UK PONI Annual Conference - 10 September 2024

AWE - Nuclear Security Technologies

For almost 70 years, AWE has supported the UK government’s nuclear defence strategy and the Continuous At Sea Deterrent by researching, designing, manufacturing and assuring the nation’s nuclear warheads. AWE also uses its nuclear know-how and technical expertise to provide innovative solutions that support the UK’s counter terrorism and nuclear threat reduction activities. AWE’s mission is unique and so are its people. AWE works to attract, motivate, develop and retain the best talent and equip its people with the right skills for the future. AWE is a team of more than 5,000 people – proud to be part of such an important mission and proud of their responsibilities to their customer, the Ministry of Defence, and their shareholders. AWE aims to build enduring relationships with their government customers, international partners, suppliers and communities in the locations where they operate. AWE was named as one of the top Best Big Companies to work for at the Sunday Times Best Companies Awards in 2019.

The Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO)  | Ministry of Defence

The Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO) sits within the Ministry of Defence and manages the UK Government’s portfolio of defence nuclear programmes, overseeing all defence nuclear business excluding operations. Established in 2016, it is made up of over 750 people working in London, Bristol, Reading and Scotland. Our mission is to keep safe and capable submarines at sea, maintain our nuclear warheads and deliver the nuclear deterrent to protect national and global security. The UK needs a capable and credible nuclear deterrent to successfully deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life - DNO consists of the people, equipment and infrastructure required to make that happen.

The Defence Nuclear Organisation engages in scientific research; delivery of nuclear warheads; submarine procurement and disposal; provision of specialised infrastructure; nuclear disposal; advising on UK nuclear policy, planning and international co-operation on nuclear matters; as well as sustaining specialist skills, conducting assurance and emergency response arrangements. DNO also sponsors the Defence Nuclear Enterprise, which includes all the organisations, programmes and people within government that sustain the UK’s independent nuclear deterrent.

National Nuclear Laboratory

As the UK’s national laboratory for nuclear fission, NNL is harnessing nuclear science to help solve some of the world’s biggest challenges. We channel our work into four strategic areas: Clean Energy, Health and Nuclear Medicine, Environmental Restoration and Security and Non-Proliferation. These four Focus Areas are the cornerstones of our ambition, shaping what we deliver to our customers and for UK society, and how we invest in our future. We are custodians of a unique set of facilities and capabilities that enable ground-breaking nuclear research and development – including four world-leading laboratories in the North West of England. At a time when society is waking up to acting on the environmental crisis our planet faces, it is impossible to overestimate the scale of the challenge ahead for the UK in reaching net zero by 2050. Without nuclear, the UK will not meet this target on time. And without NNL’s work, the UK nuclear sector cannot deliver what is required.