UK Nuclear Skills Awards - National Skills Academy for Nuclear

Cogent NSA Programme V4:Layout 1 2/3/2009 17:40 Page 10SouthwestNuclear Apprentice of the YearStephen SaundersStephen was born in 1986 in Worcester, where he still lives now with hisparents. He has been active in outdoor pursuits, with an interest in sailing,and has completed his Duke of Edinburgh award. Stephen has always hadan interest in engineering and in early 2005 applied to the national advert fromthe Doosan Babcock Centre of Excellence at Tipton for a Modern ApprenticePlacement. In 2005 over 500 applications were received for the fiftyplacements and Stephen was clearly identified as a prospect for pipefitting.Throughout his apprenticeship Stephen has applied himself to high standardsof practical work, and has been diligent in the completion of his NVQLogbooks. On completion of his NVQ level 2 logbook it was used as a modelin Tipton for the following year’s cohorts to aspire to!Stephen was selected to be placed at Hinkley Point B for his site-basedexperience and quickly fitted into the life of a travelling Doosan Babcockemployee, which required a certain amount of maturity living away from homefrom a fairly early age, with all the issues that brings. Notwithstanding that,Stephen’s discipline and work mindset has been excellent, with him easilycompleting his NVQ Level 3 in pipefitting within the scope of his contracttime.And in the words of his site mentor and manager Trevor Woodward“What now for Stephen?”Doosan Babcock believe that Stephen has the qualities to proceed to a rolein supervision and further, supported by the company’s training programme togive Stephen the tools for career advancement in these roles.Sponsored by:Doosan Babcock Energy11