Evolve Graduate ESH&Q Environment Reading 2025

Our two-year Evolve graduate development scheme offers you an exciting opportunity to join our ESH&Q pathway. Here you will use your skills, develop new ones and work with remarkable people, in unique facilities, on extraordinary products.

How Evolve will help accelerate your career

The first 3 months of the ESH&Q pathway will be spent immersing yourself within the ESH&Q function understanding fully about AWE business as a whole and the ESH&Q function. Following the initial 3 months you will specialise in Environment.

As a graduate environmental specialist, you will work as part of a team to implement AWE’s Environmental Management System, certified to ISO 14001(internationally agreed and recognised standard for Environmental Management Systems). The role will involve undertaking environmental risk assessments to identify appropriate control measures, ensuring compliance with Environmental Permits and driving environmental improvements through the delivery of AWEs Environmental Sustainability Strategy, including climate change resilience and transition to net zero plans.

The role offers the facilities opportunity to work across the whole project lifecycle including; design of new facilities, large modifications of existing facilities, production, research & development facilities and decommissioning facilities. The role also provides the opportunity to develop an understanding of how AWE interacts with its regulators.

As an Environmental Specialist you will be working alongside other environmental professionals interfacing with regulators, management, facility operators, infrastructure project delivery and technical support as part of an integrated team.

The Environmental Specialist will

• Develop understanding of AWE’s Environmental Management System and gain practical implementation in operational areas.
• Gain experience of Environmental Risk Assessment and risk based inspections in line with relevant legislation, industry standards and AWE's policies, procedures and guidance.
• Gain knowledge of radioactive waste management and application of Best Available Technique.
• Develop understanding of AWE’s approach to sustainability including plans for reducing carbon, enhancing biodiversity and embedding the principles of the circular economy.
• Gain experience in sustainability assessment tools including Sustainability Appraisals and Defense Related Environmental Assessment Methodology.
• Continuously develop understanding of environmental legislation and obligations.

AWE has corporate membership to the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Management (IEMA) and fully supports progression to Chartered Status through IEMA or other appropriate Professional Institute to suit your discipline.

The behaviours and qualities you will need

• You are the sort of person who likes getting stuck into interesting problems.
• You are curious about what you see and eager to learn new things.
• You ask questions when you do not understand something and are resilient in the face of setbacks.
• You like working with others and you are dependable.
• You are comfortable working in a classified environment on defence projects.
• You welcome the chance to develop a work style that embraces AWE’s cultural behaviours:
  • We connect with respect
  • We keep our promises
  • We are safe and secure
  • We embrace simplicity

What AWE can offer you

• AWE has a highly inclusive culture. You will be supported by colleagues and management to bring your unique contribution to our work.
• You will undergo ‘DV’ security clearance to allow you to work on classified programmes.
• From Day 1 you will be collaborating with like-minded people on challenging problems, and you will encounter many professional and personal development opportunities.
• Depending on your specific placements, you may have the opportunity to interact with UK and overseas partners and customers.
• There is a vibrant early careers community at AWE. You will have the opportunity to socialise with other graduates and undergraduate placement students through organised events, the on-site Recreation Society, and ad-hoc activities.
• You can join any of our six staff-led Equity, Diversity and Inclusion working groups to help guide our supportive work culture.
• You will gain a strong feeling of satisfaction that you are making a real difference to yourself, to AWE and to the safety and security of the UK!

What you will get

A competitive total reward package including starting salary £31,000 per year and benefits including a market leading contributory pension scheme.

You will also get:

• Generous holiday entitlement (270 hours of leave annually including bank holidays)
• Excellent work/life balance and a vibrant and welcoming grad social scene
• 9-day working fortnight (this means you will not work every other Friday!)
• A salary-sacrifice benefit scheme
• A welcome payment
• An option of an interest free loan of £1,000 as well as regular Graduate pay reviews
• A structured and supported career progression
• Discounts – Access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending across retail, hospitality and leisure
• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services

Alongside these benefits, you will get opportunity to learn from subject matter experts and to develop skills that are applicable across many industries.

Entry requirements

• You are a recent graduate or will graduate by September 2025.
• You will graduate with a minimum of a 2:2 in your degree, typically in any of these science or engineering subjects:
  • Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Geography or Geology
• You must be able to join AWE in September 2025. We recruit on a rolling basis which means as soon as our positions have been filled, we will close.
• Candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role.
• You are a UK national who has not lived overseas within the last 10 years

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 us will be used to encourage and support you through the application process and will be held only for this purpose in accordance with GDPR.

If you have any queries, please email us on earlycareers@awe.co.uk

Please note that you must be a British Citizen to apply for a role with us.

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 us will be used to encourage and support you through the application process and will be held only for this purpose in accordance with GDPR.