Sellafield Ltd Engineering Centre of Excellence in Cleator Moor, Cumbria, a trailblazing specialist in nuclear decommissioning, is sharing insights with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) apprentices.
The collaborative initiative is opening up opportunities for shared learning between the nuclear and the defence sectors.
On July 24, the Centre played host to degree apprentices from the Royal Naval Armaments Depot in Coulport, Argyll and Bute, Scotland.
The visit was a key opportunity for the Centre to exhibit its pioneering work in robotics, unmanned aerial vehicles, remotely operated vehicles, flight and electrical simulators and virtual reality technology.
Five MoD apprentices, all part of five-year programmes linked to the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, at Swansea, relished their immersive experience at the high-tech Centre.
Their hands-on activities involved operating a drone simulator, using VR equipment, and exploring a variety of remotely operated technology.
The day began with an introduction to the Centre’s evolving role and an overview of its mission by key staff – Craig Branney, Gareth Frazer, Kevin Rishworth and Chris Pool.
Every single one of the degree apprentices came away both impressed by the Centre and inspired by the potential to apply their new knowledge within the MoD.
Emalie, one of the apprentices, said: "It is really interesting to see how they do things here and deploy innovative remote access solutions, including utilising the capability of drones and also using VR for in-depth training so people can learn and hone their skills in a setting where it’s safe to make mistakes before deploying solutions in a live environment.
"I am interested in how we can use that approach and technology back at our site."
She also praised the Centre's commitment to encouraging more women and young people into the industry through its outreach programmes.
David, another apprentice, said: "The centre is really impressive.
"The flexibility that the team has here to experiment with different possibilities and how new technologies can be utilised in different ways is very interesting.
"We will be taking back some learnings.”
James Wilcock, a technical engineering degree apprentice at the Centre, demonstrated a drone flight simulator before handing the controls over to the visitors.
He said: "It’s great to have this engagement across all aspects of government organisations and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA).
"Along with the work we do in schools, getting people excited about STEM, it also lets people know what we do at Sellafield and the innovative technology and solutions we develop here."
Chris Pool, maintenance team leader/manager with four decades of experience at Sellafield, said: "It’s good to share knowledge through these engagements.
"One little idea shared through a five-minute conversation can lead to a lifetime of change and make a big difference."
Clare Charters, engineering support at the Centre, who organised the visit, said: "It has been a brilliant day, enjoyed by all of our team and the degree apprentices."
She confirmed that there are plans for another MoD event later in the year along with other forthcoming activities.
To cement their budding relationship, two MoD graduates will be joining Sellafield’s Engineering Centre of Excellence for secondments of six and four months, starting from the end of October.
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