From trainee to Nuclear Control Room Operator - your training and development journey

Exposure to the wider station 

As a Reactor Operator trainee, you'll work closely with a variety of teams across Hinkley Point C. This gives you the opportunity to build relationships with specialists from different disciplines and develop a broader understanding of how a modern nuclear power station operates. 

You'll regularly interact with engineers, maintenance teams, commissioning specialists, trainers, safety professionals and other operational colleagues, helping you gain valuable insight into the many careers and functions that contribute to the safe generation of low-carbon electricity. 

This wider exposure helps many trainees build confidence, expand their professional network and develop an understanding of how their role contributes to the wider success of the station. 

Your development doesn't stop there 

Once you've completed the training programme, you'll continue developing your experience by supporting a range of activities across the station, which may include: 

A supported route into a unique career 

Becoming a Reactor Operator is a unique and rewarding professional milestone. Through expert training, mentoring and hands-on development, we'll support you in building the knowledge, confidence and experience needed to build a long-term career at the heart of Britain's energy future. 

With dedicated instructors, a personal mentor, support from your trainee cohort and opportunities to learn from colleagues across the station, you'll never be expected to navigate the journey alone. 

A note from Chris, Senior Operations Manager: 

“The Reactor Operator role is a crucial role within the Hinkley Point C project, supporting the safe and successful transition of the station from construction, through commissioning, and into safe and reliable operations. 

For me, one of the things that makes the role so unique is the industry-leading technical training our Reactor Operators receive at our state-of-the-art training facility here at HPC. This develops the technical knowledge, practical skills and nuclear professionalism needed to operate the station safely and confidently. 

But the role is about much more than the training programme. Our Reactor Operators will be directly involved in supporting a wide range of nuclear commissioning activities, many of which haven't been undertaken in the UK for over 30 years. Being part of the project at this stage gives them first-hand experience as the plant and systems are tested, commissioned and progressively brought into operation. 

I believe this experience will be invaluable. We aren't just training Reactor Operators to operate the station in the future. They are part of the journey that gets us there, working alongside commissioning, engineering and specialist teams, building a detailed understanding of the plant and helping to establish the processes, standards, behaviours and culture that we will operate with for decades to come. 

Ultimately, I see this as a once in a generation opportunity. You can undertake industry leading training, be involved in a historic programme of nuclear commissioning, build skills and experience that will stay with you throughout your career, and then the cherry on the cake…. become part of the team responsible for safely operating Hinkley Point C for generations to come.”