8 November 2024 | 0 minutes read

A key local employer

Our role in the community

We have a workforce 7,000 strong, the majority of whom live within 20 miles of our site.

We have a wide programme of engagement with 37 UK universities, and five strategic alliances with the universities of Bristol, Cambridge, Cranfield, Heriot-Watt, and Imperial. In addition, 93 ‘year in industry’ posts are provided to UK universities by AWE.

We also have an apprenticeship and graduate programme where successful applicants benefit from the opportunity to work in world-class facilities. Those completing our programmes have gone on to a wide variety of roles within AWE. Our Skills Academy has a long and proud history, with thousands of young people completing their apprenticeships since it opened its doors more than 70 years ago; many are now in senior leadership roles at AWE.

Our recently appointed Executive Director of Estates and Liabilities, Mark Hedges, began his career with us in 1985 as an apprentice. Almost 40 years later he is still with us, driving change but now at executive level.

More news

Three people in protective workwear in a lab

Two decades of collaboration reaps rewards

A team of AWE physicists and academics from the University of Oxford who have been collaborating for 20 years to solve a ‘grand challenge’ – which had proved elusive until now – have had their work published in the Journal of Applied Physics.

Person holding mobile phone, close up of hands and phone.

Community News

9 Jun 2025

New emergency text alerting service

People living near AWE’s Aldermaston and Burghfield sites can now sign up to a new emergency text alerting service. Residents in the detailed emergency planning zones (DEPZ) around the sites will receive a letter explaining about the new scheme and how to register.

AWE becomes new corporate member

We are pleased to announce that AWE has become a proud corporate member of the Institute of Collaborative Working (ICW), which aims to promote best practices and standards in how organisations collaborate – internally and externally – to deliver value to our partners, customers and suppliers. ICW’s CEO, Frank Lee, said: “AWE’s commitment to collaborative working […]