Rolls-Royce announces £12m Derby facility to power nuclear ambitions

Rolls-Royce has announced plans to open a new £12 million facility in Derby, which will play a key role in the delivery of mini nuclear power stations both in the UK and overseas.

Pioneer Works will be Rolls-Royce SMR’s first manufacturing development centre where it will establish the build processes, precision assembly and advanced testing needed to de-risk the delivery of its Small Modular Reactor projects in the UK, Czechia and Sweden.

A non-nuclear site, it will house specialist engineering and manufacturing projects critical to the successful deployment of Rolls-Royce SMR’s first power plants.

It will create and sustain around 40 highly skilled, long-term roles as the facility ramps up, spanning advanced engineering, welding, testing, precision assembly and manufacturing development, while helping train the next generation in these vital skills.

Ruth Todd CBE, director of operations and supply chain at Rolls-Royce SMR, said: “Pioneer Works will be at the centre of our ambition to transform the way nuclear projects are delivered, creating highly skilled jobs, supporting the wider supply chain and harnessing British engineering know-how to drive forward the next generation of nuclear power.

“I’m also incredibly proud that this facility will act as our first training centre to create a future workforce, which will help build Rolls-Royce SMR’s ‘factory-built’ nuclear power plants around the world.”

According to Rolls-Royce SMR, the facility, which is set open later this year, will develop and validate the techniques, technologies and processes required to assemble the primary circuit and highest integrity components that sit at the heart of the nuclear power plant.

Pioneer Works site will operate alongside Rolls-Royce SMR’s existing ‘EXPERI’ facility at the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre.

Together, these two facilities will underpin Rolls-Royce SMR’s delivery plan – helping move from design and prototype manufacture through to full modular assembly and power plant delivery.

In April, Rolls-Royce SMR signed a contract with Great British Energy – Nuclear to begin site-specific design and delivery activities for the UK’s first small modular reactors at Wylfa.

This was followed by an early works agreement with ČEZ to progress licensing, permitting and site-specific design for deployment.

Catherine Atkinson, MP for Derby North, said: “Rolls-Royce SMR choosing Derby for Pioneer Works is another sign of the momentum building behind our city.

“Derby is winning investment because we have the skills, engineering expertise and supply chain to deliver work of national importance.

“Pioneer Works will bring skilled jobs and training opportunities to Derby, while putting our city at the centre of one of the biggest engineering opportunities of the coming years.”

Baggy Shanker, MP for Derby South, said: “Rolls-Royce SMR choosing Derby for Pioneer Works is more welcome news for our city.

“This £12 million investment will support highly skilled, long-term jobs and help train the next generation in advanced engineering, welding, testing and manufacturing.

“My focus is making sure local people benefit from the opportunities being created here, with clear routes into training, apprenticeships and skilled careers in Derby.”