The NI Young Generation Network's company partnership with Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) aims to collaborate on building an inclusive early careers community within GBE-N. To support this, GBE-N's first early careers cohort attended the YGN Annual Seminar and Dinner recently in Edinburgh.
Demay Banks, a Nuclear Graduate seconded to GBE-N, reflected:
Earlier this month, I started my 8 month secondment at GBE-N as a Nuclear Graduate, working in the Nuclear Island Project Management team.
In October, me and the rest of the early careers cohort were invited to represent GBE-N at the YGN annual seminar and dinner in Edinburgh — a day dedicated to innovation, collaboration, and connection across the UK’s nuclear sector.
The day began with a keynote from GBE-N’s own Simon Bowen, who reflected on the significant progress GBE-N has made toward its mission to revitalise the UK’s nuclear industry. He shared his optimism for the future and spoke passionately about the exciting direction of the wider nuclear landscape.
Following this, Alyson Armett provided valuable insights into the ongoing decommissioning work at Sellafield, offering a fascinating look into the scale and complexity of these critical projects. Decommissioning is an area within nuclear that I’m unfamiliar with, so Alyson’s discussion was especially informative and helped me better understand some of the work happening outside of nuclear new build.
We then heard from Reuben Bouchard-Saunders, winner of the YGN Speaking Competition. His presentation, The Energy of Emotion, sparked thoughtful discussion around public engagement, transparency, and the importance of educating those outside the industry about nuclear safety and its benefits — a key component in advancing the sector.
Another standout session was the Inclusivity Panel, where YGN Inclusion Lead Alanna Downing led a powerful conversation on the importance of building inclusive workplaces. The panel addressed key challenges and reinforced why diversity and inclusion must remain at the heart of our industry's future, ensuring the best decisions and ideas are brought forward.
The day ended with reflections from Mike Roberts, GBE-N's Head of Technical Programme Delivery and Chief Nuclear Safety Consultant at Atkins Realis, the main sponsor for the event, who expressed gratitude for the wealth of insights shared.
After attending such an inspiring event, I left feeling genuinely hopeful about the future of the nuclear industry and proud to be a young professional contributing to its growth. The day offered a unique chance to explore the breadth of opportunities across the sector—from decommissioning and new build to public engagement and inclusivity. As someone still learning about the different areas within nuclear, it was incredibly valuable to hear from experts and gain insight into the challenges and innovations shaping the industry.
It was also a fantastic opportunity to connect with other young professionals, share experiences, and build relationships with peers who are equally passionate about making a difference. The conversations throughout the day helped me better understand the role we can all play in driving progress and left me feeling energised and excited about what lies ahead.
I’m really looking forward to attending the event next year and getting more involved with the YGN".
Two other members of the early careers cohort also shared their thoughts on the event:
Callum Boxall said "It was a vibrant experience that allowed me to build meaningful connections with both seasoned professionals and those at a similar stage in their careers."
Alex Homard commented "I had a great time at the YGN Conference — it was fascinating to hear from experts like Simon about the future of the sector, while also learning more about the industry's past. It was also great to meet fellow graduates and young professionals from across the industry."