AWE helps inspire more than 1,000 young people at Get Inspired Basingstoke 2026. More than 1,000 students from schools across the region stepped into the world of science, technology, engineering and maths at this year's Get Inspired Basingstoke event, held at the Apollo Hotel on 4 and 5 February. The two-day showcase brought together hands-on experiments, immersive demonstrations and direct engagement with employers, giving students a unique window into future career possibilities. Organised by EPB South, an education-business partnership dedicated to closing the skills gap, the event introduced 11-to 16-year-olds to employers from across the region. Students coded VEX robots, explored digital worlds through VR headsets, completed engineering-based challenges and even experienced practical demonstrations such as CPR and liquid-nitrogen science. These experiences helped students understand how curiosity, problem-solving and technical skills translate into real-world applications. At AWE, AWE plc. understand that every future engineer, coder or technician AWE plc. inspire today plays a role in securing the UK's safety tomorrow. Get Inspired Basingstoke is one of the many ways AWE plc. invest in the next generation, ensuring they have the confidence, skills and opportunity to pursue careers that matter. For many young people, the event broadened their understanding of what a STEM future could look like. More than 90% of students surveyed said they discovered career paths they had never encountered before - a reminder of how exposure and opportunity can shape ambition. As EBP South's Chief Executive, Sammy Ward, noted, helping young people "see what they can be" remains central to the event's purpose. AWE was proud to sponsor this year's event. Its mission to design, develop and maintain the UK's nuclear warheads relies on extraordinary engineering, world-leading science and technology. Supporting early exposure to STEM helps strengthen the pipeline of future expertise that its national security depends upon. Nearly 1,000 young people were able to speak directly with employers, gaining clarity on how the subjects they study today can become the engineering, digital and scientific roles of tomorrow. You can learn more about AWE's approach to its local community here. This year's event was also supported by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, whose leaders joined business representatives for a guided tour led by EBP South. Explore opportunities for future careers at AWE.

How robots keep its people safe: Here at AWE, in a move towards smarter and safer workplaces, AWE plc. recently unveiled that AWE plc. has added robot dogs (otherwise known as quadruped robots) to its elite force to enhance safety, efficiency and data collection. AWE plc. has launched its first Cobot (Collaborative Robot) and are investigating how AWE plc. can use humanoid robots to keep its people safe. Robot dogs aren't just man's best friend; they're practical safety partners. They can detect toxic gases, monitor structural integrity and assess debris without putting human lives at risk. Its agile, four-legged robot friends are equipped with advanced sensors, AI-driven navigation, and real-time data analytics. Their mission: to prevent accidents, monitor conditions, and support its human employees. Robot dogs are equipped with a sophisticated array of sensors, 360-degree cameras, and other data collection devices that enable them to navigate complex construction environments. Their agile mobility allows them to do things such as climb stairs and access hard-to-reach areas, providing unparalleled flexibility in data collection. AWE plc. is also looking into other uses for its robots such as the autonomous monitoring of machinery, so AWE plc.'d essentially have either a wheeled robot or quadruped doing routine laps around the facility and checking or sensing the vibration of the machines. The robot would then send the data to the operator when required so that they can flag up any inconsistent data or abnormalities which can then be assessed. One of the most valuable features of robot dogs is data mapping and surveying. Its robots can capture detailed information about a construction site from various perspectives and generate complex datasets. Using data mapping, robot dogs can scan its site to minimise its employees being faced with hazardous or challenging environments. The data collected by its robot dogs could be used for many purposes. Currently its site at Aldermaston is undertaking major building work as part of its transformation, so data retrieved from the robot dog could be used to optimise layout and logistics. Architects could then use the data in their design process, while allowing project managers to focus on progress and identify potential issues, and safety professionals can assess any risks involved. To learn more, AWE plc. spoke to Jared, who is one of its engineers. Jared joined AWE in 2020 on its graduate scheme, where one of his placements was in the robotics team which involved investigating Exoskeleton technology. Jared's placement eventually led him to joining the team on a full-time basis which enabled him to investigate robot dogs and how they work. "We've got three robot dogs, the first was called 'Neutron' and then we added two upgraded versions called 'Proton' and 'Electron'. They are all controlled with a WiFi handset (similar to a games console), but the newer models also have the added feature of LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) which generates 3D maps and models." "We looked to the quadruped systems for decommissioning some of our buildings, mainly because in some areas there might be some debris where a wheeled robot won't be able to traverse over, or it might get stuck. Having legs would enable it to climb over certain debris and get to those harder to reach areas." "The main benefit is removing the person from any potential hazards as the robots can 'scout' the area beforehand which allows for planning and sufficient safety arrangements to be made before a person enters the building." "There is potential that the robots could clear some things themselves, however that would be further down the line and would require robot arm integration with the dogs and ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles)." AWE plc. were impressed to hear how the team has used the robots in new ways. "Robot dogs can carry a lot more weight so we can attach scanners, sensors, cameras. Not only do they find hazards and debris through visual scanning, but they can also measure for toxic fumes too, with the right attachments", Jared explained. "The other robots are again in the Research and Development stage, the robot arm is our first Cobot (Collaborative Robot) and we'll be developing proof of concept solutions with it as it is a good size and has a good payload for grasping/picking up things." "The Collaborative Robot 'Cobot' can be used for remote manipulation, automation tasks, pick and place tasks, assisted assembly tasks. It is typically bolted onto a table or a trolley, depending on what task it is set up for. Currently, we've just got the one small robot arm in our team, that'll allow us to start proving some concepts and conduct smaller tasks, which will feed into bigger automation projects." "The humanoid robot is similar, as with the robot dogs we are mainly investigating how they work, what its limitations are, but possibly looking at teleoperation activities." Meet Proteus who is its super cool wheeled robot! Proteus has carried out a couple of decommissioning exercises so far and AWE plc. is planning a test decommission using its robot dogs in one of the non-hazardous facilities. Proteus is designed to go into its hazardous buildings with a high quality 360 camera installed on its back alongside it's main camera which AWE plc. use to navigate with. Proteus is used to enter buildings which aren't structurally safe for people to enter, so it is used for the first inspection before sending people in. Prior to any works, if AWE plc. were to put a human in there, AWE plc. would have to get scaffolding in place to ensure that the building remains secure. Using robots is now part of the assessment process of buildings, not to replace people doing that job, but to aid its people by ensuring that the buildings are safe. At AWE AWE plc. see more robots working with AWE plc. in the future mainly because of the environment that AWE plc. work in. They will reduce the risk of danger to its workforce and will save time and money whilst doing so. As part of its journey exploring the potential safety applications for robots, last month AWE plc. joined the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Collaboration (RAICo), a joint programme with the UK Atomic Energy Authority, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Sellafield Ltd, and the University of Manchester. RAICo was established to solve shared nuclear decommissioning and fusion engineering challenges by accelerating deployment of robotics and AI. It brings together the UK's leading robotics and AI experts with users from across the nuclear decommissioning industry facing real problems today. Being part of this collaboration means AWE plc. has access to a huge range of UK robotics expertise and new academic research to draw from when determining how AWE plc. can keep everyone at AWE safe. It's an exciting opportunity to expand the scope of what AWE plc. do with robotics and work alongside other organisations seeking the same outcomes. The future technology AWE plc. dreamed of growing up is now the technology of today. By continuing to learn and build on this current technology, AWE plc. prepare ourselves for whatever comes next - a mindset that is essential for a company like AWE.

AWE publishes Partnering for National Defence 2025/26 report. AWE has today published its Partnering for National Defence 2025/26report, celebrating the partners and people who support its work in keeping the UK safe through nuclear science and technology. In the last year alone, AWE has engaged with more than 30 UK universities, supporting over 120 postgraduate and postdoctoral research contracts across physics, material and analytical science, engineering, and nuclear security. Within industry and the public sector, AWE has strategic partnerships with a significant number of organisations, including innovation centres, national laboratories, and governmental bodies. The report provides a deeper insight into these collaborations - and why they matter to AWE's vital mission in national defence and role in protecting the UK as part of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise. It explores how AWE has advanced its strategic ambitions over the last year and built new relationships to remain at the forefront of nuclear defence engineering, science, and technology. * The addition of The University of Manchester and the University of Strathclyde to AWE's network of Strategic Alliance university partners. * Collaboration with the High Value Manufacturing Catapult network to progress AWE's R&D capabilities and nuclear skills agenda. * AWE is collaborating with RAICo to support the development of robotics and AI technology solutions for the nuclear sector. * Partnership with the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) to explore opportunities to support innovations that can meet AWE's unique needs. Alongside its technical programme, the report covers AWE's work towards building a diverse workforce and talent pipeline through investment in its community and future skills. Last academic year, AWE reached over 50,000 young people with its STEM outreach initiatives and recruited more than 150 apprentices and graduates. The report also reflects on the achievements of AWE's own people, including its three colleagues that were recognised in The King's Birthday Honours List 2025 for services to engineering and defence. Several colleagues were also appointed to prestigious positions at universities across the UK, further strengthening AWE's ties with academia. Looking to the future, the report outlines AWE's commitment to establishing five new Centres of Excellence that will support critical research and innovation. These centres will enable AWE to deliver strategic and collaborative R&D across scientific computing, future systems materials technology, quantum computing and sensing, actinides research, and nuclear data. Toni Lilly, Head of AWE's External Technical Partnerships said: "This report showcases many great examples of how AWE plc. is working with its strategic partners across academia, industry, government and the wider public sector. These partnerships add immense value to the work that AWE delivers in support of the National Endeavour. She added: "It is vital that we continue to invest in building and strengthening our external collaborations across nuclear science and technology to deliver our mission. During a period of huge transformational change at AWE, we rely on the continued success of our strategic partnerships and their contribution to nuclear skills and the UK economy." The full Partnering for National Defence 2025/26 report is available here.