Why work in the energy sector?
The energy industry is vital to our decarbonisation efforts but are the obstacles we face as we move towards Net Zero a reason to choose a career in this sector, or are they just too much? Poppy Harrison, assistant mechanical engineer and Jack Foxcroft, project engineer, inAtkinsRéalis’ Nuclear and Power business, explain why they want to tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges, and share their views on the future.
Poppy: I think it’s hard to overestimate the importance of the energy industry. Its challenges, its impact and its opportunities are all around us. And, as our demand for energy increases, we need to work on solutions to manage this smartly and sustainably. It’s an interesting time to be working in an interesting industry.
Jack: Energy is one of our most fundamental requirements. It underpins our environmental, digital and business ecosystems. Where and how energy is extracted, transferred and utilised will determine the sort of world we live in.
The importance of technology in the nuclear sector
Poppy: Safety is crucial in the nuclear sector and is one of the key beneficiaries of the application of digital technologies. In helping us limit people’s exposure to hazardous environments, as well as providing greater clarity, understanding and accuracy – through tools such as digital twins – digital technologies can really have a significant impact on safety and risk mitigation.
Jack: Data is very important to the industry - the more data we have, the deeper our understanding of an asset or system will be (if the right questions are being asked of the data). Greater connectivity means we can ensure that data is available and that we can transfer, interpret and gain insight from it, as well as store and share it. That can unlock a range of benefits from better reporting and monitoring; to optimising operations; controlling processes automatically; empowering workers, customers, clients and stakeholders; boosting productivity; and improving maintenance or decommissioning.
Where to look for innovation
Poppy: Innovation is all around us. We are working with technologies, a sector and with clients that are all constantly evolving. And that’s hugely exciting. But it’s not always about what’s new – innovation can be about re-purposing, re-imagining, re-adapting, combining what’s possible with what’s proven.
Jack: I believe energy storage technologies could transform the industry, either as an assister or disrupter for nuclear energy. It’s very beneficial to have a bank of power available that can supply power to meet changing demand, without having to cycle on additional power generation units.
Advice for younger people who are interested in working in the wider energy sector
Poppy: A lot of younger people can see the energy sector in a negative light. They’re growing up in a climate emergency and are frequently told how dire the situation is. We should be working to help them understand how we’re solving problems and encourage them to see the industry as having a promising future, a future they could be part of. There are so many ways for younger people to get involved, through work experience, up to apprenticeships and degrees. There’s a space in the industry for anyone who’s interested.
Jack: I would say that anyone interested in working in the energy sector should read, read, read, and read some more. There’s so much information available now, on so many different platforms, and it’s brilliant to be able to wander and find you’ve gone down a rabbit hole of information about a variety of topics. But I would also urge caution - time can pass very quickly and before you know it, it’s 2am on a work night!
How we can encourage people to support Net Zero initiatives
Poppy: I think it’s about helping people feel empowered in their understanding and giving them confidence in the subject, so they understand what’s going on and are able to look at the news critically. Teaching is a really important part of this - making sure teachers have enough awareness of Net Zero so they can accurately inform their students, but it’s not the only answer. It’s important to be aware of how people are learning and where they’re getting their information from. If a lot of work goes into putting Net Zero initiatives into the public domain, is it being done in a way that reaches everyone, and in a meaningful way? If not, who’s being excluded?
Jack: If we’re going to achieve Net Zero, we need clear policies and guidance from government. More specifically, we need to know what the policies hope to achieve, how success will be measured, what results are expected by when, and what benefits this offers to people in the short, medium and longer term.
Who inspired them in their early careers
Poppy: I’ve been lucky enough to be surrounded by supportive people who have been happy to answer my many questions and encourage me in my career. They’re the people who inspire me, and I hope none of them underestimate how much I appreciate their support.
Jack: I’m inspired by people within the open source community such as Linus Torvalds, Tim Bernes-Lee and Richard Stallman. Global digital communities coming together to work collaboratively has given us the Linux kernel, which was used by 2.5 billion active Android devices in 2019 ; the world wide web, which 22 billion devices connected to last year; and GNU/Linux operating systems that power around 95% of the top 1,000,000 visited websites.
Interested? Find out more about life at AtkinsRéalis
Sign up to receive the latest content tailored to your interests
Our articles

Preview
GeneralContent type
BlogsPublish date
02/04/2025
Summary
Hi, I'm Ahmad, the regional leader of AtkinsRéalis' Power New Build team here in the Northwest of England. Why did I join AtkinsRéalis? I wanted to be part of a world-class engineering services p

Preview
EuropeContent type
BlogsPublish date
01/31/2025
Summary
Sophie, a Building Surveyor at AtkinsRéalis, tells all about life in Bristol You’ve probably already seen the photos of hot air balloons drifting over Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s Clifton Suspensi

Preview
AustraliaContent type
BlogsPublish date
01/31/2025
Summary
The rail sector is at the heart of Australia’s infrastructure revolution, spanning more than 36,064km of track and powering economic growth, innovation, and connectivity. Once reliant on imported as

Preview
IndiaContent type
BlogsPublish date
01/31/2025
Summary
Do you want to fuel your career with purpose and watch your impact grow? Would you like to make an impact and join the global net zero revolution? Do you have what it takes to lead the nuclear r

by
Shailaja Mantha

Preview
GeneralContent type
BlogsPublish date
01/29/2025
Summary
The future of electrical engineering is bright, and its influence on industries like automotive, energy, and wearable technology is growing exponentially. At AtkinsRéalis, electrical engineers are a

Preview
AsiaContent type
BlogsPublish date
01/28/2025
Summary
What does it take to transform an industry? Hard work, innovative technology, and a culture that fosters creativity. This is how AtkinsRéalis, a global leader in project management, engineering

Preview
GeneralContent type
BlogsPublish date
01/28/2025
Summary
If you are thinking of global career move to KSA, head on to read Sarah’s story on how she relocated to KSA for her work. Hi I’m Sarah, and I joined the AtkinsRéalis Graduate Program to work in T

Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
01/24/2025
Summary
Infrastructure in the Middle East is developing at a rapid rate. With projected growth of 2.9% by 2030, opportunities in the region aren’t slowing down any time soon. Central to this transformati

Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
01/24/2025
Summary
At AtkinsRéalis, we’ve had a big part to play in shaping the skyline and infrastructure of the UAE. Having contributed for over 50 years, we’ve been proud supporters of the rapid growth and ambitio

Preview
GeneralContent type
BlogsPublish date
01/24/2025
Summary
Hello, I'm Amalia, a senior billing specialist at AtkinsRéalis in Romania. On my first day at the organization, I had mixed feelings— I felt a little fear but also confidence that I would be fine

Preview
IndiaContent type
BlogsPublish date
01/23/2025
Summary
Our journey began in Bangalore, India, as six professionals representing various disciplines from the Global Technology Centre (GTC) embarked on a month-long secondment to lead the Project off

by
Akash Kumar

Preview
AsiaContent type
BlogsPublish date
01/23/2025
Summary
Breaking into a career in civil engineering can feel like navigating uncharted territory. However, Venus Chan, a Graduate Engineer at AtkinsRéalis in Hong Kong, offers an inspiring example of h
Related jobs
Salary
Location
Glasgow
Job Type
Full Time
Career Area
Linxon - NewCo
Category
Permanent
Location
Glasgow
Description
Job Title: Lead QSLocation: Glasgow, UKJoin us!As a Lead Quantity Surveyor (LQS) you will play a role involves overseeing our EPC projects' cost control, contract administration, and commercial manage
Reference
R-126927
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
Location
London
Job Type
Full Time
Career Area
Engineering (Other)
Market
Transportation
Category
Permanent
Location
Derby
Leeds
Manchester
London
Bristol
Edinburgh
Description
AtkinsRéalis UK Transportation business brings together the capabilities of our Rail, Highway and Local Transport teams, into a single business of 3,000 talented professionals. The unique breadth of s
Reference
R-126734
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Vinayak DaddiAuthor
Vinayak DaddiSalary
Location
Bristol
Job Type
Flexible Working
Full Time
Career Area
Physical hydrogeology & hydrology
Market
Water
Category
Permanent
Location
Peterborough
Oxford
London
Epsom
Bristol
Swansea
Description
Location- Warrington, Epsom, Glasgow, Oxford, Peterborough, Bristol, Swansea, Birmingham.Are you into flood risk management and looking for your next exciting opportunity? We are looking for senior f
Reference
R-126729
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Mahendran CVAuthor
Mahendran CVSalary
Location
Birmingham
Job Type
Flexible Working
Full Time
Career Area
Civil engineering
Market
Cities & development
Category
Permanent
Location
Birmingham
Description
Take our vision into the future.You might know us for the great work we do across our wide variety of projects. We're proud to say it's thanks to our people's diversity of thought, expertise and knowl
Reference
R-126715
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Akshit PooniaAuthor
Akshit PooniaSalary
Location
Newcastle upon Tyne
Job Type
Flexible Working
Full Time
Career Area
Civil engineering
Market
Cities & development
Category
Permanent
Location
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Description
Shape the Future of our cities and environments.Are you ready to take up a vital role in shaping some of our exciting projects? How about joining our talented team, where everyone has a voice, and tog
Reference
R-126714
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Akshit PooniaAuthor
Akshit PooniaSalary
Location
Epsom
Job Type
Flexible Working
Full Time
Career Area
Sciences - multidiscipline
Category
Permanent
Location
London
Epsom
Description
Do you have the drive and technical capability to work with us as an Associate Director or Associate in Planning and Environmental Consent team, delivering the future of AtkinsRéalis ’ environmental i
Reference
R-126661
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Mahendran CVAuthor
Mahendran CVSalary
Location
Manchester
Job Type
Flexible Working
Full Time
Career Area
Architecture
Market
Water
Category
Permanent
Location
Leeds
Manchester
Description
AtkinsRéalis is one of the world’s leading multi-disciplinary consultancy firms offering unparalleled opportunities for talented individuals in search of a rewarding career. At AtkinsRéalis we offer m
Reference
R-126660
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Mahendran CVAuthor
Mahendran CVSalary
Location
Belfast
Job Type
Full Time
Career Area
Transport planning
Market
Transportation
Category
Permanent
Location
Belfast
Description
Are you ready to take up a vital role in shaping some of our exciting projects? How about joining our talented team, where everyone has a voice, and together we face our clients' problems head-on. It'
Reference
R-126655
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Vinayak DaddiAuthor
Vinayak DaddiSalary
Location
UK
Job Type
Flexible Working
Full Time
Career Area
Architecture
Market
Transportation
Category
Permanent
Location
United Kingdom
Description
Help us turn vision into reality.You might know us for the great work we do across our wide variety of projects. We're proud to say it's thanks to our people's diversity of thought, expertise and know
Reference
R-126652
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Anita SharmaAuthor
Anita SharmaSalary
Location
Bristol
Job Type
Full Time
Career Area
Construction
Market
Project, programme & cost management
Category
Permanent
Location
Bristol
Cardiff
Swansea
Description
Shape the highways of tomorrow.Become a vital member of our Project & Programme Services team, proudly taking on some of the world's most exciting and prestigious projects. Join us, and you'll be part
Reference
R-126650
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Chiragg Ravindra SaragurAuthor
Chiragg Ravindra SaragurEquality, diversity and inclusion
We’re devoted to growing the diversity of our people, promoting an inclusive culture, providing everyone with an equal voice because simply put, it’s the right thing to do. Click to learn more.
Find out more