Thousands of high-skilled jobs and hundreds of apprenticeships
have been created to help keep the United Kingdom protected
around the clock, with newly published figures highlighting the
economic benefits of the defence nuclear industry.
It comes as the government's delivers a landmark £15 billion
investment in this parliament into the renewal of the UK's
sovereign nuclear warhead - confirmed through the recent
Strategic Defence Review - to keep the British people safe while
supporting almost 10,000 UK jobs.
The figures from government analysis published today also show
that average salaries in the defence nuclear industry reach
£45,500 - 20% higher than the UK average.
Over the last year, 1,500 new skilled staff, and double the
number of apprentices and graduates, have joined AWE in
Aldermaston, Berkshire – the UK's nuclear weapons technology
centre – all vital to the success of the nuclear deterrent by
playing a critical role in the development and maintenance of the
nuclear warhead stockpile.
It comes as was the first Defence Secretary
to visit AWE since 2018, and he hailed the economic growth impact
for the local area, as AWE celebrates its
75th anniversary.
The AWE workforce of 9,500 staff, including 3,000 engineers and
1,500 scientists, demonstrates the defence nuclear sector as an
engine for economic growth, backing the government's Plan for
Change. This milestone year reflects AWE's crucial contribution
to the UK's independent nuclear deterrent – keeping a
nuclear-armed submarine at sea continuously - ensuring the
security of the nation and our NATO allies around the
clock.
Defence Secretary, MP said:
"The nuclear weapons technology delivered at AWE keeps us all
safe every minute of the day. The skilled men and women working
here play a fundamental role in deterring global conflict and
that cannot be underestimated.
"However, our nuclear deterrent doesn't just protect us, it also
powers prosperity. From the design and development of the warhead
in Aldermaston, to shipbuilding in Barrow and maintenance in
Plymouth, to deployment for operations from Clyde, defence is an
engine for growth. The Defence Nuclear Enterprise delivers on the
Plan for Change by backing thousands of jobs across the
country.
“Through the Strategic Defence Review we are unshakeable in
our commitment to maintaining our nuclear deterrent - it is the
ultimate guarantor of our national security and the security of
our NATO allies.”
AWE is part of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE) - the
partnership of organisations that operate, maintain, renew and
sustain the UK's nuclear deterrent as part of a national
endeavour which supports more than 48,000 jobs across the country
- set to rise to 65,000 in the next decade.
Through the Nuclear Skills Task Force Skills Plan, nearly 4,000
early career starters are projected to have entered the wider
nuclear sector over the last year, with the total number of
graduate and apprenticeship roles in the sector aiming to double
over the next 10 years.
During his visit, the Defence Secretary met with staff,
scientists and apprentices to acknowledge the establishment's
legacy, celebrate current achievements, and highlight the
importance of investing in future talent. AWE welcomed nearly 500
graduates, apprentices and placement students in 2024/25 - double
the previous year - many of them from local communities.
The defence nuclear industry wage premium also brings prosperity
to some of the most economically disadvantaged communities in the
UK, with over half of those employed in the defence nuclear
industry living in areas targeted for economic
regeneration.
The visit comes after the SDR and Spending Review provided the
commitment and funding for the UK to produce a new submarine
every 18 months in future years. It follows the commitment to
grow the UK's attack submarine fleet to up to 12 under the AUKUS
partnership.
