UK Nuclear New Build Programme
UK Nuclear Power Stations New Build Programme and Generic Design Assessment ("GDA")for the UK Nuclear Power Programme, from the safety management perspective; encapsulating Health and Safety Executive ("HSE") and Environment Agency ("EA") aspects.
In January 2008 the Government announced its support for the building of a new generation of Nuclear Power Stations in the UK. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)[1] and the Environment Agency[2] have a key role in the Nuclear Power Programme; by making sure that any new Nuclear Power Station build in the UK meets the highest standards of safety, security, environmental protection and waste management.
As a first step in achieving this aim, in August 2007 the HSE started work on assessing a number of new Nuclear Power Station designs, using a newly-developed process. HSE refer to this process as Generic Design Assessment or "GDA", as it involves looking at all the design issues separately from the other important factors such as whether the location chosen for the siting of a new nuclear power station is suitable, or whether the potential operator is competent, amongst other factors that require consideration.
Currently, HSE and EA are working together to assess two Nuclear Power Station designs, which could be built in the UK over the coming years:
Key elements of GDA
- The assessments are being carried out by Regulators working for HSE and the Environment Agency. The Organisations are independent of Government and the Regulators are expert in their field.
- The Regulators are working closely together on the GDA. A Joint Programme Office (JPO) has been set up as a 'one-stop-shop' to act on behalf of both HSE and the Environment Agency.
- GDA is a complex rigorous process - it will take around 3.5 years to complete[8]
- It is a staged process - the assessments get increasingly detailed as they progress through a series of milestones, reducing the financial risks for potential operators.
- It allows regulators to get involved with designers at the earliest stage, where they will have most influence and where they can apply lessons learnt from assessing one design to the others being looked at.
- It is open and transparent. The public can view detailed design information on the web and comment on it. The Regulators also plan to give regular feedback on how the assessments are progressing; publishing their reports at the end of key stages.
- It separates design issues from specific siting issues, improving the overall efficiency of the Regulatory process.
- It allows the work of Nuclear Regulators in other countries to be taken into account where they have already assessed a design.
At the end of the GDA process, if it is considered a design is to be acceptable for building in the UK, the HSE and EA will issue a statement of acceptability. This will then be taken into account during the next stage of the approval process (the site specific stage); when a potential operator applies to the Regulators for the licenses, permits and authorisations required by law before a new Nuclear Power Station can be constructed and operated.
While GDA and site-specific approval are important elements of the Regulatory process, they are only a part of the wider approvals process that needs to be gone through before a new Nuclear Power Station can be built. These include:
- The planning process
- Strategic siting issues
- Socio-economic issues (the Justification case)
Sources: HSE & EA.
ERS' (Energy Recruitment Solutions Ltd's) role.
ERS provide the Nuclear Defence and Civil Sectors with specialist Nuclear personnel, providing all levels from Juniors/Graduates all the way up to Senior Managers/Directors. All candidates have direct field/site based experience within the UK in Civil Nuclear Power Stations, or Armed Forces/Naval Bases/Defence related installations.
ERS are always expanding our professional personnel/contractor base, attracting high calibre candidates from all over the country and providing essential expertise to the nation's Nuclear Power establishments and their associated sub-contract organisations.
ERS supply suitably qualified and experienced personnel with diverse Nuclear backgrounds, covering all aspects of specialist Nuclear Engineering and Operational Management within a Civil Nuclear or Defence environment. Opportunities exist within teams covering projects throughout the whole life cycle of projects.
ERS' Contractors provide the backup required to initiate projects and pull them back on track, in routine occurance scenarios such as outage, over-run, accelleration, etc. ERS are able to provide the valuable project support to existing project teams, in providing the necessary suitably qualified and experienced personnel in possession of the required technical expertise, seamlessly interfacing with all other aspects of Nuclear Projects with Nuclear Business.
Energy Recruitment Solutions understand their Clients specific Nuclear and Defence industry needs and therefore can deliver effectively into the market sector.
Candidates have held Security Clearances or are currently Security Cleared to site clearance or above (BC+, SC or DV).
Chartered status is a standard Charter amongst ERS' top-flight Candidates.
Rates of Pay
Rates of pay are dependent upon length of experience within the Nuclear Sector or related fields, and depth of experience gained in the required role. In addition, generous travel and subsistence allowances can be made available to candidates in the appropriate circumstances.
Locations
Example locations for Nuclear personnel placements are: Glasgow, BNG HQ Warrington, Risley, Harwell, Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston, Exeter, Sellafield Nuclear Power Stations, Dungeness A Nuclear Power Station , Dungeness B Nuclear Power Station, Bradwell A Nuclear Power Station, Bradwell B Nuclear Power Station, Sizewell A Nuclear Power Station, Sizewell B Nuclear Power Station, Faslane Naval Base, Plymouth Naval Base, Barrow-in-furness Naval Base, Hunterston A Nuclear Power Station, Hunterston B Nuclear Power Station, Torness Nuclear Power Station, Chapelcross Nuclear Power Station, Dounreay Nuclear Power Station, Drigg Nuclear Waste Storage Centre, Calder Hall Nuclear research centre, Hartlepool Power Station , Heysham Nuclear Power Station, Eggborough Power Station, Springfields Nuclear , Capenhurst Nuclear Power Station , Wylfa Nuclear Power Station , Trawsfynnydd Nuclear Power Station, British Energy HQ Barnwood Gloucester, Berkley Nuclear Power Station, Culham Jet Nuclear Research Centre, Winfrith, Hinkley Point A Nuclear Power Station and Hinkley Point B Nuclear Power Station Somerset.
About ERS
ERS (Energy Recruitment Solutions Ltd) specialises in the supply of Nuclear personnel on a contract and permanent basis to the Nuclear Energy Sector and are well established as a preferred supplier amongst many of ERS' Specialist Engineering and Nuclear Business Clients.
ERS enjoys a constant demand and supply of high calibre Nuclear personnel in such disciplines and areas as: Nuclear Management; Project Management; Business Development Managements; Bid and Tender Management, Quality Assurance and Safety Case Authoring, Validation and Management, HSE Nuclear Inspectors and ND NII Inspectorate personnel, Risk Assessment and Management, Site Management, Document and Data Controllers; Technical Authors; Project Planners and multi-disciplinary Engineers such as: Lead Project; Electrical; Mechanical; Controls and Instrumentations, Heavy Plant; Piping; Project; Stress; Planning; EC&I; Cost and Control; Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Construction, Civil and Structural; Audit and Inspection; PLC/DCS; Installation, Commissioning and De-commissioning Personnel, etc.
If a highly rewarded career in the prestigious Nuclear Sector is of interest, please contact Simon Turner, Senior Consultant at ERS on 01454 203 460, or submit a CV to cv@energyrs.co.uk, to register your general interest, or to apply for a specific position detailed at www.ERSJobs.co.uk, or to apply for other posts in the UK, Europe and worldwide, of which further details are available at www.ERSJobs.net. You are also welcome to keep your details on file with ERS, so that you may be kept informed of suitable positions, as and when they arise.
Switching you onto a brighter future...
ERS are the Nuclear Energy, Atomic Power, Defence and Electric Power Utility Industry Employment and Recruitment Agency of choice, for all the leading Energy Industry Sector employers, including the Specialist Engineering Firms, many of whom retain ERS as there Preferred Supplier or Supplier of Choice.
Call us now on +44 (0)1454 203 460, for latest jobs in Nuclear Energy
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Company Number 04689815, Registered in England and Wales.
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Tel: +44 (0) 1454 203 460, Fax: +44 (0) 1454 203 330, E-Mail:info@energyrs.co.uk
