Innovating in nuclear energy: how Harry Barker is developing his career and supporting others to succeed

Harry Barker’s role as a nuclear process engineer has allowed him to work in the challenging and exciting energy sector, on both civil nuclear and hydrogen production projects. We caught up with him to discuss how his role is helping the UK to meet its net zero targets and how he is supporting new graduates to follow in his footsteps.

Harry in Florence

Tell us about your role

I joined Mott MacDonald as a graduate in the Glasgow office in 2021. I’m involved in the engineering design and safety assessment of nuclear support facilities for our major clients. The work I do spans the entire project lifecycle from feasibility to construction.

Why the nuclear industry?

I studied chemical engineering at Heriot-Watt University and my module on the nuclear industry really piqued my interest because of the complex technical problems associated with it. I thought that would make it a challenging area to work in.

What’s the most innovative project you’ve been trusted to lead?

Supporting the Generic Design Assessment for a small modular reactor (SMR) was exciting as it’s at the forefront of renewable energy production. The roll out of SMRs could play a major part in helping to meet our fast-approaching net zero emissions targets, due to being deployable within a reduced footprint compared with a typical gigawatt scale reactor.

I was responsible for leading the radioactive waste management part of the project which looks at how radioactive waste is managed from generation to disposal. Collaboration and good communication were key. I worked closely with our engineers and the environmental protection team to ensure all information being presented to the regulator in the preliminary safety and environmental reports was consistent and accurate. Being trusted to lead this package of work so early in my career reflects the supportive and encouraging environment you work in at Mott MacDonald.

What does a typical day look like for you at Mott MacDonald?

My main focus is on my day-to-day engineering work, but I am also our upskilling and chartership Early Career Professional (ECP) lead for the energy unit. This involves working with the unit learning and development and technical excellence leads to develop chartership pathways and identify development opportunities for our ECPs.

How do you find opportunities to excel in your role?

I’ve managed to build a wide-ranging network across many different areas of the business that I can draw on if I need some help or guidance. I can then bring the experience from these contacts into my day-to-day role as a process engineer.

Can you describe a time when teamwork at Mott MacDonald led to a successful outcome?

I was heavily involved in the development and implementation of an accredited company training scheme with the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) for all chemical and process engineers within Mott MacDonald across the UK and Europe. This scheme is the first structured pathway for new graduates to attain chartered membership through IChemE. Our small team built the scheme from the ground up, liaised with IChemE and were successfully accredited in July 2024.

Developing this scheme from the beginning gave me a huge sense of accomplishment and I have continued to act as the administrator for the scheme.

What support at Mott MacDonald has been most beneficial to your growth?

The range of technical training available has grown significantly since I first started. We have dedicated discipline specific budgets for training and this has allowed me to target specific skills I want to gain additional experience in. This has included different types of safety assessment like Layers of Protection Analysis, which I can then use in actual projects. Knowing that the company will support my professional growth with technical training is fantastic.

What advice would you give to someone just starting their career at Mott MacDonald?

Get involved in as many different things as possible. One of the huge benefits of working for a company like Mott MacDonald is that we work in so many sectors all over the world. If you want to try something new, then there will almost certainly be somewhere within the company you can get that experience and someone who’s willing to help you get it. Over the last four years, I’ve been able to gain experience across a wide range of projects, some outside of nuclear, and it has helped me to understand which areas I would like to develop in the future.