GUEST COLUMN:
Andy Silcox
Chief Technology Officer
University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC)
For the UK, the selection of Wylfa as the site for its first small modular reactor (SMR) facility is the sound of a new clock starting. It’s a moment that definitively ends decades of uncertainty, reinvigorating what many considered an old technology into a potential clean energy powerhouse.
But for north Wales and its advanced manufacturing sector, this announcement means much more than just a renewed national commitment. It is a fundamental economic reset.
We often focus on the thousands of new jobs this project will create. While that’s vital, the long-term economic impact runs deeper. The SMR facility will offer a critical solution to a major industrial challenge in the region: power security.
As an industrial region, north Wales struggles for power. Having more energy online, and importantly clean energy, will be terrific for manufacturers in the region to help them grow. It means companies can increase the size of factories and bring in more advanced kits without power supply being a concern.
Similarly, for companies looking to expand or relocate to the UK, the SMR project and its offering of power security will act as a significant attraction for inward investment – transforming the north Wales manufacturing landscape into an incredibly resilient and attractive industrial hub.
The SMR model shifts construction from the field to the factory. This will create tremendous opportunity for our local supply chains, but will also demand a pivot in capability.
We must ensure that local companies, currently serving sectors like aerospace and automotive, are supported in upgrading their processes and capabilities to meet the rigorous quality and safety standards required by nuclear.
We also cannot forget the need for a robust, skilled workforce. The industry faces a current shortage of construction and fabrication skills, such as high-integrity welding and assembly, that must be developed. Given Wylfa was an existing nuclear site, we have the distinct advantage of having dormant skills provisions ready to be reactivated, including strong links with Bangor University, Wrexham University and local further education colleges, which possess the foundational expertise to support workforce growth.
AMRC Cymru is right on the doorstep of this ‘golden age’ of nuclear. We are committed to helping local manufacturers become proficient to serve the nuclear sector and benefit from the incoming surge in supply chain opportunities.
As a strategic innovation partner to the Rolls-Royce SMR programme, the AMRC has worked for years to help de-risk the manufacturing process, making the modular concept a reality. However, the scale of the wider challenge – to build a fleet of SMRs and maximise UK capacity – demands a national effort.
The AMRC, as part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult network, can bring the full weight of this capability to bear. We can provide companies access to the combined expertise of our entire network across technology, skills and industrial strategy.
This is not just a technological project; it's a generational opportunity for north Wales and we are ready to roll up our sleeves.
Our goal is clear: to support the successful implementation of this technology, ensuring it delivers on the UK's clean energy ambitions and secures lasting benefits for the manufacturing community along the North Wales corridor.
