Quality Practitioner Level 4 Apprenticeship - Aldermaston

Quality Practitioner Apprenticeship (Level 4 - Higher)

About AWE

We're a team of remarkable people, united by one extraordinary mission: keeping the UK safe and secure. The UK's independent nuclear deterrent has existed for 75 years to deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, helping to guarantee our safety, and that of our NATO allies.  

Our work is critical. We're delivering Astraea, the next warhead for the UK's nuclear deterrent and pushing the boundaries of nuclear science and technology. But that's just part of the story. 

We support the UK government in a range of vital areas - from counter-terrorism to global nuclear test monitoring to building a world-class community of experts in nuclear science. This is work that protects lives and strengthens national security.

At AWE, you'll find more than just a job. You'll find purpose, growth, and a community like no other. Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your career to the next level, this is your chance to learn from the best, develop your skills, and be part of something truly unique.

Be extraordinary at AWE.

About the apprenticeship:

Being a Quality Practitioner Apprentice is a varied and exciting career, with each day being different to the next; from facilitating risk prevention events, undertaking audits through to using innovative solutions to solve significant business problems and drive continuous improvement.

Through a series of placements within the Quality function, you will gain experience of the management and review of the companies processes and procedures and their use. Using this experience, you will ensure we fulfil our contractual and regulatory requirements of our customers and stakeholders through quality planning, quality assurance, quality control and continuous improvement activities.

In addition to the vocational aspects of your training, we will further your knowledge of Quality through academic studies. On successful completion of the Level 4 Quality Practitioner apprenticeship you will be eligible for professional registration to the Chartered Quality Institute (CQI) at practitioner grade.

Opportunities when you complete your apprenticeship:

Following completion of your apprenticeship and subject to business need and your career aspirations, you will outturn into a Quality Engineer role within one of the areas of AWE.

Apprenticeship Standard:

Quality practitioner (ST0853).

Training Provider:

MBKB

About you:

• IT Literate

• Good communication skills

• Excellent team working skills

• Health and safety aware

• Effective at following instructions

• Ability to concentrate for long periods

• A logical structured way of thinking

• Passion and motivation for your chosen profession

This role may appeal to you if you enjoy:

• Having an eye for detail and an interest in improving things

• Reviewing documents and understanding their application in the real world

• Having a logical approach to understanding processes

• Having a hands-on approach to problem solving

Entry Requirements:

• 5 GCSEs at grade 4/C or above including Maths and English

• 1 'A' Level or equivalent Grade C or above (preferred not mandatory)

• Applicants must be aged 18 or over, as of 31st August 2026, due to security clearance requirements

• You must be a British National to apply for a role with us.

The Benefits:

• A starting salary of £23,500 yearly, increasing to £25,000 in Year 2 and annually throughout your apprenticeship - subject to meeting key milestones and performance expectations.  

• Market leading contributory pension scheme 

• Generous holiday entitlement of 270 hours a year (inclusive of Bank Holidays) plus every other Friday off 

• Access to employee discounts portal - everyday savings on retail, hospitality and leisure 

• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services 

Alongside these benefits you will get the opportunity to learn from some of the top leaders in their field whilst helping us to continue to deliver national nuclear security, threat reduction and counter-terrorism solutions. 

Location:

Aldermaston/Reading area

Start Date: Tuesday 1st September 2026

Annual leave will not be granted from 1st September until 2nd October 2026 due to mandatory inductions you are required to complete as part of your apprenticeship.  Any leave approved after this point will depend on the training provider requirements for your apprenticeship and must be agreed in advance. 

Duration:

14 months plus End Point Assessment

Recruitment Process  

This vacancy will close on 7 th December 2025 , but we review applications as they come in-so we strongly encourage you to apply early.

We want you to shine in your application process which is designed to be fair and transparent. So we've kept it simple with a three step process.

Online application: Apply for one apprenticeship; take your time to explore the options and choose the one that best matches your interests and goals.

Online test: If successful, you will be invited to complete our online assessment stage. These include online testing against numerical, verbal, logical and cognitive reasoning tests. Don't be intimidated: practice assessments will be available so you will be fully equipped with the knowledge of what to expect.

Virtual assessment: Those successful at testing will be invited to a virtual assessment centre. The Assessment Centres are scheduled for 13th and 14th January 2026. Please note that these dates may be subject to change, but rest assured, we'll keep all applicants informed throughout the process.

These roles are governed by Health and Safety at Work Regulations and require all candidates to have an Occupational Health pre-employment medical held at AWE which follows the initial selection process. All candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role and be willing and able to work in designated areas.  

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.  

We encourage diverse applicants and we're here to support you all the way. We encourage you to let us know if you need any adjustments on your application. 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. Learn about how we handle your data.

Contact us 

If you have questions during the application process, please reach out to the Early Careers Team at