About
Our Mission and Aims
Nuclear South West is a public-private partnership of industry, academic and public sector, established to champion the South West nuclear industry as the premier destination for investment, innovation and growth
It is strongly supported by the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, The SW Nuclear Hub, SWMAS and Business West together with a number of other important stakeholders , in recognition of the South West’s unique potential for nuclear being the catalyst for transformational growth.
We can support your business, whether you are already in the region and looking to maximise opportunities in the nuclear supply chain, or you are looking to establish an operation here in South West England.
Capabilities in the region
Hinkley Point C (HPC) is the first new nuclear power station in the UK for a generation, capable of generating 7% of the UK’s total energy requirement. The project is creating over 25,000 job opportunities, over 1,000 apprenticeships and putting £100m a year in to the regional economy.
However, the two new reactors at HPC mark only the beginning of a significant programme of investment in nuclear power right across the UK. In the South West this includes Oldbury which had been earmarked for a large nuclear reactor, is now being considered for other nuclear technologies, together with its’ adjacent site at Berkeley. There are additional licensed sites that would be ideal for a whole range of nuclear advanced reactors and small modular reactors.
Nationally, investment in new nuclear power stations could raise UK GDP by over £5billion, and increase nuclear industry exports by nearly £900million.
The South West has a large number of assets that have been set up to specifically support and grow the sector:
- The South West Nuclear Hub (a partnership between Bristol and Oxford Universities) is at the cutting edge of nuclear research and development and works with both primes and SME’s find innovative solutions to industrial challenges.
- Complex technical projects require high levels of collaboration, and this is catered for with the EPR Design Centre based in Avonmouth, and the Somerset Energy & Innovation Centre in Bridgwater.
- Ensuring that there is a nuclear competent workforce across the whole nuclear life cycle is the role of the National College for Nuclear (SW Hub) and a range of highly specialised technical training facilities including the Welding, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Centres of Excellence.
- Exceptional facilities for realistic working environments are delivered at Bridgwater & Taunton Colleges’ Construction Skills Innovation Centre and this compliments their Energy Skills Centre and advanced engineering facilities.
- Young people are able to access vocational training leading to highly specialised apprenticeships via the Berkeley Green University Technical College.
