ENERGISING THE SOUTH WEST NUCLEAR SECTOR
The South West is one of the premier destinations for nuclear investment, innovation and growth in the UK
The Southwest has unique and in-depth capability across:
- Nuclear New Build (NNB): The South West is home to Hinkley Point C, the UK’s most advanced new build project and the first in Europe in over two decades. It anchors national delivery, mobilises a mature supply chain, and sets a precedent for future programmes including Sizewell C.
- Workforce Development & Skills: The region leads in vocational training and workforce upskilling, actively shaping the talent pipeline for both current operations and next-generation nuclear technologies.
- Decommissioning Expertise: With legacy sites at Berkeley, Oldbury, Hinkley A & B, and Winfrith, alongside submarine decommissioning in the defence sector, the Southwest offers proven capability and exportable innovation in safe, efficient site remediation.
- Advanced Nuclear Technologies: From SMRs and AMRs to microreactors and fusion readiness, the region contributes to the UK’s roadmap for clean energy transition, supporting net zero ambitions through applied innovation and industrial readiness.
- Academic-Led Innovation: The South West Nuclear Hub unites leading institutions, including the Universities of Bristol and Oxford, in collaborative R&D, bridging academic excellence with industry application across materials science, reactor design, and digital engineering.
Nuclear South West provide a platform for businesses to understand and take advantage of opportunities
NUCLEAR SOUTH WEST
Nuclear South West is the cluster for the South West of England, bringing together partners from the public sector, industry and academia to collaborate and harness the expertise from other regional sectors including aerospace & advanced manufacturing, digital & creative, defence, cyber, photonics, robotics, energy and marine technologies.
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SUPPLY CHAIN SUPPORT
A separate, dedicated Hinkley Supply Chain team, delivered by Somerset Chambers of Commerce, works with EDF and its main contractors to understand and support the Hinkley Point C supply chain, identify opportunities for local suppliers and help build capability to ultimately win contracts worth many £M’s
Some of the live projects and initiatives in the South West:
- New Nuclear Build (NNB) and design via the EPR Design Centre
- Fusion power capability
- Small Modular Reactor (SMRs) capabilities and potential sites
- Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs) – capabilities and potential sites for Gen IV fission
- Hot Robotics
- Regulation and Planning
- Defence Decommissioning