Getting a graduate job in nuclear energy

With the government committed to nuclear power as part of the UK's energy mix, nuclear jobs are available in engineering, science or project management

Nuclear power is an area of the energy and utilities sector that's at the forefront of technological and scientific development. Plans to build a wave of new nuclear power stations means there's high demand for talented graduates.

Nuclear power in the UK

According to the trade association Energy UK, nuclear power provided around 15% of the UK's electricity in 2023 from 15 reactors.

While there are plans to increase this to around 25% by 2050, many of the existing nuclear power stations are ageing and are due to close by 2035. The government's strategy is to replace these - and the country's remaining coal-fired power stations - with new nuclear plants.

The £23billion plant being constructed at Hinkley Point in Somerset is expected to be in use by 2029. Once operational, it will generate low carbon electricity that meets 7% of total demand, providing power for more than six million homes. This will be the UK's first new nuclear power station since the 1990s.

Energy firm EDF Energy has confirmed that several more new plants will follow in the coming years - Sizewell C in Suffolk, which will support 70,000 new jobs, and Bradwell B in Essex, which is still in its public consultation stage.

This requirement to operate current nuclear power stations, decommission old ones and build new ones means there's significant demand for researchers, scientists and engineers with specialist knowledge of the industry's technology, regulation and safety procedures.

For example, graduate nuclear engineers are needed by Sellafield Ltd to transform its nuclear site into a safe and environmentally-sound space.

Explore nuclear power careers further and discover more about the sector by visiting the Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) - What is nuclear energy?

Nuclear energy careers

Statistics from the NIA show that 77,413 people are employed in the UK's nuclear industry (2023) - an increase of 20% on the previous year.

However, the UK workforce is ageing, with 10% of the workforce aged 60 or over. Thousands of additional workers will be required to quadruple capacity and deliver the government target of producing 24 GW of nuclear power by 2050. This shows there's clearly a skills gap that needs closing.

The Nuclear Skills Strategy Group's Nuclear Workforce Assessment 2023 forecasted that around 2,350 new workers may be needed every year until 2030 to meet the demand, so now's a great time to consider working in this exciting area of engineering.

The report predicted that there would continue to be a need for the following roles:

• chemists
• commissioning engineers
• electrical engineers
• emergency planners
• project planning and control
• reactor operation.

It was also highlighted that just over a fifth (21.4%) of the nuclear workforce is female, with women underrepresented in many STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) positions. To meet the Nuclear Sector Deal target of a 40% female workforce by 2030, recruitment of at least 50% women is required over the next few years.

Read more about how this is being addressed with opportunities for women in engineering.

Nuclear graduate schemes

One way the industry is attempting to reduce the skills shortage is through the Nuclear Graduates scheme. This is a two-year graduate programme created by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and funded by industry employers that act as sponsors.

Graduates join employers in a range of disciplines, from civil engineering, nuclear engineering, chemistry, and nuclear liabilities, to commercial areas such as digital and cyber security, on a starting salary of £30,000 per year.

To gain a place on the Nuclear Graduates programme, you'll need to apply online, complete online tests and a video interview, and attend a two-day assessment centre. Visit the website to find out when the next round of applications opens.

You can also find a list of graduate schemes with individual employers at the National Skills Academy for Nuclear (NSAN).

Explore general science and engineering graduate programmes.

Graduate nuclear jobs

If you're looking to enter this industry, you can either apply for roles on individual employer websites or visit a specialist industry recruitment company such as nuclearsectorjobs.co.uk.

This gives a good indication of the range of jobs available, as it divides vacancies into six disciplines:

• commercial
• engineering
• environmental/waste management
• project control/management
• safety
• scientific.

It shows that there are openings in the nuclear industry for graduates from a range of backgrounds and career ambitions.

Nuclear energy apprenticeships

For many careers in the nuclear industry, you'll need to ensure you have the right qualifications. For engineering, scientific and IT roles, having a degree in those subjects is likely to be the key requirement.

However, if you want to take a further or higher education course or apprenticeship that will prepare you specifically for a career in the nuclear industry, start with the National College for Nuclear (NCfN).

With bases in Somerset and Cumbria, this national college delivers high-tech training in key sectors, formed through a partnership of employers, regulators, skills bodies and training providers.

If you're looking to become a nuclear engineer, you can also get into the industry through a degree apprenticeship.

Nuclear engineering degree apprenticeships are available with:

• AWE
• Cavendish Nuclear
• EDF Energy
• Rolls-Royce

These qualifications give you the chance to study for a degree at the same time as gaining on-the-job training and building your experience.

Consider general engineering apprenticeships.

Nuclear courses

For those who want to take their academic study to the next level, you can also search for postgraduate courses in nuclear energy-related subjects.

These Masters-level courses are available in a variety of subjects, including:

• nuclear decommissioning and waste management
• nuclear engineering
• nuclear physics
• nuclear safety.

For instance, the University of Birmingham runs a range of postgraduate nuclear energy courses in many of the areas above, while The University of Manchester offers the MSc Nuclear Science and Technology for specialist engineers looking to operate and decommission existing reactors.

Find out more

• Get an overview of the UK's energy and utilities sector.
• Consider careers in engineering and manufacturing.
• Learn more about science and pharmaceuticals jobs.