An apprentice at Heysham 2 power station has won a 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, standing out for her exceptional technical ability, commitment to learning, and positive impact on her team at Heysham 2.
Martin Cheetham, Station Director, attended the event and was delighted to witness Jess receiving her award.
Left to right, Dr Mark Hartley - Managing Director of EDF's Nuclear Operations business, John Munro - Director of EDF's Nuclear Operations business, Jess Belmont, Lottie Horner - Apprentice Coordinator at Heysham 2 Power Station, Colin Johnston - Maintenance Manager at Heysham 2 Power Station and Martin Cheetham - Station Director at Heysham 2 Power Station
"It was fantastic to see Jess recognised on a national stage for her hard work and dedication," said Mr Cheetham.
"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."
EDF’s apprenticeship programme combines hands-on experience with academic learning to develop highly-skilled professionals for the energy sector.
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 said this has helped broaden her industry knowledge and helped backup the practical elements she had learned 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 attend the EDF Maintenance Apprenticeship Open Day on Saturday, 17 January at Heysham Visitor Centre from 10am – 2pm (one-hour sessions, booking here is essential).
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