Conventional Safety Specialist – Year in Industry

Cooper & Hall Limited; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 22,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary £24,500

270 hours annual leave

9-day fortnight

Friday off every other week

Salary-sacrifice scheme

Employee assistance program

Occupational health services

Line manager support

Job summary

AWE is offering an office-based placement near Reading, with a 9-day working fortnight and no guaranteed home-working opportunities due to security needs. You will learn from subject matter experts and contribute to risk assessment, safety initiatives and regulatory compliance from day one.

The role focuses on risk-based inspections, safety management, and stakeholder engagement within a regulated environment. AWE welcomes graduates-to-be who can obtain DV clearance.

Qualifications

• Studying science or engineering degree; on track for a minimum 2:2 by Aug 2027 and graduating in 2029 or 2030.
• UK national, DV security clearance-ready; willing to obtain and maintain DV clearance.

Responsibilities

• Risk assessment: Undertake risk assessments and help identify appropriate control measures.
• Safety compliance: Support compliance with health and safety legislation, industry standards and AWE's policies, procedures and guidance.
• Operational assurance: Take part in risk-based inspections and use relevant assessment tools.
• Safety improvement: Help deliver safety initiatives and continuous improvements in operational areas.
• Management systems: Build practical understanding of AWE's Safety Management System across projects and facilities.

Skills

Risk assessment

Safety compliance

Operational assurance

Safety improvement

Management systems

Education

Science or engineering degree

Job description

Why this role matters

Help protect people, support safe operations and drive continuous safety improvements across AWE. You will apply science-based thinking to real workplace challenges, helping teams identify hazards, assess risks and put effective controls in place.

At a glance

Entry requirement

You should be studying any science or engineering based degree. You must be on track to achieve a minimum 2:2 in your degree by August 2027 and be graduating in either 2029 or 2030.
Please note that this is not a lab-based role.

Security clearance

You must be a UK national, hold a UK passport, have lived in the UK for the past 10 years and be willing and able to obtain and maintain DV security clearance.

Working pattern

A 9-day working fortnight, with every second Friday off. This is an office-based role at Aldermaston, near Reading. Due to the nature and security of the work, we cannot guarantee opportunities to work from home during the week.

Key dates

Applications close: 31 October 2026

Start date: 2 August 2027

What you could work on

• Risk assessment: Undertake risk assessments and help identify appropriate control measures.

• Safety compliance: Support compliance with health and safety legislation, industry standards and AWE's policies, procedures and guidance.

• Operational assurance: Take part in risk-based inspections and use relevant assessment tools.

• Safety improvement: Help deliver safety initiatives and continuous improvements in operational areas.

• Management systems: Build practical understanding of AWE's Safety Management System across projects and facilities.

Why being onsite will support your development

This is an office-based placement. Due to the nature and security of our work, we cannot guarantee opportunities to work from home for part of the week. Being onsite means you can learn directly from subject matter experts, see how safety is applied in operational environments and receive hands‑on support from colleagues across Safety, Health, Environment and Quality. This day-to-day access will help you build confidence, connections and practical experience throughout your placement.

Where this placement could take you

You will develop practical experience in risk assessment, health and safety legislation, inspections, safety initiatives, management systems and stakeholder engagement. These transferable skills can support a future career in conventional safety, SHEQ, operational assurance, project safety or wider risk-management roles. Subject to performance, business need and available opportunities, you may also have the potential to return to AWE through a graduate role after university.

What you will get

• £24,500 salary.

• 270 hours of annual leave, including bank holidays.

• A full-time, 9-day working fortnight, giving you every other Friday off.

• A salary-sacrifice benefit scheme.

• Savings across retail, hospitality and leisure.

• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.

• Support from a dedicated line manager, Evolve pathway lead and buddy.

• Opportunities to build your network through AWE employee resource groups, community events and the Recreation Society.

• The opportunity to learn from subject matter experts from day one while supporting real projects and safety improvements.

Reasonable adjustments

We want you to feel confident and informed throughout the application process. We encourage diverse applicants and welcome requests for reasonable adjustments. Any inclusion information you provide will be used only to support you through the process and held for this purpose in accordance with GDPR.