Anabella Andison, Maintenance and Operations Engineering Technician

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What I do

I work at Hinkley Point C, a brand-new nuclear power station that is being built in Somerset.

My job is all about making sure the equipment that measures things like pressure, temperature and flow is working properly. This will help to monitor and control the power station, so we can safely create zero-carbon electricity for homes, schools, and businesses.

When Hinkley Point C is finished, it will be the biggest nuclear power station in the UK, generating enough electricity to run around six million homes.

Maintenance and Operations Engineering Technician Anabella, wearing overalls, gloves and protective glasses, using a tool on a piece of equipment on a workbench.

How I became a technician

I’ve always liked being hands-on, at school I preferred practical work to sitting at a desk. For my GCSEs, I chose engineering, sports science and German, plus I did combined science.

I knew I didn’t want to carry on being in a classroom after school – I wanted to learn on the job, so I started looking at apprenticeships.

How I became a technician

I already knew about Hinkley Point C from growing up nearby. I even had a school trip to the visitor centre there when I was in primary school!

I also joined the Young Hinkley Point C programme, which gave me a chance to do work experience, site tours and learn how power stations work.

How I became a technician

My stepdad works at Hinkley Point B, which is the older nuclear power station next door. He did a Maintenance and Operations Engineering Technician apprenticeship there 25 years ago and told me how great it was, so I went for that same one at Hinkley Point C.

I applied whilst I was still in Year 11, and I interviewed for it at around Easter time. I got the job and started straight after I finished my GCSEs.

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A typical day in my working life

My day usually starts at 8am with a team safety meeting. We talk about what we need to do that day, what the risks are, and we check that everyone has the right tools and information.

Safety is always the top priority. After that, I head out into the power station with another technician.

A typical day in my working life

The site is massive and feels like a maze, with tiny rooms, huge turbine halls and buildings for pumps and chemistry.

My jobs might include checking gauges, calibrating them (making sure they give the correct reading) or fixing things and replacing parts that aren’t working properly.

A typical day in my working life

In the power station, I wear safety boots, a hard hat, overalls and sometimes hearing protection. If I need to go into areas where there’s radiation, I wear even more protective gear.

I’m always working with someone else, often someone who’s been doing the job for decades, which means I get to learn loads. I usually finish around 4:30pm, but on Fridays I’m done by 1pm, which is a nice bonus!

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Maintenance and Operations Engineering Technician Anabella, wearing overalls, gloves and protective glasses, using a drill press.

What I love about my job

I love that every day is different. There’s always something new to learn or a different problem to solve.

I learned more in eight weeks at the power station than I did in a whole year of college. Being around experienced people really helps because I can ask them anything and they’ll always help me understand it.

The skills I use most

Problem-solving is a big one. When a measuring gauge isn’t working properly, I have to figure out why and fix it. Teamwork is really important too, because I’m always working with someone. Resilience is useful too, especially on long or difficult days with tricky jobs that don’t go to plan the first time.

You also need to have confidence – sometimes you have to speak up if something doesn’t seem right, especially when it comes to safety. Even experienced adults sometimes feel nervous about asking questions, but it’s better to ask than make a mistake.

I learned more in eight weeks at the power station than I did in a whole year of college.

Do what you enjoy and don’t let fear hold you back.

I hope I can show other girls that this can be a job for them too.

A little more about my everyday role

The best bits about working in a team

Everyone on site is really supportive. There are people of all ages and backgrounds working here. When you’re new, no one expects you to know everything straight away. They’re patient and welcoming and they want you to learn.

It feels like a proper community, lots of people even have family working there too, like I do!

My favourite piece of equipment

I really like using a multimeter. It’s a tool that checks electrical circuits. It can measure things like current, resistance and whether electricity is flowing properly.

It’s small but powerful, and I use it a lot.

What I like to do in my spare time

I like going to the gym and spending time with my friends. I sometimes play rugby and I love cooking my favourite dishes (lasagne, cottage pie and curry) for my family.

My school days

I really enjoyed team sports at school, and I was in the Army Cadets, which helped me build confidence and leadership skills. I went away on lots of camp trips and worked my way up to the level of Lance Corporal. I also did karate for 10 years.

I’ve always enjoyed being active and working with others. At home, I helped my dad, who’s an electrician, and I was always fixing bikes or asking how things worked. I always wanted to know how things worked.

The most exciting thing I’ve achieved so far in my job

I was invited to speak at Nuclear Week in the Houses of Parliament! I went to London and got to meet MPs, senior people from EDF and even people from the French Embassy. I gave a speech about my job and what I’ve learned as an apprentice.

I was the only young person there and it felt amazing to share my experience with such important people.

A surprising fact about my job

Even though the power station is huge, a lot of my work involves tiny pieces of equipment in really small spaces.

You can be in a massive building one minute and then squeezed into a tiny space working on something that’s incredibly important the next.

The next steps in my career journey

I’m finishing my college studies soon and then I’ll be on site full-time for two years while still training as an apprentice.

After that, I’ll be a qualified technician and who knows, maybe one day I’ll work my way up and become a team leader like my stepdad!

The advice I’d give to someone younger

Do what you enjoy and don’t let fear hold you back. I nearly didn’t apply for the apprenticeship because I was worried about being a girl in a job where there aren’t many women, but in the end, it just made me want to do it more (and now I realise there are lots of women here!). Now I hope I can show other girls that this can be a job for them too.