For Keely Salter, joining the nuclear industry wasn’t part of a long-term plan, but rather the result of family influence and a willingness to try something new.

“My dad’s worked in the nuclear sector for years as an asbestos surveyor,” Keely explains. “He always said it was a good industry to get into. When I was thinking about what to do after school, he suggested I look into apprenticeships, and that’s where it all started.” Keely left school in 2020 during the COVID lockdowns, a challenging time to make career decisions. Unsure of her next step, she joined a Military Preparation College, spending two years developing skills and discipline that would later serve her well.

“I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to go into the military or do something else,” she says. “When my dad mentioned apprenticeships, I realised I could earn and learn at the same time , and get real experience.”

With just GCSEs under her belt, Keely began a Level 2 BTEC apprenticeship in radiation protection (health physics monitoring) at NRS Oldbury, proving that university isn’t the only route into a successful career.

“I always tell students when I visit schools that I didn’t go to university,” Keely says. “I came straight in at 18, and it shows you can get a good job and build a career without further education.”

Before starting her apprenticeship, Keely did a two-week work experience placement at Oldbury, giving her a glimpse into the industry.

“It was daunting at first,” she admits. “Everyone around me was older and more experienced. My dad gave me some insight, but he doesn’t work on the radiation side, so it was all new to me. But over time, I got used to it. We’ve got such a strong team here, it feels like a family now.”

After completing her apprenticeship in July 2024, Keely transitioned into a Plant Technician role, combining operations work with radiation protection responsibilities.

“I started purely in health physics, but now I do both plant operations and rad work,” she explains. “It’s a conjoined team, so no two days are ever the same.”

Now working 12-hour shifts, Keely’s responsibilities range from monitoring radiation levels to supporting safe plant operations.

Despite her success so far, Keely’s ambitions are far from slowing down. “I want to go back into education eventually,” she says. “Maybe do my A levels and a degree. My dream is to become a health physicist. I’ve got great people around me who support me , and now that I’ve got the background knowledge, I know it’ll really help when I take that next step.”

One of Keely’s proudest moments came when she was named UK Nuclear Apprentice of the Year 2025, a testament to her dedication, initiative, and outreach work.

“I’m still not really sure why I won!” she laughs modestly. “But I think it’s because I did more than what was expected of me. I worked across three different teams during my apprenticeship, took on high-risk and low-risk projects, and did a lot of outreach with schools and new apprentices. I wanted to learn as much as possible, and I guess it paid off.”

Beyond the award, Keely finds real reward in mentoring others. “I love helping new apprentices get settled and seeing them start to enjoy the work. That’s probably the most rewarding part for me.”

Keely lives in South Wales, commuting around an hour each day to Oldbury. “It’s not too bad,” she says. “It just shows how accessible these sites are, there are people who travel from all over.”

Her favourite part of the job? “Definitely the team,” she smiles. “We’re really close-knit, everyone chips in, helps each other out, and we have a good laugh. It makes a huge difference coming into work knowing you’ve got that support.”

For young people thinking about joining the nuclear sector, Keely’s message is simple: go for it.

“It’s not the same every day,” she says. “I work in decommissioning, and no one’s ever decommissioned a power station like this before. We’re all learning as we go, and that’s what makes it so exciting. There are so many opportunities to grow, change roles, and develop your skills. If you start in one area and realise it’s not for you, there’s always room to move and find your niche.”

As the nuclear industry continues to grow and evolve, Keely represents a new generation of engineers proving that passion, curiosity, and determination matter just as much as qualifications.

“I came in straight from school, and now I’ve won an industry award and built a career I love. It just shows what’s possible when you take that first step.”