Graduate Trainee - Nuclear Services

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

Benefits offered by this job

Market-leading pension

270 hours annual leave

9-day working fortnight

Salary-sacrifice benefit scheme

Welcome payment

Employee discounts

Assistance programme

Job summary

AWE plc in Reading invites graduates to join Nuclear Services to support Health Physics, waste and operational services across our site. You will gain hands-on experience while learning how regulations and safety practices are applied in real-world settings.

The role offers a structured career path, a starting salary of £31,000, a generous benefits package, leave, and opportunities to progress toward security-cleared work with DV clearance requirements.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2:2 in a science- or environment-based degree.
• British National and eligible for DV security clearance.
• Willing to obtain DV clearance and meet occupational health requirements.
• Interest in waste management and radiation protection.

Responsibilities

• Support projects to improve radioactive, controlled and hazardous waste management.
• Assist with training programmes and awareness campaigns.
• Review and update waste-management and health safety documentation.
• Support inspections and continual improvement in health, safety and environment.
• Work alongside teams delivering Health Physics, waste processing and emergency response.

Skills

Communicative

Detail oriented

Customer focused

Organised

Numerate

Education

2:2 in science- or environment-based degree

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.
• Online assessment: If eligible, complete numerical, verbal, logical and cognitive reasoning assessments. Practice materials will be available.
• Virtual assessment centre: Successful candidates will be invited to a virtual assessment centre, expected to run during December 2026 and January 2027.
• Pre-assessment support: Attend guidance webinars so you know what to expect and can prepare.
• Offer and clearance: Successful candidates will move into the offer, medical where required, and security-clearance stages before joining in September 2027.

Key qualities

• 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 qualifications

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.

Benefits

• £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.