Operations Apprenticeship

Summary

AWE’s support for the government’s strategy takes many facets: from supporting the weapon programme for the nuclear deterrent, supporting the UK’s counter terrorist programme, identifying where there may be tests taking place around the world, and building an expert group of individuals to give the UK real depth in nuclear science and technology.

Annual wage: £16,750 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Training course: Process industry manufacturing technician (level 3)
Hours: 9 day fortnight. 33 hours on the short week, 8hrs 15 mins per day. 41 hours on the long week, 8hrs 15 mins per day Monday to Thursday and Fridays 8hrs. Typical working hours are 7.40am to 4.35pm.
37 hours a week
Possible start date: Wednesday 27 August
Duration: 3 years
Positions available: 20

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

An Operations Apprentice role at AWE will give you your first steps to a career in a diverse and unique environment, involving Manufacturing, Science, and Engineering and other key areas of the business. This would suit candidates that are looking for a new career where a keen eye and precision is a fundamental requirement.

You will have a unique opportunity to work in a variety of placements around our business and will spend the first few weeks of your apprenticeship in the AWE’s Skills Academy before moving out into placements within the operations environment. Your learning will be both hands-on assembling components, and office-based where you will gain an understanding of the processes and procedures, to remain compliant with site safety.

You will be key to providing manufacturing and assembly capabilities to the defence and security of the United Kingdom. You will deliver hands-on production and process operations in a highly regulated and safety conscious working environment.

Your role can be physically demanding, so you will be required to pass a medical test for general fitness and suitability to work with our unique materials. This includes having a BMI of under 35, a legal requirement for wearing respiratory protection (role dependent).

Where you’ll work

Atomic Weapons Establishment

Aldermaston

Reading

Berkshire

RG7 4PR

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

BASINGSTOKE COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

Your training course

Process industry manufacturing technician (level 3)

Equal to A level

Course contents

Review instructions or information to understand the task.
Plan tasks. Identify and organise resources with consideration for safety, environmental impact, quality, and cost.
Identify hazards and risks in the workplace and personal safety and mitigation measures.
Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance.
Follow environment emergency procedures. For example, make area safe, evacuate.
Apply sustainability principles for example, minimising waste.
Apply standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Check equipment.
Select, check, and prepare raw materials for process for example, weighing, measuring, control and blending, conditioning, dissolving, and sanitisation.
Set and adjust processing parameters such as temperature, pressure, speed or time, distance.
Monitor process for example, take readings and conduct walk-arounds.
Conduct the control of product streams to maintain specifics.
Apply quality assurance procedures. For example, density checks, contaminant check, and take samples for laboratory testing.
Apply intermediate or post-manufacturing procedure for example, labelling, packing, storage, visual inspection, discharge.
Manage waste streams.
Clean equipment for example, boil-outs, steam-outs, bake-outs, steam in place SIP, clean in place (CIP).
Conduct calculations for example, conversations, tare weight, charge weights, yield calculations.
Store tools and equipment.
Identify equipment for handover.
Apply signage and access restriction measures.
Shut down the process and equipment.
Isolate process and systems.
Complete isolation checks.
Empty equipment for example, drain, purge, vent, and de-pressure.
Purge, fill, pressurise and leak test.
Complete post maintenance equipment checks.
Line-up equipment.
Connect service connections such as water, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic for chemical or petrochemical processing.
De-isolate process, mechanical and electrical systems.
Complete pre-start up checks.
Start-up plant and equipment.
Re-start process.
Record or enter information - paper based or electronic.
Interpret data for example, process data, quality control and test procedure data.
Interpret drawings and graphs.
Identify issues for example, defects, deviations, process variance, and maintenance requirements.
Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
Apply problem solving and fault-finding techniques.
Apply continuous improvement techniques. Make a suggestion for improvement.
Use information and digital technology for example, management information systems, human machine interfaces, word processing, spreadsheet, email, virtual learning platforms, document sharing platforms. Comply with cyber security requirements.
Produce written documents for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests.
Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
Apply team working principles.
Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development (CPD) activities.
Review instructions or information to understand the task.
Plan tasks. Identify and organise resources with consideration for safety, environmental impact, quality, and cost.
Identify hazards and risks in the workplace and personal safety and mitigation measures.
Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance.
Follow environment emergency procedures. For example, make area safe, evacuate.
Apply sustainability principles for example, minimising waste.
Apply standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Check equipment.
Select, check, and prepare raw materials for process for example, weighing, measuring, control and blending, conditioning, dissolving, and sanitisation.
Set and adjust processing parameters such as temperature, pressure, speed or time, distance.
Monitor process for example, take readings and conduct walk-arounds.
Conduct the control of product streams to maintain specifics.
Apply quality assurance procedures. For example, density checks, contaminant check, and take samples for laboratory testing.
Apply intermediate or post-manufacturing procedure for example, labelling, packing, storage, visual inspection, discharge.
Manage waste streams.
Clean equipment for example, boil-outs, steam-outs, bake-outs, steam in place SIP, clean in place (CIP).
Conduct calculations for example, conversations, tare weight, charge weights, yield calculations.
Store tools and equipment.
Identify equipment for handover.
Apply signage and access restriction measures.
Shut down the process and equipment.
Isolate process and systems.
Complete isolation checks.
Empty equipment for example, drain, purge, vent, and de-pressure.
Purge, fill, pressurise and leak test.
Complete post maintenance equipment checks.
Line-up equipment.
Connect service connections such as water, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic for chemical or petrochemical processing.
De-isolate process, mechanical and electrical systems.
Complete pre-start up checks.
Start-up plant and equipment.
Re-start process.
Record or enter information - paper based or electronic.
Interpret data for example, process data, quality control and test procedure data.
Interpret drawings and graphs.
Identify issues for example, defects, deviations, process variance, and maintenance requirements.
Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
Apply problem solving and fault-finding techniques.
Apply continuous improvement techniques. Make a suggestion for improvement.
Use information and digital technology for example, management information systems, human machine interfaces, word processing, spreadsheet, email, virtual learning platforms, document sharing platforms. Comply with cyber security requirements.
Produce written documents for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests.
Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
Apply team working principles.
Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development (CPD) activities.

Your training plan

Aldermaston (Reading / Basingstoke area) with flexibility moving around sites including Tadley and Burghfield.

You will attend Basingstoke College of Technology for your technical certificate.

You will visit several placements during your apprenticeship to learn the skills, knowledge and behaviours needed.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

2x Further GCSEs (grade C/4 or above)
English (grade C/4 or above)
Maths (grade C/4 or above)

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

Science (grade 4/C or above)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Presentation skills
Number skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Initiative
Patience

Other requirements

Applicants must be aged 18 or over, as of 31st August 2025 due to security clearance requirements You must be a British National to apply You must hold at least 5 GCSEs at grade 4/C or above (2 of which must include English and Maths) Those with a L3 Diploma in Engineering or similar, you should consider applying for a degree level apprenticeship.

About this company

For nearly 72 years, AWE has been at the forefront of nuclear weapons research and development. We have a critical mission: to provide the warheads for the UK’s ultimate deterrent – Trident. We also use our unique skills to provide wider UK government with counter-terrorism and nuclear threat reduction solutions. Our role in nuclear defence and what we do to support the UK’s nuclear deterrent, is vital in defending our country from the most extreme threats and to keeping the peace.

https://www.awe.co.uk/careers/early-careers/apprenticeships/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Contributory pension scheme Holiday entitlement of 270 hours a year (inclusive of Bank Holidays) plus every other Friday off - Access to employee discounts portal - Employee Assistance - Programme and Occupational Health Services

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

A career in AWE plc Operation productions

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

BASINGSTOKE COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

earlycareers@awe.co.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000215999.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 31 January

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

Company’s application instructions

Online application through link provided.

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