Stories

KBR’s team acting as the integration partner on Sellafield Ltd’s Program and Project Partners (PPP) contract in the northwest of England, has welcomed its latest cohort of intern recruits.

The new recruits Abbie, Kieron, Leah, Kristian and Joshua are undertaking internships in communications and stakeholder engagement, program controls, project management and commercial services. Each intern has a dedicated mentor and buddy as part of a wider support network to guide them through their internship. The interns work through bespoke programs of learning, attending college one day a week to develop their skills. They will work through their programs for 18 months before applying for full-time roles in 2023.

What’s more, the internship scheme has won a Sellafield Wave Award for being a supportive employer and creating a positive legacy for local communities. The award recognises the efforts of everyone involved in the scheme helping Sellafield and the PPP achieve their shared social impact objectives.

“We are delighted to welcome our latest group of interns to the PPP team. Our award-winning internship program is in its second year, and we’ve built on last year’s intake of six interns who are now all employed full-time in the program doing vital work to support our collective purpose to create a clean and safe environment for future generations,” said Ian Linder, Head of Lot 1 (KBR) on the PPP contract.

“The PPP internship scheme was created in 2020 to invest in the development of young people from the local community and provide first-class early career opportunities, particularly to those who have previously struggled to find sustained, quality employment. Our intention is to continue to grow our intake of interns and create pathways for them to continue their career development, ultimately setting them up with rewarding careers where they will flourish. The internship scheme is a real collaborative effort between our PPP Lot partners, alongside Inspira, Cumbria Youth Alliance and Job Centre Plus, who help connect us with young people who are looking for opportunities.”

Abbie Roberts, Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Intern, said:

“Since leaving college, I have had a few part-time jobs which allowed me to develop my skills and work experience, but I really wanted a career. I heard about the PPP internship scheme through Inspira – a company helping with employability skills - and it sounded perfect.

“I live in West Cumbria, and I wanted to stay close to home and hit the ground running in my career, so the internship was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. I’m excited for what’s ahead, I’m already enrolled at college, and I’ve been meeting members of the team who have all been really supportive. I have already learned so much. My future with KBR and the partners working at Sellafield feels very promising.”

KBR has a growing presence in the UK nuclear sector. In May 2019, it joined four world-leading partner organisations to transform the Sellafield nuclear site in the northwest of England, home to one of the most complex portfolios of major infrastructure projects in the world. The PPP model transforms major project delivery at the site and creates a lasting legacy, through long-term partnerships - transforming it into a world leader in environmental remediation.

KBR is contributing to PPP’s legacy, which will benefit people and businesses across West Cumbria and a vast supply chain. The benefits range from increasing value for money for the UK taxpayer, increasing local employment opportunities, creating a sustainable supply chain, investing in new education and training facilities and the community. Since the contract award in 2019, KBR has mobilized over 300 people onto the program, including a number of graduates, apprentices and interns.