During the summer of 2026, I completed a ten-week placement at Sellafield Ltd as a Summer Placement student within the Legacy Ponds Technical Team. The placement provided practical engineering experience in one of the United Kingdom’s most complex industrial environments, whilst developing my technical, professional and interpersonal skills. It also gave me an opportunity to experience engineering beyond the classroom and understand how engineers approach problems with real operational and safety implications.

Sellafield’s mission differs from that of most engineering organisations. Rather than manufacturing new products, much of its work focuses on reducing hazards associated with historic nuclear activities. Decades of nuclear fuel production, storage and reprocessing generated significant quantities of radioactive materials and waste, some of which remain within ageing facilities. Sellafield therefore works to retrieve, treat and safely package these materials, reducing the risks they pose to people and the environment. I found this purpose particularly compelling: engineering is being used to address problems inherited from the past and make them safer for future generations.

My placement was based with Sludge Packaging Plant 1 (SPP1), part of Sellafield’s Retrievals Value Stream. The plant supports the management of radioactive sludge originating from the First Generation Magnox Storage Pond (FGMSP). The pond was constructed in the 1950s to store and cool spent fuel from the Calder Hall nuclear reactors. Although fuel was intended to remain in storage for approximately 90 days, some was retained for considerably longer, contributing to the degradation of Magnox fuel cladding and the accumulation of radioactive sludge. Sellafield is now working to retrieve this material and transfer it into safer modern facilities.

During my placement, I was entrusted with two substantial engineering projects addressing real challenges within SPP1. Unlike university assignments I have encountered, these projects did not have clearly defined solutions, requiring me to develop my own approaches and exercise engineering judgement.

My first project involved investigating sludge behaviour within SPP1 and examining observations from previous facility inspections. I reviewed technical reports, analysed operational information, carried out engineering calculations and assessments, and communicated my findings through a technical report. One of the most valuable lessons was discovering how different practical engineering can be from structured university problems. I had to evaluate incomplete evidence, recognise when an approach was unsuitable and adapt my methodology accordingly. Learning to develop conclusions whilst understanding their limitations strengthened my problem-solving skills and gave me a more realistic understanding of engineering uncertainty.

My second project involved developing an automated data-analysis tool to support future plant operations. The aim was to reduce manual processing and improve the interpretation of operational data. Excel automation and programming were new areas for me, so I had to learn unfamiliar techniques throughout the project. I particularly enjoyed taking something I initially did not know how to do and gradually developing a tool that could provide value to the team. Its intended future development also made the work feel particularly worthwhile.

One of the highlights of the placement was putting on protective equipment and walking out onto the roof of the First Generation Magnox Storage Pond. As soon as you passed through the heavy iron door, the personal dosimeters we were wearing started chirping rapidly; a surreal reminder of the invisible gamma rays, beta particles, and neutrons bombarding us from the murky water we looked out over.

I also participated in a technical visit to Drax Power Station. Although Drax operates in a different industry, I found similarities in the challenges faced by both organisations, including managing ageing infrastructure, planning over decades and implementing major modifications whilst maintaining operations. Learning about Drax’s transition from coal-fired to biomass generation demonstrated the importance of long-term planning and adapting to changing circumstances. It also highlighted the value of learning from engineering solutions beyond my own industry.

Alongside my technical work, I completed training in radiological safety, safe working practices and professional communication. I volunteered at a local primary school, helping deliver STEM activities and encourage pupils’ interest in science and engineering. I particularly enjoyed sharing my enthusiasm for STEM with younger students, as I understand how valuable encouragement can be in developing an interest in engineering.

Presenting my work to fellow placement students, engineers and technical specialists helped me develop confidence in public speaking and technical communication. Each audience required a different level of detail, teaching me that producing a technically sound result is only part of an engineer’s responsibility; communicating that result clearly is equally important.

Reflecting on the placement, I developed most significantly in problem-solving, adaptability and confidence. I became more comfortable approaching unfamiliar problems, learning new skills and changing direction when my initial approach did not work. Working alongside engineers, operators and technical specialists also gave me a clearer understanding of the collaborative nature of engineering. The placement has provided valuable insight into graduate engineering careers and strengthened my interest in working in industry. I now have a clearer understanding of how engineers contribute to major projects and manage complex, open-ended challenges. It has also opened the possibility of returning to Sellafield through a future graduate role.

I will now return to the University of Cambridge to complete the final two years of my Integrated master’s degree in chemical engineering and biotechnology. Following graduation, I hope to begin my career in industry and work towards Chartered Engineer status.

I would like to sincerely thank the Pembroke LEAP initiative for its support throughout the application and interview process and for the generous £1,000 placement grant. The grant was used entirely towards accommodation costs, helping to make the placement financially accessible. I am extremely grateful for this support, which enabled me to undertake an experience that has been professionally and personally invaluable.