AWE confirms there will be more than 400 job losses

The company, which has received a £15bn government investment for its nuclear warhead programme, has confirmed it expects around 400–500 job losses. However, it says overall headcount will remain the same as it hires for different roles.

AWE’s trade union, Prospect, has criticised the move, calling it a “masterclass” in how not to carry out a redundancy process.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “AWE must evolve to stay ahead, strengthen its capabilities, and ensure it is fit for the future. The AWE workforce is being reshaped to deliver that work, refocussing resources to build capability rather than reducing headcount.

Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) in Aldermaston near Basingstoke (Image: AWE)

“The overall headcount will not reduce as we continue to hire into different roles as we adapt for the future, with the significant investment this Parliament securing a 9,500-strong workforce at AWE. We appreciate this proposal will worry staff and AWE is committed to working closely with Trade Unions and is keeping its staff fully informed while working through this process.”

The MoD added that AWE will continue to operate with approximately 9,500 employees, noting that more than 1,500 new staff and 500 apprentices joined the Aldermaston workforce in the past year.

The Gazette has been contacted by AWE workers who say the news is “a major blow” to receive before Christmas and appears to be “a very broad sweep”.

Mike Clancy, General Secretary of Prospect, said: “There are correct ways to go about a redundancy process and there are incorrect ways – AWE’s approach so far has been a masterclass in the latter.

“People are never going to be happy about being put at risk of redundancy, but if you treat them like adults and properly engage their union, there is a chance they will understand and that a least-bad way forward can be found.

“We still don’t have all the details of what is proposed, but if things continue as they are, we will use every lever at our disposal to oppose this.

“This is no way to treat the people who maintain our nuclear deterrent.”

AWE says the restructuring is necessary as part of the government investment, which includes funding the first new warhead in more than 30 years.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson added: “This government’s commitment to the nuclear deterrent is absolute. We are delivering a landmark £15 billion investment into the UK’s nuclear warhead programme to keep the British people safe, backed by the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War.”