• The civil nuclear industry in Wales currently supports 2,210 jobs, according to the first joint Wales Jobs Map by the Nuclear Industry Association and Wales Nuclear Forum  
  • Project Gwyndod, Europe’s first Small Modular Reactor project, is expected to create 3,000 local jobs and a further 5,000 jobs across the UK at peak construction, as well as supporting more than 300 apprenticeships during construction
  • UK businesses can bid for £1.4 billion in contract opportunities as GBE-N and Rolls-Royce SMR target more than 70% UK content for Project Gwyndod 
Wales’s nuclear heritage can power a new generation of new jobs, with employment set to more than double as Project Gwyndod, Europe’s first Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), continues development.  

 

Wales’s civil nuclear industry currently supports 2,210 highly skilled, well-paid jobs across the country, according to the Nuclear Industry Association and Wales Nuclear Forum’s first joint Wales Jobs map. The nuclear project on Ynys Môn, led by Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) and Rolls-Royce SMR, can become the foundation for a new era of growth, expected to increase employment by around 3,000 jobs locally at peak construction, with a further 5,000 jobs across the wider UK supply chain. 

Gwyndod offers a significant opportunity to not only build on the country’s established nuclear expertise but take national investment and create tangible economic benefits for local Welsh communities. Wales’s decommissioning capabilities and the network of Welsh businesses providing specialist engineering, equipment and services, the opportunities for growth extend well beyond the Gwyndodd site.  

This substantial opportunity is backed by £2.5 billion committed by the UK Government, with GBE-N and Rolls-Royce SMR targeting more than 70% UK fleet content. To deliver this ambition, Rolls-Royce SMR recently announced its Supplier Programme that gives UK businesses the opportunity to bid for up to £1.4 billion of contracts over the next year. 

Beyond employment and investment, Gwyndod will provide 1.4 GW of homegrown, low-carbon power to the UK grid, with each SMR providing enough electricity to power 1 million homes for more than 60 years. 

Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive, Nuclear Industry Association, said: 

“Project Gwyndod is a major opportunity to revitalise North Wales’s proud industrial heritage. It will not only provide significant investment and thousands of high-paid, high-skilled jobs and apprenticeships to Ynys Môn, but will strengthen the UK’s energy security with sovereign, reliable, low-carbon electricity we can depend on for decades to come. 

“To ensure the successful deployment of Europe’s first SMRs, the UK Government must fully implement the Nuclear Regulatory Review, streamlining approval processes, cutting unnecessary costs and accelerating delivery timelines.” 

Llinos Medi MP, Ynys Môn, said: 

“I welcome the publication of the Wales Jobs Map, which demonstrates the enormous potential of Project Gwyndod to bring a new generation of secure, highly skilled and well-paid jobs to Ynys Môn. To ensure these opportunities are fully realised, we must maximise the benefits of the project for local communities.  

“North Wales has a long and proud history in civil nuclear energy, and local skills and expertise must be front and centre of Gwyndod’s development. Done in the right way, the project can create thousands of high-quality jobs and be a cornerstone of our energy security”   

Mair Rowlands MP, Chair of the Nuclear Energy Cross-Party Group in the Senedd, said: 

“The Gwyndod project has the potential to create highly skilled, well-paid and sustainable jobs for local communities in Bangor Conwy Môn, while providing local businesses with new opportunities to secure investment and become part of the project’s supply chain. 

“My priority as a local member has always been to ensure that the interests of local residents remain at the heart of this development at every stage.  This includes maximising the opportunities and mitigating the challenges that inevitably come with a project of this size and nature. 

“I will continue to work closely with stakeholders to ensure that local people are best placed to take advantage of the opportunities that emerge from this development, and that the greatest benefits are felt by communities across Bangor Conwy Môn.” 

Darren Millar MS, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said: 

“Wales’s nuclear industry has a vital role to play in strengthening the UK’s energy security by delivering reliable, low-carbon electricity and reducing our dependence on imported energy. 

“Nuclear energy already supports thousands of jobs, and growth in the industry will provide employment for thousands more and provide procurement opportunities for Welsh businesses. I want to ensure that Wales continues to play a central role in this vital sector.” 

Helen Jenner MS, leader of Reform Wales and Senedd member for Bangor Conwy Môn, said: 

“The potential for thousands of new skilled jobs and significant investment in North Wales is an opportunity that should be welcomed. 

“The key challenge now is ensuring local communities, workers and Welsh businesses are at the front of the queue to benefit from the jobs, apprenticeships and supply-chain opportunities this project promises to create.” 

Case studies from North Wales locals building careers at Gwyndod 

GBE-N Wales Jobs Map

Anna Lewis, Regional Stakeholder and Communications Manager at GBE-N, said: 

“Ynys Môn has a long and proud history with nuclear. Wylfa Power Station provided generations of local people with high-quality, long-term employment, including my grandfather. For many, Wylfa was far more than a workplace. It had a strong sense of community and created friendships that have lasted a lifetime. 

“The opportunity to build a career in nuclear on my doorstep on Ynys Môn is a real privilege. Living on Ynys Môn, opportunities like this can be few and far between, so when I heard that the site near Wylfa Power Station had been selected for new nuclear development, I knew I had to be part of it. 

“Once we have demonstrated how to deliver new nuclear successfully at Gwyndod, I would like to see further sites across Wales identified and assessed for nuclear power generation, building on the expertise, skills and capabilities already established here.” 

RR SMR Wales Jobs Map

Tommy Evans, Internal Hazards Engineer, Rolls-Royce SMR, said: 

“As someone who grew up in North Wales and began my career as an apprentice on the Wylfa Newydd project, I’ve seen first-hand the difference the nuclear industry can make to individuals, families and communities. Today, at Rolls-Royce SMR, I’m proud to be helping develop the next generation of nuclear technology.  

“Nuclear brings skilled jobs, investment and opportunities to local communities, while supporting businesses across the supply chain. For people looking for work, new nuclear investment means access to long-term careers across engineering, construction, project management, safety and many other disciplines.  

“Looking ahead, I’d like to see Wales continue to play a leading role in the new nuclear era through further investment in projects, training and apprenticeships. New nuclear can provide Wales with skilled jobs, economic growth, energy security and lasting opportunities for future generations.” 

ENDS 

Notes to editors: 

About the NIA
As the trade association for the civil nuclear industry in the UK, the Nuclear Industry Association represents over 340 companies across the UK’s nuclear supply chain.  

About the WNF 

The Wales Nuclear Forum is the leading pan-Wales nuclear forum, which provides a platform for strategic engagement between the energy industry and Welsh-based suppliers and partners. 

Links
Visit our website: https://www.niauk.org/
Follow the NIA on X @NIAUK and LinkedIn  

For further information, please contact:  

Maya Seth
Digital Communications Executive
[email protected]g  
+447938810736 

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