Graduate - HR Specialist - Generalist

If you’d like to be considered for this opportunity we encourage you to apply promptly to avoid disappointment as if applications are high the role will close before the closing date given.

Graduate Trainee - HR Specialist - Generalist 

Evolve Graduate Programme | Human Resources 

Salary 

£31,000 plus benefits 

Location 

Green Park, Reading, Berkshire - onsite 

Duration 

Two years 

Start date 

September 2027 

Working pattern 

9-day working fortnight 

Programme 

Evolve Graduate Programme 

About AWE 

We are a team of remarkable people, united by one extraordinary mission: keeping the UK safe and secure. Our work supports the UK's independent nuclear deterrent and wider national-security capabilities through science, engineering, technology and specialist expertise. 

Your route 

Help us turn people insight into better organisational decisions and performance. 

On this two-year route, you will gain experience across HR Business Partnering, Organisational Design and Organisational Intelligence. You will work with leaders, people data and organisational insight to support strategic people priorities, workforce decisions and change. 

What you will do 

• Support HR Business Partners in understanding business priorities and translating them into focused people activity. 

• Prepare workforce information, briefing materials and evidence to support people planning and leadership discussions. 

• Contribute to organisational design activity by gathering information, mapping structures and supporting option assessment and implementation planning. 

• Analyse people and organisational data to identify patterns, risks and opportunities, presenting findings clearly for different audiences. 

• Support workforce planning, change and organisational effectiveness projects through structured research, analysis and coordination. 

• Work with specialist HR teams to connect business needs with appropriate people solutions. 

• Build relationships with leaders, managers and colleagues, asking effective questions and constructively challenging assumptions where appropriate. 

• Maintain accurate records and apply governance, confidentiality, GDPR and security requirements when working with workforce information. 

What you will learn 

• HR business partnering and strategic people planning. 

• Organisational design, workforce planning and change support. 

• Organisational intelligence, people analytics and insight development. 

• Consulting skills, stakeholder influencing and evidence-based recommendations. 

• How people strategy, structure and capability support organisational performance. 

Professional development 

Your structured development will include CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management. You will also receive practical experience, support from experienced colleagues and opportunities to build your professional confidence over the two-year programme. 

Behaviours and qualities 

• Curious: Asks thoughtful questions, seeks understanding and explores new ideas. 

• Collaborative: Builds trusted relationships and works effectively across teams. 

• Analytical: Uses evidence and structured thinking to understand issues and develop solutions. 

• Adaptable: Responds positively to change, challenge and feedback. 

• Professional: Acts with integrity, accountability, discretion and respect. 

• Safety and security focused: Understands the importance of following requirements in a classified environment. 

Entry requirements 

• Minimum 2:2 in the following degrees: Human Resource Management, Business, Organisational/Business Psychology or Psychology. 

• You must be able to join AWE in September 2027. 

• You must be a British National and willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance. 

Salary and benefits 

• £31,000 starting salary. 

• 270 hours of annual leave, including bank holidays. 

• A 9-day working fortnight, giving you every other Friday off. 

• A salary-sacrifice benefit scheme and access to employee discounts. 

• A welcome payment and the option of an interest-free £1,000 loan. 

• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services. 

• Regular Graduate pay reviews and structured career progression. 

Support and community 

• A dedicated line manager and Evolve pathway lead. 

• A buddy, typically from an earlier Graduate cohort. 

• A vibrant Early Careers community and opportunities to join employee networks. 

• Structured development, mentoring and access to relevant professional learning. 

Recruitment process and key dates 

• Online application: Applications open on 2 November 2026. Apply for the route that best matches your interests and goals. 

• Online assessment: If eligible, complete numerical, verbal, logical and cognitive reasoning assessments. Practice materials will be available. 

• Virtual assessment centre: Successful candidates will be invited to a virtual assessment centre, expected to run during December 2026 and January 2027. 

• Pre-assessment support: Attend guidance webinars so you know what to expect and can prepare. 

• Offer and clearance: Successful candidates will move into the offer and security-clearance stages before joining in September 2027. 

Inclusion and reasonable adjustments 

AWE aims to create workplaces where differences are recognised and celebrated, diverse contributions are encouraged and employees feel able to be themselves. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the application process, with inclusion information handled in accordance with GDPR. 

Use of external technologies 

As part of our recruitment process, AWE may use a trusted third-party AI-enabled technology provider, Spotted Zebra Solutions Ltd, to support the assessment of candidates. These tools ingest categories of personal information including your application data, responses to assessment questions and interview responses, and help us evaluate information relevant to the recruitment process, such as skills, competencies, interview responses, assessment results and role suitability. They may generate recommendations or summaries to support recruiters and hiring managers. In some cases, you may interact directly with an AI-enabled tool during the interview or assessment process. 
 
The purpose of these tools is to improve the consistency, efficiency and quality of our recruitment process. The outputs generated are reviewed by authorised AWE recruiters and hiring managers and are used alongside other relevant information as part of the overall recruitment process. 
Please note: recruiting decisions will be made by recruiting and hiring teams only. 
 
If you would like to request an additional human review, share your point of view, or contest a decision, you can contact us at earlycareers@awe.co.uk 

Next steps:

Everyone who works at AWE brings unique skills and perspectives to the table. We recognise that great people don’t always ‘tick every box’. That’s why we focus on your potential, your fit with our values, your transferable skills as well as your experience. Even if you don’t meet every point above, but you feel that this role and AWE are a great fit for you, please go ahead and apply, we’d love to receive your application.

Important things you need to know:

• We encourage you to apply promptly to avoid disappointment if applications are high and the role therefore closes.
• You will need to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role. This will be funded by AWE. The nature of our work does mean you need to be a British Citizen who has been resident in the UK for the past 5 years in order to apply for SC clearance and 10 years for DV. 
• We want you to feel comfortable and able to shine during our recruitment process. Please let us know on your application form if you need any adjustments/accommodations during the process.
• Our interviews typically take place over Teams and for most roles are a 1 stage process.

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. Any inclusion information you provide will be stored in accordance with GDPR and kept separate from your application form and CV, and the information will not be shared with anyone involved in interviewing or making hiring decisions.

Please note that you must be a British Citizen to apply for a role with us.