New Rolls-Royce portal launched to find best UK suppliers

Rolls-Royce has launched a supply chain portal to identify the best British companies to partner with in delivering a fleet of ‘factory-built’ Small Modular Reactor (SMR) power plants.

The portal will help companies become part of the Rolls-Royce SMR supply chain for project, which the firm believes will significantly improve energy security and help reach net zero targets.

The information collected from the portal will underpin Rolls-Royce SMR’s supply chain and social value work to establish a strong and resilient supply chain that can sustain high quality long-term jobs and support growth.

David White, chief operating officer at Rolls-Royce SMR, said: “Rolls-Royce SMR has set out its clear intention to maximise UK content and help build a supply chain that will support the Government’s plans to develop 24GW of new nuclear power by 2050.

“Through the portal, we want to build new relationships with organisations that have products and services to offer, and we’ll help them understand the requirements for becoming a Rolls-Royce SMR supplier.

“We’re looking at a wide range of industries outside nuclear and potentially further increasing the number of UK suppliers.”

Stephen Phipson, chief executive of Make UK, said: “This is a project of strategic national importance that will not only serve to speed up the drive towards net zero, but create a supply chain of high value, sustainable manufacturing jobs that can serve the global nuclear industry and increase our energy security.

“It is vital that the Government moves without delay to approve this programme which is one piece in the jigsaw of an industrial strategy.”