Published at 15:53, Wednesday, 18 November 2009

AS THIS is the last of my columns to be published in 2009, it is a timely opportunity to look back over the past 12 months – and indeed the past 20 months of my time on the NDA’s nucleargraduate scheme.

Only a few more weeks remain of my secondment with the Environment Agency. My six-month stint here has been just as beneficial as the two that preceded it at the NDA and Springfields. As before, I have grown to feel like a fully-fledged member of the team. The work has been interesting, and challenging but always enjoyable. I’ve been able to learn a lot more about the industry, particularly the way in which it is regulated and the confidence in my abilities has grown. Now I look to the future and wonder what my career may look like.

November 17 saw the first group of nucleargraduates take the first step in arranging their futures at a Careers Day, the first opportunity for us to formally meet representatives of the businesses and organisations who may offer us a job.

Personally, I am having difficulty in seeing where I sit within this industry. In fact the greatest advantage of this scheme may also be a minor downside: exposed to the different aspects of the industry through my placements I am aware of the many opportunities that are available. With so many interesting parts of this industry, how do I limit myself to just one?

There are many questions I still need to answer – the same sort of questions I had when I left school, and then when I graduated. I managed to find a solution then, I’m older and wiser so I’m sure I’ll be able to do the same now.

Before I am released into the wider industry I have my international secondment to deal with. This is to be with URS Washington Division at Hanford Site, Washington State in America. I will be sharing this amazing experience with Susan, a chemist on the scheme. Together we will face the challenges of living in a different country, finding a place to stay for three months, working on two different parts of the site that are as far apart as Workington and Whitehaven (both of which are but small dots in the centre of this huge site) and ultimately working on projects that form part of one of the most significant decommissioning challenges faced in the United States.

So, with all of this happening and still having a day job to do I will be very busy over the coming weeks. Between the site visits, emergency exercises, team meetings, conferences and final arrangements for my international secondment it is a challenge in itself managing my time. One thing is for sure, I won’t get bored!

Next time you hear from me I will be stateside giving you insights to the nuclear industry from much further a field. So for now, here’s to an exciting 2010!

Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk