NDA group graduates begin their behavioural development journey with The Dove Nest Group

A key element of the NDA group graduate programme is the knowledge, skills and behavioural development delivered by the Dove Nest Group, which supports graduates’ workplace readiness.

Over the past few months, groups of graduates have spent a week-long residential at the Dove Nest Group, undertaking experiential and accelerated learning approaches with opportunities to practise, refresh and develop pragmatic tools, techniques, skills, behaviours and knowledge. Through reflection and discussion, graduates apply their learning directly to how they present themselves in the workplace.

The Dove Nest Group’s approach consists of four key areas: Immersion, Integration, Solution and Implementation. They use these areas to understand each client’s objectives fully; find the challenges they may face and then create relevant solutions.

Graduates took part in exciting activities such as: Raft negotiation, resilience workshops, vision-creation challenges and the final challenge testing teamwork skills, communication and emotional intelligence.

The feedback received from graduates highlighted the positive impact the week had on their knowledge and skills development, especially in areas such as, emotional intelligence, developing relationships with fellow graduates and adaptability to the variety of tasks they completed throughout the week.

Reflecting on what they have learned during their week at Dove Nest, P3M graduate Sanaa Mughal shares “Working with other graduates has helped me because I now understand that other graduates have different styles of communication and ways of working, so I can now adapt my own style to suit theirs and have more self-awareness, and social awareness too.”

Training like this is important in preparing graduates for the workplace, helping them understand communication and learning styles so they can work effectively.

About the NDA Group Graduate Programme

Delivered by Energus on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) group, the graduate programme offers a two-year structured route into one of the UK’s most vital sectors. Graduates can build careers across a range of disciplines, including engineering, radiological protection, cybersecurity, procurement and project management.

Participants take part in secondments, specialist training and real-world project delivery at over 30 locations across the UK, forming part of a wider 17,000-strong workforce focused on safely, securely and sustainably decommissioning the UK’s nuclear legacy.

With over £45 million invested annually in early careers, the programme offers:

· A competitive starting salary

· Professional institute membership

· Generous annual leave and study days

· Travel and relocation support

· A dedicated mentor and expert-led guidance

· A supportive and inclusive environment with employee-led networks and wellbeing initiatives