Meet the Team- Alfred

Why did you choose to join EDF?

Studying nuclear physics at university was what first got me interested in nuclear power, in which EDF is the unparalleled lead in the UK. As well as being fascinated from a scientific point of view, I also wanted to be a part of EDF’s efforts to help meet Net Zero by working on the designs for their revolutionary new nuclear power stations.

At a time when energy security and climate change are dominating current affairs, I was determined to contribute to the solutions to these important challenges in the best way I could. The energy industry is as varied as it is crucial, and there is room for all kinds of rewarding careers within it.

What was it about this training programme that appealed to you?

I was attracted by the variety that the Design Engineering Graduate scheme had to offer. I knew the opportunity to work in several different parts of the company would give me a much clearer overview of how EDF’s new nuclear projects are organised as well as what areas I might want to specialise in after the scheme. This also gave me the opportunity to learn from many more people and departments than I otherwise would have. I got the chance to learn French and work in France as part of the scheme, which has been an invaluable personal and professional experience for me.

Please tell us how you’re contributing towards EDF’s ambition of helping Britain achieve Net Zero whilst on the Graduate scheme

My placements over the course of the graduate scheme have included positions in the systems, civil works, safety case and piping teams, and during all of them I have been able to add my own value to the Hinkley Point C project through my specific academic background and my professional experiences. The safe and timely completion of this and other low-carbon nuclear power plants will contribute greatly to the UK’s Net Zero target, and all of us at EDF have a part to play in achieving this.

What do you enjoy most in your role?

I enjoy the autonomy I am given as an EDF graduate. I am allowed to take full ownership of my activities and organise their completion myself, choosing my tools and methods myself. This is not to say I have not been supported by my managers and colleagues every step of the way! They are always there to help you and answer any questions you may have. Working on a new nuclear project is also very technically interesting, and the systems I get to work on are absolutely state of the art in the energy industry.

What support and mentoring have you received in your role?

Before starting on the graduate scheme I was allocated a current EDF graduate as a Buddy who gave me a lot useful company and scheme-specific advice prior to and after my on-boarding process. I have a Career Manager who monitors my professional development throughout the scheme, and who will help me choose and move into a permanent role at the end of my 2.5 years as a graduate. I am also assigned a Mentor who is supporting me in applying for professional chartership, in my case for being accredited as a Chartered Physicist.

Tell us about something that you’ve been given the opportunity to do that you didn’t expect to be involved in?

几个月后我加入公司offered the opportunity to act as an assessor at the assessment centre for the next iteration of the graduate scheme. This was a very interesting (if nerve-wracking) experience, and it was enjoyable to speak with all the candidates about the scheme and their career aspirations. I certainly didn’t expect to be given this responsibility so early in my professional journey.

Please tell us about any volunteering, STEM ambassador, sustainability initiatives or charity work that you’ve been able to get involved in at EDF.

我已经能够volunteer at the Cheltenham Science Festival, helping to set up and take down venues as well as organising events and manning stalls. This national event is sponsored by EDF Energy and attended by a delegation of representatives from the company showcasing our latest cutting-edge projects. This experience greatly improved my team-working skills, as well as being a lot fun – not least because all volunteers get free tickets to festival events!

If you’re part of any employee networks (e.g. Young Professionals Network, LGBTQ+, etc) please tell us about the value you get from these communities.

The EDF Young Professionals Network is very active, regularly organising events such as networking sessions, out-of-work social events and talks by speakers (both internal and external to the company). These talks are often a great opportunity to hear from the company’s senior leadership directly about their career paths and day-to-day tasks.

Where would you like to take your career with EDF in the future?

法国电力公司(EDF)的新的核业务ss rapidly expanding in the UK, there are plenty of options for progressing your career. I personally would like to become more knowledgeable on instrumentation and control systems, ultimately qualifying to become a so-called subject expert. I would then like to move on to other EDF projects after HPC, such as Sizewell C in Suffolk or Jaitapur in India.

Please describe how you work flexibly in your role and what this means for your work / life balance.

I go into the office 3 days a week and work from home the remaining 2 days. It’s largely flexible which days I work from home, and this means I can organise each week separately with regards to my meetings in the office and any potential deliveries/maintenance work taking place at home. I appreciate this dual approach to working as I can get back my commuting time and I definitely have less difficulty reaching my weekly sleep quota!

In a post-Covid world, how do you now access opportunities to network and learn from subject matter experts at EDF?

Apart from flexible office presence, EDF’s working practices have mostly been able to revert to a pre-pandemic approach and so it is much easier to network and collaborate within and beyond my team than it was last year. Of course, in such a large company spread across multiple sites communication won’t always be in person. Luckily, EDF offers a central tool in order to search for and get in touch with company experts on all different topics, which is very useful if you don’t have a specific name to hand.