Aspirations

Welcome to Aspirations our graduate development programme.

If you're ambitious, committed and want to succeed you can with Springfields Fuels Limited. Whether you know a bit about us already, or not, we'll fill in the gaps and tell you about the past, the present, our vision for the future and the part you can play in it.

Aspirations, our graduate development programme, combines real life on the job experience with inspirational training and development - and the freedom to make decisions and take early responsibility with guidance and support.

You'll discover that alongside all the professional benefits of a career with us, like the varieties of support, opportunity etc, there's also a whole host of personal benefits too.

We're committed to developing the best people in the business. This is your chance to prove just how good you really are - to yourself and us.

What We Do:

  • Fuel for nuclear reactors (power stations) in the UK and overseas is made at Springfields, near Preston, in the UK.
  • Fuel for nuclear reactors is made from uranium ore. The fuel is used in nuclear reactors to generate electricity. In 2005, on average around 16% of the world's electricity supply was generated by nuclear power.
  • Nuclear energy makes a significant contribution towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Globally, electricity supplied by nuclear power stations avoids the emissions of about 2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.

Springfields, near Preston, has provided nuclear fuel fabrication services since the mid-1940s – in fact it was the first plant in the world to produce fuel for a commercial power station.

On 1 April 2010 Westinghouse entered into an agreement with the NDA for a long-term lease of the Springfields site, which transferred responsibility for the commercial fuel manufacturing business and Springfields Fuels Limited to Westinghouse.

The health and safety of our employees, the local community and the environment is Springfields Fuels Limited’s number one priority. We have stringent EHS&Q policies to ensure that this remains so and we are also regulated by strict authorisations from our regulators.

Springfields is proud of its ‘world class’ safety performance. Our efforts to ensure safety remains our number one priority has been recognised by Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) in every year since 2001.

How much do you know about the British nuclear industry? A lot? A little? Or nothing at all? Whatever your knowledge there’s one fact you should be aware of – it’s one of the most exciting, progressive and diverse industries to choose a career in.

Over a two year programme you’re given the opportunity to develop your full potential in a real job with real responsibilities and challenges set with a truly world-class company. Aspirations is carefully structured to give you the technical and managerial skills you need to meet your future career ambitions.

What's it like:

The Programme:

Springfields Fuels Limited has a robust graduate development programme. The aim of the programme is for you to reach your full potential with the help of a professional training programme from a renowned worldwide organisation.

Aspirations is carefully structured to give you the technical and managerial skills you need to meet your future career ambitions.

The Programme

The Aspirations programme consists of an 18-24 month graduate training programme consisting of a minimum of three placements across the Company. The duration of your programme may depend on your experiences to date.

The Positions

The current graduate positions available are in the following disciplines:

  • Mechanical/Electrical Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Physics/Chemistry/Mathematics

The Placements

Springfields do not believe in pre-determining a graduate’s placements. Your first placement will be in an area relating to your discipline. From there on, your placements will be agreed between yourself, your mentor, the Executive Management Group at Springfields with advice and input from the Graduate Development Officer.

Training and Development

Throughout the training programme the graduate will attend a number of training and development courses. As well as the standard training courses a graduate will also highlight what other training is required in order to assist with any gaps in their development.

The Mentors

From the outset you will be assigned a mentor. Your mentor will be with you throughout your training and in most cases beyond and will be someone who can support you in your application to chartered status. The benefit of the mentor is their knowledge, experience and ability to help guide you through your career at Springfields. Your mentor will also have a detailed knowledge of your discipline.

Competency Matrix

Every graduate must complete a competency matrix throughout their training. These cover a range of behavioural competencies, varying from drive and energy, self confidence, and integrity, to a range of technical competences.

The Reviews

During each placement graduates will attend a review. The review is intended to determine progress and highlight any new areas for development. The review is also attended by the graduates line manager, mentor, Head of Skills Development and the Graduate Development Officer.

General/Membership

All graduates are encouraged and supported to take up membership of a relevant institute. Engineering graduates are encouraged, supported and expected to gain chartered status upon completion of the training programme.

The Recruitment Process:

To apply for any one of our positions on the graduate development programme, please complete the online application form or you may email your CV.

Requirement classification 2:2
Mechanical/Electrical Engineering
Chemical Engineering

Requirement classification 2:1
Physics/Chemistry/Mathematics

All applications will be reviewed and short-listed.

Closing date for all applications is 26 February 2010

Telephone Interview:

Shortlisted applicants will be telephoned for an informal discussion regarding their application. This will last for approximately 20 minutes.

Assessment Centre:

Shortlisted applicants from the telephone interview will be asked to attend an assessment centre, which will be held in April 2010, either at Springfields, or at a venue near Springfields.

Clearances:

All employees have to undertake a medical and must have obtained security clearance before they can commence employment.

Pay and Benefits:

Salary starts at £27,741 per annum. There is also a company pension scheme.

For more information on the Springfields Fuels Graduate Programme please contact:

Paul Sutton
HR Recruitment Support
Human Resources

Springfields Fuels Limited
Salwick
Preston
Lancashire
PR4 0XJ

Tel: +44 (0) 1772 764567
Fax: +44 (0) 1772 762138

Email