Beyond the apprenticeship: building a career at EDF UK

When Dominic joined EDF in August 2022 as a Maintenance Operations Engineering Technician Apprentice, he was looking for the skills, experience and confidence to build a successful career.  

Today, he's a Mechanical Maintenance Technician at Sizewell B nuclear power station, taking on greater responsibilities, leading improvement projects, and helping keep low-carbon electricity flowing to homes and businesses across the UK. 

We caught up with Dominic to learn more about his journey from apprentice to qualified technician, the opportunities he's had since completing his programme, and his advice for future apprentices.

Tell us about your career journey since completing the programme

Since graduating from the programme, I've continued building on the skills and experience I gained during my apprenticeship. I've taken on new responsibilities in my role while continuing to develop both my technical and professional skills. 

The programme gave me greater confidence in my abilities and helped me approach challenges with a greater depth of understanding. It also reinforced my role in the importance of nuclear safety, which is always our highest priority. 

What is your current role, and what does a typical day look like? 

I'm currently a Mechanical Maintenance Technician and no two days are ever the same. One day I could be overhauling a pump, while the next, I'm carrying out emergent maintenance on a valve. The role requires me to think on my feet, understand each situation quickly, work closely with colleagues and solve problems as they arise. 

What experiences during your apprenticeship best prepared you for your current role? 

The apprenticeship provided a great balance between hands-on practical experience and technical learning, which is invaluable in my role. 

Working alongside experienced colleagues, I was able to learn skills that have been passed down through generations of technicians, while also developing my confidence, problem-solving abilities, communication skills and overall professionalism. 

What have been some of your biggest career milestones since graduating? 

One of my biggest milestones has been taking on more responsibility, including ownership of specific areas and supporting new outage* roles. 

These opportunities have helped me build confidence, strengthen my decision-making skills, and take greater ownership of my work and career development. 

*Nuclear station outages are an opportunity to repair, maintain, upgrade or test equipment that cannot be accessed when a reactor is at power. 

What projects and opportunities have you experienced since completing your apprenticeship? 

I've been offered numerous opportunities since finishing my apprenticeship, but one of the most significant has been working on a project to upgrade the Nitrogen Plant so maintenance activities can be carried out more effectively while the station remains at power. 

This piece of plant is critical to electricity generation at Sizewell B because many valves rely on nitrogen pressure to operate. The project involved working closely with engineers, identifying the best solution and helping design an improvement that will benefit the station for years to come. 

Being trusted to contribute to improvements in such an important area has been both rewarding and beneficial for my development. 

What surprised you most about life after the apprenticeship? 

The biggest surprise was how much responsibility and independence I was given. 

During my apprenticeship, I always had experienced colleagues around me to learn from. After qualifying, I was expected to take greater ownership of my work and make more decisions for myself. 

Looking back, that's been one of the most valuable aspects of the transition because it allows you to take pride in your work and see the impact you're making towards the bigger picture. 

When you started your apprenticeship, where did you hope it might lead you, and how does your career today compare with those expectations? 

When I started, I hoped the apprenticeship would give me the skills, experience and confidence to build a successful career. I wanted to learn from experienced colleagues, gain practical knowledge and progress into a role with greater responsibility. 

The apprenticeship delivered exactly that. It gave me a strong foundation, helped me understand the direction I wanted my career to take, and prepared me for the opportunities I've had since. 

Looking back, if you could give your apprentice self one piece of advice, what would it be? 

Make the most of every opportunity EDF provides. 

The apprenticeship is a fantastic chance to grow both technically and professionally. Spend as much time as possible learning from experienced technicians. The knowledge and skills they can pass on are invaluable. 

How can apprentices make the most of the opportunities available to them? 

Be proactive, take the initiative and don't be afraid to ask difficult questions. 

Where do you hope your career will take you next? 

I’d like to continue gaining experience and developing my skills as a Mechanical Maintenance Technician. 

My goal is to keep learning, expand my knowledge and build on the foundations established during my apprenticeship. In the future, I'd like to take on greater responsibility while continuing to grow my career within the industry. 

Thinking about an apprenticeship at EDF? Dominic's story shows how an apprenticeship can be the start of a rewarding and meaningful career. From learning alongside experienced technicians to leading important improvement projects, apprentices gain the skills, confidence and opportunities to make a real difference from day one. 

Whether your ambitions are technical, operational or leadership-focused, an EDF apprenticeship can help you build the foundations for a career that grows with you.