Summary
A Health Physics Monitor apprentice provides radiological monitoring services at the workface within the nuclear industry to protect people, plants and the environment from the adverse effects of ionising radiation and contamination.
Annual wage
£19,207 a year
Increasing to £21,162 in year 2. Higher rates are applied to those aged 21 and over, year 2 salary £25,472. You’ll have the opportunity to benefit from an annual bonus, linked to company performance, of up to £4000*
Training course
Nuclear health physics monitor (level 2)
Hours
You will generally work normal office hours between 07:30-15:40, however at times may be required to work different shift patterns including 12 hours working (day and night shifts) as well as weekend working.
37 hours a week
Possible start date
Monday 8 September
Duration
2 years
Positions available
20
Work
As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.
What you’ll do at work
* Use specialist equipment to carry out radiological protection monitoring; taking measurements of radiation dose rates and contamination levels
* Interpret these measurements in order to provide protection advice to facility operators
* Work with numbers to complete mental calculations
* This role is critical to ensuring safe operations in nuclear facilities and requires a high level of attention to detail, quality and accuracy in recording and interpreting measurements
* You will need to have the right attitude to health and safety, quality and following instructions
Where you’ll work
Sellafield Site / Surrounding offices in West Cumbria
CA20 1PG
Training
An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.
College or training organisation
GENII ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY TRAINING LIMITED
Your training course
Nuclear health physics monitor (level 2)
Equal to GCSE
Course contents
* Comply with health and safety regulations and procedures. Challenge unsafe practices.
* Follow work instructions. For example, risk assessments.
* Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs).
* Respond to changes in radiological conditions using safety management systems. For example, As Low As Reasonably Practicable principles (ALARP).
* Comply with environmental and sustainability regulations and procedures. For example, identify and segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
* Apply human performance and human factors nuclear culture.
* Identification of radiation sources and materials.
* Apply control measures taken with radiation sources and materials.
* Select and use radiological protection monitoring instruments: for example, smear paper, hand-held radiation and contamination rate meters, installed and portable air samplers.
* Carry out functional tests of radiation protection monitoring instrumentation using calibrated radioactive sealed sources.
* Perform numerical calculations for radiological measurements with SI units.
* Comply with emergency response plans: carry out critical incident monitoring, use forward control points (FCP) and access control points (ACP) to respond and recover from nuclear incidents.
* Comply with legislative regulations and guidance: Ionising Radiation Regulations (IRR), Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations (REPPIR).
* Record radiation protection monitoring and survey results using required documentation.
* Apply team working principles.
* Communicate verbally with colleagues and managers using industry terminology.
* Communicate in writing with colleagues and managers.
* Use information technology and digital systems. Comply with GDPR and cyber security.
* Carry out and record learning and development activities.
* Follow equity, diversity and inclusion rules.
* Comply with health and safety regulations and procedures. Challenge unsafe practices.
* Follow work instructions. For example, risk assessments.
* Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs).
* Respond to changes in radiological conditions using safety management systems. For example, As Low As Reasonably Practicable principles (ALARP).
* Comply with environmental and sustainability regulations and procedures. For example, identify and segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
* Apply human performance and human factors nuclear culture.
* Identification of radiation sources and materials.
* Apply control measures taken with radiation sources and materials.
* Select and use radiological protection monitoring instruments: for example, smear paper, hand-held radiation and contamination rate meters, installed and portable air samplers.
* Carry out functional tests of radiation protection monitoring instrumentation using calibrated radioactive sealed sources.
* Perform numerical calculations for radiological measurements with SI units.
* Comply with emergency response plans: carry out critical incident monitoring, use forward control points (FCP) and access control points (ACP) to respond and recover from nuclear incidents.
* Comply with legislative regulations and guidance: Ionising Radiation Regulations (IRR), Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations (REPPIR).
* Record radiation protection monitoring and survey results using required documentation.
* Apply team working principles.
* Communicate verbally with colleagues and managers using industry terminology.
* Communicate in writing with colleagues and managers.
* Use information technology and digital systems. Comply with GDPR and cyber security.
* Carry out and record learning and development activities.
* Follow equity, diversity and inclusion rules.
Your training plan
Training will be delivered between our off-site training facility, Sellafield Skills Centre and the Sellafield site.
You will obtain the following qualifications:
* Level 2 ST0290 Nuclear Health Physics Monitor Apprenticeship
* Level 2 Certificate in Health Physics Monitoring in the Nuclear Industry (Theory)
* Award in Nuclear Industry Awareness
* ISOH Working Safely
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE or equivalent in:
* English Language (grade 4)
* Mathematics (grade 4)
* Science or Engineering (grade 4)
Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.
Skills
* Communication skills
* Attention to detail
* Problem solving skills
* Logical
* Team working
* Initiative
Other requirements
Minimum age 18 by 8th September 2025 in-line with health and safety requirements of our nuclear site. You will need to wear PPE for a significant proportion of your day. Frequent wearing of respiratory protective equipment. Comfortable with working at heights, in small spaces and in nuclear facilities with alpha, beta, gamma and neutron radiation.