Tim Ashworth CEng FICE MNucI

“Becoming a professionally qualified nuclear engineer is the passport to supporting the many great career opportunities offered by the industry within the UK and overseas."

Academic and Professional Background

• BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering (University of Bolton)
• MBA (University of Bolton)
• FICE – Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers
• MNucl - Member of the Nuclear Institute

Tim Ashworth CEng FICE MNucI

Tim Ashworth, a Chartered Civil and Nuclear Engineer by background has two decades of experience in the nuclear industry, within the UK and internationally.  Commencing his career as a trainee engineer at De Leuw Rothwell, Tim developed his career as a Principal Engineer with Jacobs, before moving to Senior Management positions with Westlakes Engineering and NUKEM Technologies. Tim is currently a Principal Consultant with MMI Engineering and a Management Team member of Britain’s Energy Coast Cluster.

During his career Tim has been involved with many technically and commercially complex projects within the UK nuclear industry and has broadened his horizons as well as his skills by working on projects in the Ukraine, Lithuania, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Mexico and Iraq.

Route into nuclear
Tim is a civil engineer by background, gaining a BEng (Hons) degree from the University of Bolton in 2001. He grew up on the West Coast of Cumbria, at the heart of the UK nuclear industry and decommissioning. Tim says he was always interested in nuclear, in decommissioning and complex engineering and was fortunate to secure employment as a trainee engineer with a local firm whilst completing his degree part-time.

During this time, he was seconded onto the Sellafield Site to support decommissioning of one of the facilities associated with the Legacy Ponds and Silos. This secondment gave him the inspiration for his degree dissertation, entitled, “Accelerated decommissioning vs safestore.” During his time with Westlakes Engineering, the company sponsored him through his MBA, and thesis about the, “Development of successful contract routes within nuclear industry.”

Nuclear professionalism
Tim first achieved Chartered status in 2004 with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). In the following year he achieved Professional Membership with the Nuclear Institute.  Tim believes that these internationally renowned professional qualifications have significantly enhanced his career progression.  He says they have, “provided me with the technical validation, kudos and also the opportunity to work internationally within the nuclear industry on many technically, commercially and socially challenging projects in Italy, France, Mexico, Germany, Spain, Ukraine and Iraq. This is a great industry and there are many opportunities. This qualification will become more and more important with the increasing numbers of new recruits coming into the UK nuclear industry.”

Tim joined the Nuclear Institute Membership Committee in 2016. He is an experienced professional reviewer, including for ICE and supports reviews at all grades from Technician to Chartered Professional. He is keen to encourage the growth of membership of the Nuclear Institute at all grades, including affiliates and associates. Tim’s next step will be to apply for Fellow (FNucI) status.

Tim is a regular speaker and presenter at industry events, including the Decommissioning, Existing Generation and Waste Management Conference, in March 2017, organised by the Welsh Government and the Nuclear Industry Association. Tim feels strongly that the profession is entering an exciting time nationally and internationally and that gaining professional recognition is a great way to be part of this community. Outside of his work on the Membership Committee, Tim participates actively in STEM activities and strives to be a role model to inspire and educate the youth of today on the options available to them within the nuclear profession.