South Yorkshire’s mayor, Oliver Coppard, has welcomed a cooperation, skills and supply chain agreement signed between South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and Holtec Britain.
The announcement paves the way to help train and grow the nuclear workforce within the region.
This partnership comes after South Yorkshire was announced as the home of Holtec’s new planned Small Modular Reactor (SMR factory) in 2024. The factory represents a major £1.5bn investment and is set to create thousands of highly skilled jobs.
The intention and purpose of the agreement is to establish a framework for collaboration in support of Holtec’s manufacturing facility plans.
Through the agreement, SYMCA and Holtec will collaborate in the following key areas:
- Skills, planning and workforce development: SYMCA’s skills team will work with Holtec, partnering with colleges and other educational institutions to ensure the regional workforce is equipped with the skills required
- South Yorkshire Energy: This partnership will contribute to the growth and direction of South Yorkshire Energy
- Investment Zone funding: Should the chosen site of Holtec’s proposed manufacturing facility be located in a designated Investment Zone, both parties will work collaboratively to unlock access to a share of the potential £80m funding available
- Alignment with SYMCA’s Economic Strategy: The collaboration will align with SYMCA’s broader economic strategy, which prioritises the growth of nuclear expertise, infrastructure and supply chain capabilities
- Supply chain opportunities: SYMCA and Holtec will work together to help develop understanding and awareness of the opportunities of Holtec’s SMR programme from a South Yorkshire perspective.
South Yorkshire’s mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: “In South Yorkshire, we’re building on hundreds of years of innovation and engineering heritage to create world leading facilities, skills and expertise; assets that will power the clean energy transition in the UK and beyond.
“We’re right at the cutting edge of the new nuclear, hydrogen and sustainable aviation sectors, and proud to be home to the largest clean tech sector in the UK. This partnership with Holtec means we’ll be working together to help train and grow the new nuclear workforce our region, and our country, needs.
“It’s another step in our mission to make South Yorkshire a leader in clean, green energy, creating thousands of new jobs and opportunities and giving our communities the skills and opportunities to stay near and go far.”
Gareth Thomas, director of Holtec Britain, said: “Holtec has been working in the UK’s nuclear ecosystem for over 25 years. Today – together with South Yorkshire – we intend to cement our UK footprint – creating high-quality local jobs, supply chain opportunities and partnerships that will help the region and the nation grow and decarbonise.
“South Yorkshire’s proud industrial heritage, skilled workforce, and commitment to clean-tech and innovation make it an ideal home for a Holtec advanced manufacturing facility to supply the nuclear and defence sectors. Holtec is working to finalize its factory business plan to support its Final Investment Decision, based on its UK and international order book.
“Together, we will further strengthen the UK, and South Yorkshire’s, position at the forefront of clean energy technology – create thousands of skilled, highly-paid engineering local jobs while supporting thousands more in the UK’s wider manufacturing supply chains.”
