Rolls-Royce is taking on hundreds of workers to help it produce small nuclear reactors which will each have the potential to power a million homes. The bulk of the high-tech roles are based at the firm's base in Derby or in Warrington where it has a projects engineering office.
The company, whose nuclear engineering expertise is concentrated in Raynesway, has high hopes for the project. Rolls-Royce believes that the market for small nuclear reactors (SMR) will be between £250 billion and £400 billion by 2035.
And it is investing heavily in its workforce in order to capture a multi-billion-pound share of that market with a recruitment drive aiming to take on 400 people, including design engineers, supply chain specialists and experts in nuclear fuels.
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Rolls-Royce has said its SMR plans could eventually create 40,000 UK jobs when fully operational and generate £52 billion in economic benefits. Its aim is to develop a factory-built nuclear power plant that can be sold, distributed and installed across the globe.
The engineering giant's SMR subsidiary hopes to be building power stations by 2029, each around a tenth of the size of a conventional nuclear plant, and generating enough power for around one million homes. Hundreds of millions of pounds have already been invested in the project.
Adam Ellis, director of talent and human resources at Rolls-Royce SMR, said: “Having begun the design assessment process with the UK regulators, the organisation is at a point where it needs to significantly increase its workforce, offering candidates the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology within a world-class team.
“Roles will be open to experienced nuclear professionals, young talent and graduates alike, creating a truly diverse workforce that is representative of the communities that will benefit from the results of the programme.”
Another aim of the SMR project is to play a key role in achieving the Government’s British Energy Security Strategy, which hopes to deliver the equivalent of one nuclear reactor a year instead of one a decade.
Spearheading the recruitment campaign on behalf of Rolls-Royce SMR is Morson Group and its RPOne team, which has expertise in recruiting in the nuclear industry.
Morson Group chief executive Ged Mason OBE said: “Rolls-Royce SMR has the potential to be truly pivotal in the way the UK – and the rest of the world – sources and uses power.
“The company is setting new standards in recruitment by opening its doors to anyone who has a passion to change norms in science. While there are several niche roles available, which require specific skillsets, others are open to those who want to help define our futures.
“Equality, diversity and inclusion is vital to Rolls-Royce SMR, so part of our collaborative focus will be bringing multiple perceptions to the table.
“It’s a disruptor to the market, and we want candidates of all backgrounds, with all interests, to join the team to offer greater insight and creativity, so that Rolls-Royce SMR can deliver a solution that is representative of society today and in the future.”
