Graduate Trainee - Nuclear Services

Prospects; Reading; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Market-leading pension

9-day working fortnight

Life Assurance

Employee discounts

Welcome payment

Interest-free £1,000 loan

Job summary

Nuclear Services in Reading offers a hands-on opportunity in health physics, waste management and environmental protection. You will support operational teams handling radioactive and controlled waste, ensuring safety and regulatory compliance while learning how technical decisions are applied in practice.

The role includes projects on waste improvement, training delivery, documentation review and inspections, with a 9-day fortnight and a market-leading pension.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2:2 in a science- or environment-based degree.
• British National required and willing/able to obtain DV security clearance.
• Demonstrated numeracy and data interpretation skills.

Responsibilities

• Waste improvement: Support projects that improve management of radioactive, controlled and hazardous waste.

Skills

Numerate

Detail oriented

Organised

Communicative

Customer focused

Education

Science or Environment degree (2:2)

Job description

Join Nuclear Services, an essential function that delivers Health Physics, waste and specialist operational services across AWE. You will support work that manages radioactive and controlled waste, protects people and the environment from ionising-radiation and contamination hazards, and helps maintain an effective emergency response capability. A specialist career with real-world impact This is a hands‑on, operational opportunity in a field where skills are in high demand. You will see how technical decisions are applied in practice and learn from specialists working on current waste, radiation‑protection and environmental challenges.

What opportunities will you have?

• Waste improvement: Support projects that improve the management of radioactive, controlled and hazardous waste.
• Training and awareness: Help develop and deliver training programmes and awareness campaigns.
• Documentation: Review and update waste‑management, customer‑communication, health, safety and environmental documentation.
• Inspection and assurance: Support health, safety and environmental inspections and continual improvement.
• Operational services: Work alongside teams providing Health Physics, waste processing, emergency response and specialist operational support.

What you will learn?

• How radioactive and controlled wastes are managed operationally and technically.
• How ionising‑radiation and environmental controls are applied in operational settings.
• The operational application of the Ionising Radiations Regulations and Environmental Permitting Regulations.
• How to work in a service environment against targets, timelines and budgets.
• Problem‑solving, negotiation, data interpretation, stakeholder communication and influencing.
• How change management and sustainability principles support better waste outcomes.

What you will get

• £31,000 starting salary.
• A market‑leading contributory pension scheme.
• 270 hours of annual leave, including bank holidays.
• A 9‑day working fortnight, giving you every other Friday off.
• A salary‑sacrifice benefit scheme, Life Assurance and employee discounts.
• A welcome payment and the option of an interest‑free £1,000 loan.
• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.
• Regular Graduate pay reviews and structured career progression.
• Proactive: You take ownership, look for improvements and follow through on commitments.
• Communicative: You can explain information clearly in writing and conversation and influence constructively.
• Detail focused: You understand why accurate records and careful working matter.
• Customer focused: You want to provide a reliable, practical service to operational customers.
• Organised: You can manage competing enquiries, priorities and stakeholders.
• Numerate: You are comfortable handling and interpreting data.

Minimum 2:2 in a science‑or environment‑based degree, such as Environmental Science, Geoscience, Geography or Sustainability. You must be a British National, and willing and able to obtain and maintain DV security clearance and meet occupational‑health requirements.