Rolls-Royce today welcomed the announcement by the UK Government of a national endeavour to secure the future of the UK’s thriving defence and civil nuclear industry, with a package of investment in skills, jobs and communities.

Additionally, Rolls-Royce welcomed the launch of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise Command Paper, which was announced at the same time. This is a comprehensive, in-depth statement of UK nuclear policy and programmes and, for the first time, it sets out the full scale of the UK’s defence nuclear activity.

Rolls-Royce is playing a pivotal role in supporting growth in the nuclear industry and the drive to boost nuclear expertise in the UK.

To meet the growth in demand from the Royal Navy, which includes AUKUS delivery commitments, it plans to double the size of the Rolls-Royce Submarines site in Raynesway, Derby, creating over 1,000 highly-skilled jobs.

To support preparation for AUKUS and to meet the additional commitments to the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), Rolls-Royce also announced the opening of two satellite offices in Glasgow and Cardiff. The locations were selected to help access the skilled talent pools in both regions, with more than 100 jobs being created in each city.

To further ensure a steady pipeline of future talent into the industry, Rolls-Royce opened a new Nuclear Skills Academy in Derby in 2022. It will provide 200 apprenticeships each year for at least the next decade.

Rolls-Royce is also at the forefront of additional nuclear development and innovation. The Novel Nuclear team are looking to the future for revolutionary new technology including providing reliable power systems with extremely long-life spans, and nuclear micro-reactors as a self-contained and power dense solution in space and on land.

Steve Carlier, President at Rolls-Royce Submarines said:

As a proud member of the Nuclear Skills Task Force and an important partner in the Defence Nuclear Enterprise, we welcome news that the UK is going to go even further in its mission to meet the growing demand for nuclear expertise. It is an exciting and fascinating time for the industry as both civil and defence organisations collaborate to ensure we all have a strong and sustainable pipeline of talent coming into the world of nuclear.

“Nuclear has the power to protect and help meet the growing demand for clean energy, so news of the UK’s commitment to this unique industry is a sign of its importance. From opening our Nuclear Skills Academy, which welcomes 200 apprentices every year for at least the next decade, and our recently announced site expansion work, which is creating over 1,000 new highly-skilled jobs in Derby, to new satellite offices creating jobs in Glasgow and Cardiff, Rolls-Royce is playing a pivotal role in supporting this national endeavour.”

Rolls-Royce Submarines currently employs more than 4,500 people and designs, manufactures and provides in-service support to the pressurised water reactors that power every boat in the Royal Navy’s submarine fleet.

Rolls-Royce is currently supporting the existing Astute and Dreadnought boat build programmes through the delivery of reactor plant and associated components. Additionally, it provides frontline support across the world for reactor plant equipment from its Operations Centre in Derby and supports the submarines when in the Barrow-in-Furness shipyard and the naval bases at Devonport and Faslane.

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