Project Management Apprenticeship (Level 6 Degree)

Atomic Weapons Establishment; Aldermaston; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

270 hours holiday per year

Every other Friday off (flexible)

Employee discounts portal

EAP & Occupational Health

Job summary

Atomic Weapons Establishment in the Reading area near Aldermaston is offering a Project Management Apprenticeship (Level 6 Degree). You will learn to support major projects, develop planning and risk skills, and work with cross‑functional teams to deliver outcomes safely and on time.

The apprenticeship runs for 48 months, with a starting salary of £24,500 rising to £26,000 in Year 2, plus a market-leading pension, generous holiday, and other benefits.

Qualifications

• IT proficiency – including Microsoft Office.
• Good communication skills and teamwork.
• Effective organisation and safety awareness.
• Leadership qualities and problem solving mindset.
• Interest in project management and service delivery.

Skills

IT proficiency

Communication

Team working

Organisation

Health and safety awareness

Leadership qualities

Problem solving

Customer service

Decision making

People motivation

Education

5 GCSEs including Maths and English

3 A Levels or equivalent (Maths/Science/IT) or BTEC MMM

Job description

Job Title

Project Management Apprenticeship (Level 6 Degree)

About AWE

We’re a team of remarkable people, united by one extraordinary mission: keeping the UK safe and secure. The UK’s independent nuclear deterrent has existed for 75 years to deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, helping to guarantee our safety, and that of our NATO allies. Our work is critical. We’re delivering Astraea, the next warhead for the UK’s nuclear deterrent and pushing the boundaries of nuclear science and technology. But that’s just part of the story. We support the UK government in a range of vital areas – from counter‑terrorism to global nuclear test monitoring to building a world‑class community of experts in nuclear science. This is work that protects lives and strengthens national security. At AWE, you’ll find more than just a job. You’ll find purpose, growth, and a community like no other. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your career to the next level, this is your chance to learn from the best, develop your skills, and be part of something truly unique. Be extraordinary at AWE.

About the apprenticeship

As a Project Management Apprentice at AWE, you will help support a range of important projects. This could include projects linked to AWE’s main programmes, large building and infrastructure projects, and other work that helps AWE operate and grow. You will learn what project management involves, build your skills, and start to understand the areas of work you enjoy most. You will also work with different teams and subject matter experts, helping you build confidence, develop strong working relationships, and understand how large projects are delivered. Help teams work together to deliver projects safely, on time and to the right standard. This means communicating clearly, solving problems, organising priorities, making decisions, and keeping work moving even when deadlines are challenging. You do not need to already have all these skills — you will develop them during your Project Management Apprenticeship at AWE. This means you will learn how to plan projects, track progress, manage risks, communicate with different people, and understand how decisions affect time, cost and quality.

Knowledge and skills development

• Different project management methods and how to use them
• How a project moves from the first idea through to completion
• How projects are organised, including work, cost and organisational structures
• Estimating, planning and scheduling
• How projects are governed and how budgets are managed
• How to measure project progress and understand performance data
• Regular project reporting, including month‑end progress updates and analysis
• Stakeholder and communications management, both with internal and external stakeholders
• Prioritising workload, resources and deadlines within high pressure complex environments
• How to manage changes to project scope, requirements and benefits
• Quality control
• How goods and services are bought for projects, and how contracts are managed
• How to identify and manage risks and opportunities, and understand how they can affect time, cost and quality

Opportunities when you complete your apprenticeship

When you complete your apprenticeship, you may have the opportunity to move into an Assistant Project Manager role. In this role, you would help deliver projects and programmes that support AWE’s mission to keep the UK safe and secure. You will work in an environment where accuracy, teamwork and forward planning are important.

Apprenticeship Standard ST0411

Apprenticeship Standard ST0411.

About you

• IT proficiency – including a working knowledge in using Microsoft Office.
• Good communication skills.
• Good team working skills.
• Effective organisation skills.
• Health and safety awareness.
• Leadership qualities.
• Passion for your chosen profession.
• This role may appeal to you if you enjoy problem solving, promoting your ideas and motivating people. Providing good customer service. Working as part of a team. Making decisions, often under pressure. Identifying ways to improve current practices. Leading and inspiring others.

Entry requirements

• 5 GCSE’s at grade 4/C or above including Maths and English.
• 3 A Levels at grade C or above, preferably in related subjects such as Maths, Science and IT, T Level Pass (C or above on the core) or a BTEC Extended Diploma at MMM, or a T Level at Pass, or equivalent, in addition to Level 2 English and Maths at 4/C or above.
• Places on Degree Apprenticeships are decided upon by the employer, with each company having its own recruitment, application and selection processes.
• Due to the security requirements associated with this apprenticeship, applicants must be British Nationals and be aged 18 or over by 1 April 2027.

Benefits

• A starting salary of £24,500 yearly, increasing to £26,000 in Year 2, with further annual salary increases throughout your apprenticeship, subject to satisfactory performance and achievement of apprenticeship milestones.
• Market leading contributory pension scheme.
• Generous paid holiday entitlement of 270 hours per year, inclusive of Bank Holidays, plus every other Friday off as part of AWE’s flexible working pattern.
• Access to employee discounts portal - everyday savings on retail, hospitality and leisure.
• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.

Location

Reading area: AWE Aldermaston and/or AWE Burghfield sites, depending on placement and business needs.

Due to the nature and security of our work, this role will be based on‑site. Being on‑site means you’ll learn directly from experts, access hands‑on support and build connections.

Start date

1st September 2027.

Annual leave will not be granted from 1st September until 1st October due to mandatory inductions you are required to complete as part of your apprenticeship. Any leave approved after this point will depend on the training provider requirements for your apprenticeship and must be agreed in advance.

Apprenticeship duration

48 months plus End Point Assessment.

Recruitment process

• Online application: Apply for one apprenticeship; take your time to explore the options and choose the one that best matches your interests and goals.
• Online test: If successful, you will be invited to complete our online assessment stage. These include online testing against numerical, verbal, logical and cognitive reasoning tests.
• In‑person assessment: Those successful at testing will be invited to an assessment centre. The Assessment Centres are scheduled for 24th November 2026.

These dates may be subject to change, but rest assured, we’ll keep all applicants informed throughout the process. These roles are governed by Health and Safety at Work Regulations and require all candidates to have an Occupational Health pre‑employment medical held at AWE which follows the initial selection process. All candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role and be willing and able to work in designated areas.

Important things you need to know

Our ambition is to create workplaces where we recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and our employees feel able to be themselves at work. We strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants.

British Citizen, 5-year residency for SC clearance, 10-year residency for DV clearance. All candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role and be willing and able to work in designated areas.

We will also collect information on your application form about support needs, learning differences, disabilities, health conditions or adjustments, and will contact you to understand how we can support you through the recruitment process. This information will be used for this purpose only and handled in line with GDPR.

Our work and industry

We are recruiting right across the business: from technical roles in engineering, science, manufacturing and industrial work to business roles in areas such as IT, project management/controls, commercial, human resources and facilities management. We also have our Evolve graduate programme, or you may be interested in an apprenticeship with our award‑winning Skills Academy.

What we do is vital to national nuclear security. Keeping our nation, everyone, our environment and everything around us safe and secure is a top priority for us. So, as you would expect, that brings with it a high level of safety and security that you will see across our sites and in how everyone who works here operates.

We are always looking for high calibre people to join our team, so why not explore the opportunities we currently have on offer. Whatever stage of your career, AWE is an exciting and challenging environment to develop your skills and achieve your potential.