Rolls-Royce SMR launches apprenticeship drive for UK’s first SMR project

Rolls-Royce SMR is looking to recruit a new generation of local apprentices as work gathers pace on the UK’s first Small Modular Reactor (SMR) programme in North Wales.

The company has begun recruiting apprentices to support activities linked to the proposed SMR development at Wylfa on Anglesey, a project expected to play a major role in the future of the UK’s energy infrastructure.

The apprenticeship opportunities will offer candidates the chance to gain hands-on industry experience while studying towards recognised engineering qualifications. Training will include both practical workplace learning and structured in-house development programmes designed to support long-term careers within the nuclear sector.

The recruitment push comes following confirmation that Wylfa has been selected as the site for Britain’s first SMR deployment, with the wider project expected to create thousands of skilled jobs and attract significant long-term investment into the region.

Rolls-Royce SMR says the apprenticeship programme is aimed not only at school leavers but also individuals considering a career change into one of the UK’s fastest-growing engineering and energy sectors. Opportunities are expected to cover a range of disciplines including engineering, manufacturing, project support and regulatory operations.

The company’s SMR technology is being developed as a lower-cost, modular alternative to traditional large-scale nuclear power stations, with each unit designed to generate enough low-carbon electricity to power around one million homes for more than 60 years.

As the UK continues its push towards energy security and net-zero targets, the apprenticeship scheme is expected to help build a pipeline of skilled local talent capable of supporting both the Wylfa project and future SMR deployments across the country.