The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) has been central to the UK’s defence for almost 60 years, providing and maintaining the warheads for the country's nuclear deterrent.
The AWE is the UK's largest high-tech research, development and production facility and covers the whole lifecycle of nuclear warheads from initial concept and design, through component manufacture and assembly, to in-service support, decommissioning and disposal.
The Atomic Weapons Establishment ("AWE") provide and maintain the warheads for the country’s nuclear deterrent, Trident.
Trident is a submarine-launched, inter-continental ballistic nuclear missile weapons system, carried by Royal Navy Vanguard-class submarines. The role of AWE is to manufacture and sustain the warheads for the Trident system, ensuring optimum safety and performance, but also to maintain a capability to produce a successor system should the Government require one in the future.
The Atomic Weapons Establishment employs over 4,500 people. Employees range from highly specialist scientists, engineers and qualified business people, through to apprentices and graduate scheme trainees.
Graduate Schemes
[Edit]The AWE are recruit graduates who have or expect a good degree, HND, MSc or PhD. The AWE also actively promotes diversity in employment. The organisation welcome applications from women and men, regardless of disability, sexual orientation, racial or ethnic origin, or age.
Applications from women and ethnic minorities are particularly encouraged. Successful candidates will be selected solely on their ability to carry out the duties of the post. The normal contractual retirement age at AWE is 65. Because of the nature of the work associated with these posts, they are subject to special nationality rules and are open only to British citizens. All selected candidates will be required to undergo security clearance.
Graduates are mainly hired for one of four different types of role at AWE, Business, Science, Engineering or Assurance.
Business
[Edit]AWE's Business Support graduate scheme lasts for two years. AWE recruit graduates into HR, Finance, Corporate Communications, Business Strategy and Procurement, through the Business Support scheme.
Whatever area you work in, AWE will support you to gain a professional qualification relevant to your field such as CIPD, ACCA, CIMA or CIM.
Science
[Edit]The AWE science programme is two years long. You will be placed into a particular department to apply and develop the knowledge and skills you’ve gained at university. The content of the programme varies greatly depending on the specific area you join, and it’s perfectly possible that you could end up doing a placement in one or more areas of the business.
AWE will also actively encourage you to study for a relevant Masters or PhD if it’s in line with the organisation's business needs, along with helping you to gain professional accreditations such as RSC and IOP.
Engineering
[Edit]The AWE engineering graduate programme lasts for two years, with a series of three to six month placements that will give you exposure to both practical and strategic projects. Graduates joining with a Bachelors degree will be offered support to take a Masters as well as receiving assistance to gain professional accreditations such as IMechE, IET, RSC, IoM3 or IChemE.
Assurance
[Edit]This programme also lasts for two years. Trainees will work in areas such as Health and Safety, Major Hazards Assessment Groups, the Criticality Safety Group, the Health Physics Skills Centre, Occupational Health Services and the Acceptance Review team. You will gain experience in both practical and strategic aspects of the job.
Interview and Assessment Process
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