More than 400 suppliers have met Rolls-Royce SMR and Great British Energy - Nuclear as the delivery team begins mobilising the supply chain for the UK's first small modular reactors at Gwyndod on Ynys Môn.
The two-day 'Delivering Together' event at Coleg Menai's Llangefni Campus brought contractors, manufacturers and other suppliers from North Wales, the wider UK and the international nuclear sector together with the joint project team. Businesses were briefed on the capabilities and standards expected from firms seeking work on the programme.
The 27 October announcement from Great British Energy - Nuclear puts the project firmly into its supply-chain mobilisation phase, with meet-the-buyer sessions and specific guidance provided to SMEs looking to enter the programme.
The Gwyndod SMR programme on Ynys Môn is moving into supply-chain mobilisation with Rolls-Royce SMR and Great British Energy - Nuclear. Photo: Great British Energy - Nuclear.
70% UK content target
Rolls-Royce SMR and GBE-N are targeting 70% UK content for Gwyndod. That creates a large domestic requirement spanning civil engineering, manufacturing, mechanical and electrical systems, specialist nuclear packages and the wider construction supply chain.
More than 300 apprentices are expected to be supported during construction, with the delivery partners aiming to fill as many of those positions locally as possible. The government says the wider programme is expected to create and sustain thousands of jobs across North Wales and the rest of the UK.
For suppliers, the current work is about getting into the programme before individual construction and manufacturing packages are placed. Firms attending the Anglesey event were given information on technical capability, quality standards and how to engage with the project's delivery partners.
Factory-built approach changes the package mix
The Rolls-Royce SMR model relies on repeatable components and modules manufactured away from the final nuclear site before assembly and integration on site. That gives the supply chain a different workload from a conventional one-off nuclear build, with manufacturing capacity and repeatability sitting alongside the major civil and infrastructure packages required at Gwyndod.
Rolls-Royce SMR chief executive Chris Cholerton said the approach is intended to provide greater programme certainty and create an industrial base capable of supporting a future UK fleet as well as overseas projects.
The Gwyndod programme is already generating separate construction procurement activity. LCM reported in September on GBE-N's early works procurement for the Anglesey SMR programme, covering site preparation and infrastructure needed ahead of the reactor build.
Supply chain moves closer to delivery
The latest event does not award individual construction packages. It moves suppliers closer to the delivery team and gives businesses an opportunity to understand the standards, capabilities and procurement routes that will govern later packages.
GBE-N chief executive Simon Roddy said the level of attendance showed the scale of supplier interest in the programme, while Rolls-Royce SMR said it is now building the relationships needed to move the Gwyndod project from planning and preparation into delivery.
The programme's 70% UK-content ambition means the supply-chain work now taking place on Anglesey will determine how much of the eventual construction and manufacturing workload is secured by British firms. More than 300 apprentices are expected to be supported during the construction phase.
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