Georgia Weaver: ‘It didn’t take me long to return’

Georgia Weaver, a Pre-Operations Engineer within the nuclear industry, has worked within the engineering sector since leaving school.

Georgia completed her five-year apprenticeship within the nuclear sector, however decided to leave nuclear to pursue a role within the domestic electric sector.

After returning to nuclear, Georgia is now progressing her career as a Pre-Operations Engineer, working as part of a major nuclear project in West Cumbria.

After starting your career in nuclear, you moved into the domestic electrical sector before moving back into nuclear for your current role, what sparked your decision to move back to nuclear?

Due to me leaving school and heading right into the nuclear sector, I feel the culture of the nuclear industry is what I have always known and what I am used to. The nuclear sector’s processes and procedures make me feel secure and safe when working. So, when I got the chance to come back, it didn’t take me long to return.

What does a typical day look like for you as a Pre-Operations Engineer?

My day-to-day activities at current consist of completing arrangement activities and looking at lists that have been passed down from capability to find all the relevant information that aligns with this subject for our project, such as regulations.

I also spend a bit of my time per week in meetings discussing work scope and goals.

What’s your favourite part of your role?

My favourite part of my job is the interaction within the project and being able to go and have discussions with different teams across the project and feeling comfortable in doing so. This social aspect to my role would be one of my favourite parts of the job.

Why Cumbria?

I choose to work in Cumbria due to this being my hometown and place where my family is. There are lots of beautiful places to explore right on your doorstep, whereas city life can be a bit chaotic. In Cumbria it’s peaceful and it’s a lovely place to raise my little boy, Tommy. I would be open to moving out of Cumbria for my work if the right job ever arose, however at the moment, I am happy in the area.

What does your role involve as a STEM Ambassador?

Over the years as a STEM Ambassador, I have completed a range of different fulfilling tasks such as attending career evenings and speaking to people about what I do, answering any questions they may have for me. As a woman in engineering, it is nice to attend these, as girls see a woman in my role and think more about coming over and asking questions about how and why I have done what I have done in my career. I also became a one-to-one mentor for a young girl where I would go and just be someone to talk to for her. We also set goals and targets she would like to complete in school.

How would you like to see diversity in the nuclear sector progress within the next 10 years?

The way that I would like to see diversity progress in the sector over the next 10 years is to have a lot more women in engineering and in higher paid and higher qualified positions.

What’s next for you in your career? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

The future goal for my long-term career is to be a Project Manager. So, I am currently working my way to finding a plan on how to get my career path aligned with the end goal. However, the next step currently is to get enrolled on to my HNC in Electrical Engineering and work my way through higher education qualifications. 

Are you also thinking about returning to nuclear, or would you like to move into the nuclear sector for the first time? View all our opportunities at: Search Jobs (westlakesrecruit.co.uk)

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