Heysham apprentice wins top award

Jess Belmont, from Heysham 2 nuclear power station, has been named EDF’s Maintenance, Operations and Engineering Technician (MOET) Apprentice of the Year at its national graduation event, held at Aerospace Bristol.

 

The event was EDF’s largest graduation ceremony yet and brought together 25 graduating apprentices from five of EDF’s business units, marking a major milestone in their careers and celebrating the gateway to their future as qualified professionals.

 

Jess’s award was one of five outstanding individual achievements recognised at the ceremony. Jess stood out for her exceptional technical ability, commitment to learning, and positive impact on her team at Heysham 2. Station Director, Martin Cheetham attended the event and was delighted to witness Jess receiving her award.

 

Martin Cheetham said: ‘"It was fantastic to see Jess recognised on a national stage for her hard work and dedication. Her achievement reflects not only her personal commitment but also the strength of our apprenticeship programme at Heysham. Apprentices like Jess bring fresh ideas and energy to our teams, and they play a vital role in ensuring we have the skills needed to keep the station operating safely and efficiently in the years to come."

Jess’s success is a testament to the value of EDF’s apprenticeship programme, which combines hands-on experience with academic learning to develop highly-skilled professionals for the energy sector. Her journey highlights how an apprenticeship can open doors to rewarding careers, providing the technical expertise and confidence needed to thrive in the nuclear industry. Jess’s achievement also reinforces Heysham’s commitment to nurturing talent and building the next generation of engineers who will help deliver a low-carbon future for the UK.

 

Jess, who has now secured a permanent Control and Instrumentation Technician role at Heysham 2, said: “Winning this award means so much to me. The apprenticeship has been such an incredible journey.  I’ve learned so much and grown both professionally and personally. I’m proud to represent Heysham and I’m excited for what’s next.”

 

Jess began her EDF apprenticeship at the Heysham Power Stations in 2021 after studying engineering in both secondary school and college, and the apprenticeship allowed her to gain further qualifications including a Level 3 BTEC in General Engineering, along with a Level 4 HNC in Electrical Engineering. She says this has helped broaden her industry knowledge and helped backup the practical elements she had learnt while working on site.

 

Jess follows in the footsteps of Adam ‘AJ’ Abdelghafar, also from Heysham 2, who received the award last year, making it two consecutive wins for the station. AJ, said: “It’s great to see Jess recognised for her achievements. The apprenticeship scheme gave me the skills and confidence to build a rewarding career, and I’d encourage anyone to explore the opportunities available.” 

 

EDF is opening applications for its new Engineering Maintenance Technician (EMT) Apprenticeship Scheme in January 2026.

 

To find out more, you can join us at the EDF Maintenance Apprenticeship Open Day:

The event offers:

 

Discover more about EDF’s Apprenticeship Programmes here and join our Apprentice Community to stay updated. You can also register for EDF’s free online work experience programme, open to anyone aged 14+ in the UK.