AWE employs around 4,500 staff and over 2,000 contractors, whose work covers a vast range of disciplines. We employ scientists, engineers, technicians, crafts-people and safety specialists, as well as business and administrative experts – many of whom are leaders in their field.
AWE is managed for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) through a contractor-operated arrangement. While our sites and facilities remain in government ownership, their management, day-to-day operations and the maintenance of Britain’s nuclear stockpile is contracted to a private company: AWE Management Limited (AWE ML).
AWE ML is formed of three equal shareholders – British Nuclear Group (BNG), Serco, and Lockheed Martin. BNG has unrivalled knowledge of the nuclear industry, particularly health & safety and decommissioning issues; Serco has international experience in the management of civilian and military projects and services; and Lockheed Martin has a proven record of successfully delivering complex defence equipment, including nuclear weapon production and stewardship in the United States.
AWE ML was awarded a 10-year contract to manage AWE in April 2000. This was extended in 2003 and is now set to run until March 2025.
AWE plc is the company that AWE ML has delegated to deliver the contract. It employs the workforce, maintains the nuclear site operating licenses and discharge authorisations, and its directors have total responsibility for management and operations.
The MoD, apart from being our customer, holds a golden share in AWE plc and monitors our operations and performance, and along with other regulators assures high safety and security standards.