Life at Capenhurst
Life at Capenhurst
Our site at Capenhurst in Cheshire, UK, is home to Urenco UK, Urenco Nuclear Stewardship and Urenco ChemPlants.
Urenco UK operates three enrichment plants which enable nuclear power stations around the world to generate electricity. The largest of the three plants produces more than 80% of the facility’s enrichment capacity.
Urenco Nuclear Stewardship have a leading role in providing responsible stewardship of nuclear materials through waste management, long term storage and decommissioning services.
Our Tails Management Facility, operated by Urenco ChemPlants, deconverts the by-product of enrichment into a more stable form for long term storage for future enrichment or final disposal.
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Benjamin
Senior Work Control Coordinator, Capenhurst (UK)
I work as a Senior Work Control Coordinator within the Work Control Team at Urenco UK. I started as an apprentice after leaving school, which allowed me to gain experience and learn a great deal about many aspects of engineering: mechanical; fabrication; electrical/instrumentation; and process/installation. I also discovered the various opportunities the wider nuclear industry holds and the global push for a low carbon future, which Urenco will play a key part in.
I have been lucky to win several apprenticeship awards, including UK Nuclear Apprentice of the year in 2018. It was a real privilege to be presented with such a prestigious award. Urenco then supported me to study for a degree in Mechanical Industrial Engineering, specialising in Engineering Management, which I have now finished.
I am so proud of my role at Urenco. The team around me are brilliant and all strive for excellence in the same way I do. We have a supportive manager and are empowered to promote continuous improvement to processes and procedures. It is an honour to be given that responsibility from the leaders of the company, whose level I aspire to reach one day.
Caitlin
Operations Apprentice, Capenhurst (UK)
Caitlin is based at our Tails Management Facility in Capenhurst, UK, and is one of 1,700 apprentices currently working in the UK civil nuclear industry. She is in her final year of her Apprenticeship as a Process Operator working in a team which manages the by-product of enriched uranium. In October of 2022, Caitlin transitioned from days to shifts where she has been training in infrastructure and the deconversion process.
She started studying at a Technical Training college (TTE) before taking up a job with Urenco.
Caitlin commented: “I really enjoy working on TMF and have enjoyed even more transitioning onto shifts. I have been training on new areas of the site and progressing in my training and development as an operations apprentice!”
“I’m now able to visualise what I learn at college in a working environment.”
Caitlin previously completed A-levels in engineering, IT and product design.
She added: “In my opinion, I would 100 per cent recommend apprenticeships to anyone instead of university. It provides you with so many opportunities – you are earning on the job and learning on the job.”
Louis
Electrical and Instrumentation Technician, Capenhurst (UK)
I became a CE&I Technician after completing my apprenticeship in Urenco's Tails Management Facility. I like the fact that it’s hands-on. When I finished sixth form, I wondered about going to university or doing an apprenticeship – and my decision was based on the hands-on approach rather than the classroom. It puts you in a better position to get a permanent job after because you know the people, the plant and have the skills. I was pleased that after my apprenticship I was successful in applying to a technician role, which involves carrying out calibrations and routine checks on instruments across site.
Joe
Mechanical Engineering Technician, Capenhurst (UK)
Right from school, I wanted to go into engineering and I did work experience at a few different places and realised mechanical engineering was for me. I joined Urenco as an apprentice in the Maintenance team at Urenco’s Capenhurst site and I was really proud to have been based at the Tails Management Facility. It’s great being part of such a big project. I’ve been here through the commissioning stage and we are now an active plant. So it’s nice to see it up and running. That’s special. I love the job so after I completed my apprenticeship the obvious step was for me to join Urenco permanently as a Technician.
Samantha
Project Manager, Capenhurst (UK)
Working at Urenco has given me countless opportunities to problem-solve with numerous personnel across the business, from all levels of the organisation, with different backgrounds, education, and cultural perspectives. Urenco has created an environment where I can have a seat at the table and join the conversation.
Lauren
Site Net Zero Lead, Capenhurst (UK)
As Site Net Zero Lead, I am responsible for working to reduce the carbon emissions for all the processes we do at Urenco.
Each day, I work on answering the question of how the company will achieve net zero. In practice, this covers things like company culture and behaviour, perhaps can we encourage people to cycle to work instead of taking their car, for example. Or technical solutions, such as finding alternatives to burning fossil fuels. As my role covers the whole site, I also spend lots of my time out in the processing plants with engineers and talking with different departments and teams to figure out specific net zero solutions for their areas.
The most exciting part for me is the fact that my work will have a positive impact on the world, as I’m helping to protect the planet from the climate crisis.
I’m really lucky to work with a diverse range of people from different backgrounds which is the key to our innovative solutions. I couldn’t do my job without connecting with other people on a daily basis to help talk through and solve problems. I am also a huge advocate for being able to be fully yourself at work. I think this is really important when making connections with people and making everyone in the team feel safe and able to share their ideas.
Our benefits
From financial benefits like income protection and life assurance to health schemes such as free onsite fitness classes and private medical insurance, we provide our employees with a whole host of benefits.
View our benefits-
Cosmic Cape
We support the annual Capenhurst Festival, a community initiative which is free for the Capenhurst workforce. -
A day at the Zoo
Colleagues volunteer at Chester Zoo as well as benefitting from free visitor tickets. -
A day at the Zoo
Our colleagues get stuck in helping out at Chester Zoo! -
A moment of zen
Employees taking advantage of the free on site yoga classes. -
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Cleaning up the community
Colleagues get together to litter pick around the local area. -
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Finding future talent
We visit local career fairs to encourage the next generation to consider careers in the nuclear industry.
What's going on at Capenhurst? See our latest news.
