If you’d like to be considered for this opportunity we encourage you to apply promptly to avoid disappointment as if applications are high the role will close before the closing date given.
Graduate Trainee - Liabilities: Decommissioning, Demolition and Waste Management
Programme
Evolve Graduate Programme
Salary
£31,000 starting salary plus benefits
Location
AWE sites Aldermaston and Burghfield, Berkshire - onsite
Duration
Two years
Start date
September 2027
Working pattern
9-day working fortnight
About AWE
We are a team of remarkable people, united by one extraordinary mission: keeping the UK safe and secure. Our work supports the UK's independent nuclear deterrent and wider national-security capabilities through science, engineering, technology and specialist expertise.
Programme purpose
Join the Liabilities team, which sets direction and manages nuclear, radiological, chemical and explosive waste alongside the safe decommissioning and demolition of associated facilities. Through structured placements, you will gain experience across the full liabilities lifecycle and see how strategy, projects, operations, engineering, safety and waste specialists work together.
The programme is flexible so placements can reflect individual interests and business needs, while maintaining a strong Liabilities focus. At least 75% of the programme is expected to be spent in Liabilities-related placements. You will contribute to live programmes and build the skills required for a long-term career in a highly regulated environment.
Key activities and responsibilities
- Support decommissioning, demolition and waste programmes from strategy through to delivery.
- Contribute to liabilities strategy, integration and planning.
- Apply risk-based thinking and support safe systems of work, permits and compliance activity.
- Collaborate with capability sponsors, projects, engineering, safety, operations, facilities, waste, commercial and procurement teams.
- Support reporting, coordination, data-informed decisions and continuous improvement.
- Build organisational awareness through varied placements and potential leadership shadowing.
Learning and development
- The full lifecycle of liabilities management, decommissioning, demolition and waste.
- How strategy, projects, engineering, operations, facilities and safety disciplines work together.
- Project-delivery principles through the APM Project Fundamentals Qualification.
- Core health and safety through IOSH Working Safely or Managing Safely.
- Lean and continuous-improvement techniques, including Lean Sigma Six Yellow Belt capability.
- Nuclear professionalism, regulatory awareness, risk management and safe systems of work.
- Stakeholder engagement, planning, problem-solving, reporting and digital tools such as Excel or Power BI.
Potential placement experience
- Liabilities Integration Office, strategy and facility-management teams.
- Liabilities Operations, Estates Programmes and Delivery Waste teams.
- Work Control, delivery projects, engineering and Safety Case teams.
- Waste Operations and a possible non-Liabilities placement to broaden experience.
Training, qualifications and outturn capability
- APM Project Fundamentals Qualification.
- IOSH Working Safely or Managing Safely.
- Lean or Continuous Improvement Yellow Belt.
- Nuclear professionalism and regulatory-awareness training.
- Risk-management and safe-systems-of-work training.
- Practical experience of stakeholder engagement, planning, reporting and digital analysis.
Behaviours and qualities
- Proactive: You take ownership and want to make a practical difference.
- Collaborative: You enjoy working across disciplines and learning from specialists.
- Organised: You can manage priorities, plan work and deliver to deadlines.
- Analytical: You use evidence and structured thinking to address complex issues.
- Adaptable: You respond positively as placements, priorities and challenges change.
- Safety focused: You understand the importance of quality, compliance and careful decision-making.
Entry requirements
- You should hold, or be on track to achieve, a minimum 2:2 in a relevant technical or general degree.
- Relevant technical subjects include Nuclear, Mechanical, Chemical, Civil, Environmental or Systems Engineering, Environmental Science, Physics, Chemistry and Materials Science.
- Relevant general subjects include Sustainability, Environmental or Public Policy, Politics, Project or Business Management, Economics, Geography, Law, Supply Chain, Logistics, Finance and Accounting. Other STEM backgrounds may also be considered.
- You must be available to join AWE in September 2027.
- You must be a British National and willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance.
Salary and benefits
- 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.
Support and community
- A dedicated line manager and Evolve pathway lead.
- A buddy, typically from an earlier Graduate cohort.
- A supportive Early Careers community and access to employee networks.
- Structured development, mentoring and relevant professional learning.
Recruitment process and key dates
- Online application: Applications open on 2 November 2026. Apply for the pathway that best matches your interests and goals.
- 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.
Security and operational requirements
You must be a British National and willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance. The programme includes office and operational environments and may require compliance with local safety, access and occupational-health requirements.
Inclusion and reasonable adjustments
AWE aims to create workplaces where differences are recognised and celebrated, diverse contributions are encouraged and employees feel able to be themselves. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the application process, with inclusion information handled in accordance with GDPR.
Next steps:
Everyone who works at AWE brings unique skills and perspectives to the table. We recognise that great people don’t always ‘tick every box’. That’s why we focus on your potential, your fit with our values, your transferable skills as well as your experience. Even if you don’t meet every point above, but you feel that this role and AWE are a great fit for you, please go ahead and apply, we’d love to receive your application.
Important things you need to know:
- We encourage you to apply promptly to avoid disappointment if applications are high and the role therefore closes.
- You will need to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role. This will be funded by AWE. The nature of our work does mean you need to be a British Citizen who has been resident in the UK for the past 5 years in order to apply for SC clearance and 10 years for DV.
- We want you to feel comfortable and able to shine during our recruitment process. Please let us know on your application form if you need any adjustments/accommodations during the process.
- Our interviews typically take place over Teams and for most roles are a 1 stage process.
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. Any inclusion information you provide will be stored in accordance with GDPR and kept separate from your application form and CV, and the information will not be shared with anyone involved in interviewing or making hiring decisions.
Please note that you must be a British Citizen to apply for a role with us.
