughout the selection process, all correspondence including selection invitation will be sent via email.

Any applications received after this date will not be considered. We reserve the right to close a role early should we receive sufficient applications. We encourage that you apply at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment. Please note only one Nuclear Graduates application is required, please do not submit multiple applications.

Company Benefits:

• Salary £30,000 per year
• £5,500 individual travel budget
• £3,500 individual training budget
• £9,900 core training & development
• Access to three secondments to give you experience across the breadth of the UK nuclear sector
• A dedicated team of experts to support your development and progress throughout your time on the programme
• A sponsor company lead to provide you with day-to-day support during your programme and with your secondments
• A dedicated mentor, assigned to you upon starting the programme who will stay with you throughout your Nuclear Graduates journey
• A comprehensive, tailored programme of professional development
• The support of a dedicated Nuclear Graduates programme team throughout the two years of your graduate programme. As Mental Health First Aiders the team are fully equipped to assist you through your Nuclear Graduates journey
• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
• 6 discretionary days leave for study and relocation
• Energus contributory pension scheme
• Energus Employee Assistance Programme and DigiCare+
• EnergUS Extras, providing in-house news, wellbeing resources and employee discounts
• Membership of up to 2 professional institutions
• Access to an independent Employee Assistance Programme service offering a 24/7 support line
• Opportunity to participate in our Cycle2Work Scheme

Energus is a member of the disability confident scheme. When requested we will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process and we guarantee to interview all candidates who have a disability who meet all of the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group.