Kirstine Higgins: ‘Westlakes Recruit was a great opportunity for me’

Work experience placements can be a fantastic platform to build on your knowledge and skills.

After a number of years away from the nuclear sector and an office environment, Kirstine Higgins grasped the opportunity to take part in work experience at Westlakes Recruit, to learn more about the business and to enhance her knowledge of the nuclear sector.

Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your previous experience?

My name is Kirstine Higgins, I’m 50 something, married, and a mum of two.

I have had a varied career to date. I started working life in retail, before moving into the banking/ insurance sector. I also worked in the leisure industry and eventually moved into the nuclear sector. I have also been Director of our small family company, I have project managed property self builds, and carried out volunteering at a junior school as a Teaching Assistant/Supervisor and for after school activities. I possess lots of admin, clerical and customer service experience.

What prompted your interest in taking part in work experience, particularly at Westlakes Recruit?

Having been a stay-at-home mum and being out of an office environment for a number of years, technology has significantly moved on.  I had lost my confidence and wanted to refresh my office skills and learn new ones in the hope to get back into work (hopefully I will secure a role in the sector soon). Westlakes Recruit was a great opportunity for me.

I had seen Westlakes Recruit’s and Westlakes Fusion’s ad campaigns, social media posts and blogs. Having wanted to experience an office environment again, what a fantastic place to get started. The opportunity to work with an experienced, motivated, and vibrant team, with experienced nuclear industry recruiters, was too good of an offer to turn down. I have also been given the opportunity to learn how an umbrella company, payroll and finance systems work through their sister company's offering, Westlakes Fusion.  

What is drawing you back into the nuclear sector?

The draw back to the nuclear sector – the answer to this is not a drawback!

It’s an opportunity to work with a diverse group of people from a wide variety of backgrounds and skill sets. It provides an opportunity to learn from professionals with skills I may not otherwise encounter. It would also provide an opportunity to play a role in building a better future for our planet and its people. With the backdrop of the global energy crisis, nuclear energy is one of the safest and greenest ways to reach net zero. Both my children work in the nuclear sector and hearing about the opportunities they have experienced so far as early career hires has inspired me. My son is a PM doing a Degree Apprenticeship and my daughter is a Project Controls Apprentice.

The nuclear sector has a target of 40% of females in nuclear by 2030. Is there anything you think the sector could be doing more to attract more females into the sector?

40% is an ambitious target, however since my last role in the sector I have been pleasantly surprised to see opportunities for females, the numbers seem to be increasing but there’s still a long way to go! We need to change children’s perceptions that most roles in this sector can only be carried out by men. Having female role models in all positions attending schools and recruitment fairs will help. 

What have you learned and enjoyed most from your work experience so far?

In terms of learning the processes of Westlakes Recruit and Westlakes Fusion, I have become familiar with the recruitment database and built on knowledge of recruitment processes, data input skills and dealing with personal information. I have learned more about the use of a financial database, finance processes, and payroll by shadowing the accounts and compliance team. I have strengthened my ability to use Microsoft packages, in particular Microsoft Word and Excel. I enjoyed building on my research skills as part of a marketing task and learning more about advertising and blogs. It was also interesting to find out more about their expanding services in the Middle East and North Africa.

In terms of the nuclear sector, I have learned lots about gender ratios in the sector and the ambitious goal for women in nuclear, considering we are at 22% now for the number of women in the sector. It has, however, been good to hear about the changes in place already to tackle this. I have also learned about the diversity of roles in the sector.

What’s surprised you most about the sector?

There is so much more to nuclear than the nuclear facilities we have here in West Cumbria. The energy crisis has pushed nuclear up the agenda and I am hearing new terms like SMR (small modular reactor) and fusion. We’re also seeing the demand for nuclear power in countries like Poland and Czech Republic and the growth of nuclear in the Middle East.

If you’d like to find out more about our work experience opportunities, please contact us on cv@westlakesrecruit.co.uk.

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