Great British Energy – Nuclear and Rolls-royce Smr sign contract in UK first SMR push
Great British Energy – Nuclear and rolls-royce smr have signed a contract to move the UK’s first small modular reactors into the next phase,. The agreement formally starts technology design work tied to the government’s clean energy mission and was announced in Eastern Time terms on the basis of the latest official material available today. The project is aimed at strengthening energy security, supporting long-term economic growth, and advancing site-specific design, regulatory engagement, and planning.
Contract unlocks design work and next milestones
The contract marks the formal launch of technology design activities for the UK’s first SMRs. Great British Energy – Nuclear said the work will enable delivery of the reactors as part of the government’s clean energy mission, with a future Final Investment Decision still ahead.
The programme is expected to support around 3, 000 jobs at peak construction, plus thousands more across the UK supply chain. Officials say the wider effort is intended to back local communities while reinforcing national energy security.
The rolls-royce smr project had already been selected as the preferred technology partner in June 2025. The 2025 Spending Review allocated £2. 6 billion to enable the contract and wider programme delivery.
Officials point to energy security and investment momentum
A spokesperson tied to Great British Energy – Nuclear said the agreement is “an immense moment” for the UK nuclear programme, the organisation, and the industry. The same statement said the milestone reflects the efforts of Great British Energy – Nuclear, Rolls-Royce SMR, and government teams to reach this point.
Rachel Reeves said the investment, alongside financing from the National Wealth Fund, will strengthen energy security, create skilled jobs, and help build a new generation of homegrown nuclear technology. Ed Miliband said the government’s clean energy mission is the route to getting off fossil fuels and taking back control of energy independence.
Great British Energy – Nuclear also said it has already awarded over £350 million in contracts across the supply chain this year, including to some of the UK’s leading companies. That spending signals a broader push to build momentum around the programme before later decisions are taken.
What the contract means for rolls-royce smr
The contract requires Rolls-Royce SMR to work with Great British Energy – Nuclear on key milestones as it begins site-specific design, regulatory engagement, and planning processes. Those steps are designed to prepare the project for a future Final Investment Decision.
In the context provided, the UK’s first SMR project is positioned as a major industrial and energy-security effort, with officials linking it to long-term growth and supply-chain work. The emphasis now is on turning the contract into delivery, milestone by milestone, for rolls-royce smr.
For now, the immediate test is whether the programme can move through design and planning without delay. The next phase will be watched closely as Great British Energy – Nuclear and rolls-royce smr advance toward the next formal decision point.
