The Nuclear Institute: What we offer for professionals in nuclear

In this guest blog, Sarah Beacock, CEO of the Nuclear Institute, introduces the work of her organisation and what they can offer Prospect’s members working in nuclear.

Standards of operation in the nuclear industry are understandably high. Staff must commit to the highest safety and environmental standards in order to be SQEP-ready. Having a single goal for the organisation to “be safe” is readily understood and adhered to at all levels in the organisation.

Another way to maintain standards for the industry, and closely related to this safety goal, is through ethical standards and continuous improvement. We hear a lot about the importance of ethics in the media these days, and how the breaking of those ethical standards and the impact this has on the credibility of those who break them, affects the standards of public life.

The idea of ethical practice in work came about through the development of professions when, in the days before qualifications, the only barrier to anyone describing themselves as an ‘expert’ was the development of standards of behaviour and ethics that defined a profession.

There is still a place for these professional standards today to ensure that not only does someone have the right qualifications they also know how to apply them and ensure that they continuously learn their profession as they progress. Today we call this CPD – continuing professional development – and we can all cite examples of how we have progressed our careers through learning long after we gained our qualification.

So what does this have to do with the Nuclear Institute?

We are a small professional membership body (just over 3,000 members) that is the only membership body uniquely for individuals who work in the nuclear industry. Not only do we provide our own Code of Conduct (our ethics and behaviours) but we offer qualification as a Member or Fellow through a set of competences known as the Nuclear Delta®.

These grades are not an assessment of any one job role or any one qualification but of how you perform your job. They are entirely independent of your employer and represent a standard of professionalism that you can take from one job to another as you progress your career.

You may have heard of bigger institutions like the IET, IMechE and IChemE for example and know that they can award titles such as Chartered Engineer. The NI is amongst a group of 36 Professional Engineering Institutions just like them, all licensed to offer CEng and we also, like them, offer IEng and EngTech as well. More recently we have added titles from the Science Council (CSci) and the Society for the Environment (CEnv and REnvTech).

This means that your nuclear expertise can be assessed as an engineer, a scientist, an environmentalist or simply as someone who works in the nuclear industry with another role including non-technical ones.

In the UK, sadly, the titles of ‘Engineer’, ‘Scientist’ and the like are not protected and therefore there is no automatic pay rise for those achieving Chartered, Incorporated or Registered status. However having these letters after your name will certainly do your career no harm when it comes to applying for a promotion or getting your CV to the top of the pile.

Cost & Benefits

Many nuclear companies have a scheme with us whereby they will pay your membership fees directly for you. However even if they don’t, the cost of Associate membership, the first step on the route to professional recognition, is £94 per annum or £1.80 per week – less than the cost of a takeaway coffee.

We think your career is worth that and we offer a whole range of benefits that will help you to achieve your potential. Here is what we offer:

• nuclear-specific content like our journal, Nuclear Future,
• webinars, branch events, site tours, speaking competitions, training and conferences
• great networking opportunities through our social events (dinners, branch meet ups, YGN activities)
• educational activities (influencing the next generation on the value of a career in nuclear and the importance of nuclear energy to the UK’s Net Zero ambitions)
• a chance to develop your people skills through volunteering and getting involved in your membership body.

Nuclear Institute’s Young Generation Network

What is particularly great about the NI is the sense of community that it offers – at all stages of your career from those at the start (who have access to all the extra value of the Young Generation Network) to those at mid-career and senior roles who are the leaders of the industry. There is a strong sense of volunteerism at the NI and we achieve a lot by being united – just like your union.

If I haven’t convinced you yet then why not give us a go by joining in July for free. Contact me on [email protected] with your Prospect membership number and get the next three months for free. You will receive a renewal notice in November for the full amount for 2023.

Alternatively, check this page on our website to see if your company will pay your fees direct.

We look forward to helping boost your nuclear career!