Meet Thomas, a Radiation Protection Graduate

Location: Warrington

Sector/Business unit: Nuclear

My graduate programme, why I chose it and why I chose Babcock:

I’m on the Graduate Radiation Protection Programme at Cavendish Nuclear, part of Babcock International Group. My reason for choosing the Radiation Protection Graduate Programme was almost by chance! I’ve always been fascinated by nuclear science. At university, I studied astrophysics, where we delved into nuclear physics, especially in the context of stars.

After graduating, I was looking for a job that would keep my inquisitive mind engaged and let me use the skills I had developed. A friend of mine had found a Health Physics role and suggested I might enjoy it. That sparked my interest, and I started looking for radiation protection related jobs.

I came across Babcock’s extensive list of graduate programmes and found one in radiation protection. I chose Babcock because of its graduate programme’s diverse array of areas and the rotational placements over two years. It seemed like a great place to work and seeing the graduate and apprentice profiles on the website reinforced that impression. Babcock clearly invests in young talent and provides excellent experience and training. I feel confident that choosing Babcock was a great decision.

My favourite part of the programme:

There are many aspects of the graduate programme that I enjoy, from the training and support provided by the Early Careers team to the social interactions with my cohort and previous year’s graduates. I’ve really enjoyed meeting new people, working with different professionals, and working on a variety of projects during the 6-month rotational placements.

My favourite part so far has been becoming embedded in the Radiation Protection team. Though small, the team is incredibly friendly, and I greatly admire their skills and competence. Learning from them and building a friendly working relationship has kept the job engaging. The rotational placements have allowed me to work with various team members on new and interesting projects, which has been both educational and exciting.

My most rewarding project/experience:

I’m only 8 months into my programme at Cavendish Nuclear, and my first 6-month placement was on the Submarine Dismantling Project. This project is totally unique and has been incredibly interesting.

My most rewarding experience has been completing a project-critical document for the Submarine Dismantling Project. Initially, I thought it was just a small update, but as I continued, producing more documents and collaborating with other stakeholders, I realised the significance of my contributions. This made me feel like an integral part of the Radiation Protection team, reinforced by positive feedback from my colleagues. It’s been a great and rewarding feeling to have!

My work-life balance:

I have a great work-life balance. Babcock’s agile working environment is well-utilised within the Radiation Protection team. Despite being a small, spread-out team, we frequently meet in person, and I never feel left out.

The team’s size allows for flexible office attendance and working hours. I can start and finish work at flexible times and take time during the day for errands if I communicate with the team. I can work from home most days or at the Cavendish Nuclear office in Dalton. I enjoy going to the office a few times a week for its lovely atmosphere and friendly faces.

The flexibility to complete my hours when needed is fantastic. As long as I meet my contract hours, everyone is very accommodating. This flexibility is great if you’re someone who likes to take part in sports clubs or if you have a lot of responsibilities outside of work.

My development:

The Emerging Talent team and the Radiation Protection team have provided excellent opportunities to develop my professional and technical skills. The Early Careers team guide the graduate and apprentice programmes, providing structure and tracking our rotational placements and experiences.

They organise presentations and sessions from other sectors within the company, giving us an understanding of other areas and opportunities for involvement. These sessions also include professional and personal development skills, which have been invaluable in managing the changes and challenges of the job.

Onboarding training covers overviews of technical skills in various disciplines. This insight was particularly useful at the start of the programme, and it helped inform what I want to pursue during my time at Babcock.

What advice would you give to someone applying for a space on the Radiation Protection Graduate Programme?

Understanding radiation protection basics is essential, but it’s not just about technical skills and legislation. Radiation protection fundamentally involves advising others on best practices and compliance, so strong communication skills and a professional ability to mediate are crucial. These skills will help you effectively fulfil your role as a Radiation Protection Professional.