News

Like other large organisations, AWE has had to adapt during the pandemic – both as an employer and a responsible business. Throughout the last year, AWE’s sites at Aldermaston and Burghfield have remained operational, but responsive to an ever-changing situation while continuing to support the defence and security of the UK. For our critical workers, […]

Local-based charity, New Beginnings has been chosen by AWE staff as worthy recipients of a £5,000 donation. New Beginnings is a charity focused on the prevention and relief of poverty and financial hardship of persons in Reading and the Greater Berkshire area. Each year AWE staff can nominate local charities or good causes close to […]

An AWE donation to the South Central Ambulance Charity is providing specialist equipment to help Community First Responders with swift responses to medical callouts. A central part of the Charity’s work is the recruiting and training of local volunteers who assist with life threatening emergencies.  The AWE Charity Fund’s donation is supporting local Community First […]

A ground-breaking radiation detection technology, developed to support the UK’s nuclear deterrent, is being made available to nuclear, national security, policing and counter-terrorism organisations. The GMS595 is a sophisticated gamma dose-rate monitor developed by AWE alongside British company JCS Nuclear Solutions. It is the most sensitive gamma radiation monitor available and capable of making fast […]

AWE marked International Women’s Day on March 8 – a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women and raising awareness about gender equality. This year’s theme ‘Choose to Challenge’ was reflected in a series of events. On the day, AWE staff had the opportunity to hear from keynote speaker Zeb […]

AWE is marking British Science Week with new activities that complement our ongoing STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) outreach work with local schools and students. These include our STEM ambassadors and apprentices developing presentations on varied topics, as a visual and engaging way for young learners to discover more about science. This series of presentations […]

New research published in Nature Comms sheds light on a fundamental phenomenon in plasma physics The Universe is full of spectacular events where flowing plasmas – collections of charged ions and electrons – collide, releasing energy as magnetic fields reconfigure and reconnect. In some instances, this causes ions to accelerate to high energy. Close to […]

The latest issue of Connect contains details of AWE’s Responsible Business Report that sets out how we operate as a business and manage our long-term impacts on society and the environment. The full report can be seen here. You can also read about our work with education and charity partners and achievements during 2020.

AWE is entering into a partnership with the University of Surrey, which is launching a new Centre of Excellence in Materials Ageing, Performance and Life Prediction The University’s long-standing expertise in materials science and engineering and its strengths in advanced characterisation of materials in demanding environments, underpin the partnership. Professor Norman Godfrey, AWE Deputy Chief […]

A Covid-compliant Christmas charity collection at AWE produced hundreds of kilos of food, plus toys and toiletries. Altogether, 560 kilos of food, 15 boxes of toiletries and clothes and 150 toys were donated by staff. The food was packed into hampers and will go to Basingstoke Trussell Food Bank, the toiletries and clothes to Nishkam […]

AWE plc has been fined following a guilty plea to a charge brought by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) under Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. This was in relation to an incident at AWE’s Aldermaston site in June 2019, comprising a flash-over of electricity when a contractor’s […]

AWE scientist, Kirk Duroe has been recognised with the 2020 Clifford Paterson medal and prize from the renowned Institute of Physics. Kirk’s award is a Bronze Early Career medal which recognises exceptional physicists in the early stages of their careers. The Institute of Physics’ medal was in recognition of Kirk’s expert technical advice to the […]