Rolls-Royce SMR has confirmed plans to launch a new £12 million manufacturing development centre in Derby, a move that signifies a major advancement in the United Kingdom’s goal to build a factory-based small modular reactor industry. The upcoming facility, named Pioneer Works, is scheduled to begin operations in the fourth quarter of 2026 and will function as the organization’s first dedicated hub for manufacturing evolution. This Rolls-Royce SMR facility is designed to establish the precision assembly techniques, build processes, and rigorous testing environments required to deploy the company’s reactor fleet across the UK, Sweden, and Czechia. Operating as a non-nuclear site, Pioneer Works will focus on high-integrity engineering projects and the validation of methods needed to assemble primary circuits and other core components for future power plants.

Investment in Specialized Skills and Training

The manufacturing development at the Derby site is expected to create and sustain approximately 40 long-term, highly skilled positions. These roles will encompass various disciplines, including advanced engineering, precision assembly, welding, and specialized testing. Furthermore, the site will serve as the company’s inaugural training centre, focusing on the cultivation of a specialized workforce capable of supporting global reactor production. Ruth Todd CBE, Operations and Supply Chain Director at Rolls-Royce SMR, emphasized the strategic importance of the site, stating: “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.” She further noted, “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.”

Strategic Expansion and International Momentum

This new Rolls-Royce SMR facility will work in conjunction with the existing EXPERI facility at the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre to bridge the gap between prototype design and full-scale modular assembly. The announcement follows several critical milestones, including a contract with Great British Energy – Nuclear for site-specific work at Wylfa and an early works agreement with the Czech utility ČEZ. Local officials have praised the move, with Catherine Atkinson MP noting, “Derby is winning investment because we have the skills, engineering expertise and supply chain to deliver work of national importance.” Baggy Shanker MP added that the project provides essential career and apprenticeship opportunities for the local community. By integrating advanced engineering with nuclear power requirements, Pioneer Works will support the company’s growing international orders, including a recent landmark agreement to provide three units for Sweden’s first new nuclear project in four decades. This expansion ensures the company remains equipped to deliver modular reactor technology on a global scale.