On 10 June Rolls-Royce announced that it has been selected to develop Britain’s first three small modular reactors. The company points to its unique nuclear capability and proven technologies it has developed in this field.
The government said that the project should support up to 3,000 new skilled jobs and, with an output of 470 MW, provide power to around 3 million homes. The SMRs will be factory-built, then transported to their sites of operation.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “This announcement is vital for jobs in construction and the energy sector.” The union is committed to ensuring that the programme delivers well-paid, skilled, unionised jobs.
Announced on the same day as the go-ahead for Sizewell C, the SMR decision demonstrates a welcome shift in government policy after a long period of procrastination. Earlier, on 15 May the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves visited the R-R Learning and Development Centre in Derby and gave a speech on the growth of the economy. She met some of the workers, including apprentices, providing an opportunity to hear directly from the highly skilled workforce demonstrating the company’s engineering excellence.
Rolls-Royce spent £2.3 billion in 2024 on goods and services from over 2,000 British companies and plays a critical role in ensuring Britain has highly differentiated, world-leading capabilities in aero-engine and nuclear technology. The company’s exports account for around 2 per cent of all UK export value.
The Chancellor also met Unite representatives, where issues for the aerospace sector were aired, especially potential government commitment to the Typhoon programme where both BAE and Rolls-Royce have significant stakes. This was confirmed days later with a five-year contract to continue support for the Engine EJ200 used on the Typhoon.