News

International Women’s Day 2023

08 March 2023

Today we celebrate International Women’s Day, acknowledging the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. 

This year’s theme is #EmbraceEquity which highlights the significance of innovation, diversity and inclusivity for achieving gender parity. Urenco embraces a commitment to equity in all aspects of its operations. 
We spoke to a range of women at Urenco from each of our sites. 

They highlight what motivates the work that they do: 

Ruth Walters, System Engineering Manager at UUK said: “I like working as an engineer in an operational environment as the role is so diverse and interesting. No two days are the same, and there is always a new challenge or problem to solve… I am happy that I can play my part in the solutions.”

Claudia Umbreit, Engineer at UD said: “I decided to study nuclear engineering because there are many different areas of application in this field and nuclear energy is a low-carbon alternative to power generation from coal. I like working at Urenco because it is an innovative company and offers many opportunities for deployment and development.”

Sarah Forman, Head of Strategy at Head Office said: “I really believe that Urenco is helping to make our energy systems more secure and sustainable. I feel a lot of pride, motivation, and personal validation from the impact of what we do, both now and for future generations. It’s been rewarding to have constant opportunities to challenge myself and develop professionally.”

Bonnie Saucedo, Acting Chemistry Manager at UUSA: “The possibilities are endless in STEM and there’s so many things to study. It’s a great field to go into—it’s dynamic and it’s a constant environment of learning, which I love. It keeps me engaged.”

Britt Vree Egberts and Babette Vogelsang, Interns in Shift Operations at UNL said: “There are few women in engineering but we can definitely recommend it. You learn not only to monitor and control an entire process, but also to deal with spontaneous changes and changing situations. Every day can be different, so together with your team you won't get bored easily!”

Samantha Thompson, Project Manager at UUK reiterated further:
“Working at Urenco has given me countless opportunities to problem-solve with numerous personnel across the business, from all levels of the organisation, with different backgrounds, education, and cultural perspectives. Urenco has created an environment where I can have a seat at the table and join the conversation.” 

The day offers the opportunity to reflect on our achievements through the testimonials of our employees while also looking ahead to what we can do to improve. 

Gender equality remains a key priority, and each site is taking measures to ensuring these goals are met. 
Urenco also continues to support international Masters-level scholarships for women pursuing a career in nuclear through our social impact partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). More information about the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme can be found here.