Description

What if you could work with remarkable people on extraordinary things? What if the end result was something a little bit special? What if your role was mission critical?

For nearly 70 years, AWE has been at the forefront of nuclear weapons research and development. They have a critical mission: to provide the warheads for the UK’s ultimate deterrent – Trident. AWE also use their unique skills to provide wider UK government with counter-terrorism and nuclear threat reduction solutions.

It takes a special sort of person to work at AWE. What if that person was you?

What if you could work with remarkable people on extraordinary things? What if the end result was something a little bit special? What if your role was mission critical?

For nearly 70 years, AWE has been at the forefront of nuclear weapons research and development. They have a critical mission: to provide the warheads for the UK’s ultimate deterrent – Trident. AWE also use their unique skills to provide wider UK government with counter-terrorism and nuclear threat reduction solutions.

It takes a special sort of person to work at AWE. What if that person was you?

There is a wide variety of mechanical maintenance roles at AWE such as working on the steam powered heating systems, servicing, checking and hanging filters within air handling units, bearing checks and heat and vibration level checks on motors, and perform routine services.

As a Mechanical Maintenance Apprentice, you will learn the basics of hand tools then move onto learning the operations of various machines such as milling machines, pillar drill and lathes. You will gain a variety of skills including setting up rigs, maintenance and set up of basic pipe fittings, and making crank sets. Other skills will include disassembling and reassembling equipment such as vacuum pumps, Ogden pumps and calorifiers. Further experience gained during your apprenticeship will include using hydraulic lifting equipment, cranes, compressed air, heater batteries and air ventilation systems. You will also learn how to make gaskets, pipework (which you will also pressure-test), and re-build gearboxes.

After up to 2 years of hands-on learning at AWE’s award-winning Skills Academy, you will then spend another year on placements out in the business. Your experience on these placements could include working on steam leaks and fixing pipework, ultrasound surveys, vibration analysis, and working in the trial assembly & disassembly of explosives.

Mechanical Maintenance may appeal to you if you enjoy:
• Understanding how mechanical assemblies work
• Understanding how heating, ventilation and cooling systems work
• Understanding the operation and maintenance of rotating plant and equipment
• Problem solving activities
• Being hands on
• Applying engineering principles into real life scenarios

You’ll need to demonstrate:
• A practical aptitude for engineering or technology
• Computer literacy (PC)
• Excellent team working skills
• Good communication skills
• Awareness of health and safety
• The ability to follow instructions
• The ability to concentrate for long periods
• A real passion and motivation for this type of work
• 5 GCSE’s at grade 4/C or above to include Maths and English
• Age: Applicants must be aged 16 or over, as of 31th August 2024, due to security clearance requirements.

What AWE offer:
• AWE offer apprentices a starting salary of £16,000. This increases annually with second year salary being £20,500
• A market leading contributory pension scheme
• Generous holiday entitlement and excellent work/life balance including a 9-day working fortnight. This means that every other Friday you won’t be required to work!

Please note that you must be a British National to apply for a role with AWE.

AWE recruit on a rolling basis which means as soon as their positions have been filled, they close their applications.