By James Ewence, Clean Energy Director, Cavendish Nuclear
The future of nuclear energy is no longer a distant ambition. For the UK, it is an opportunity that is rapidly moving from concept to reality. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs) are increasingly recognised as critical technologies for delivering energy security, supporting industrial growth and accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy.
The challenge facing the UK is not a lack of capability. It is the need to convert decades of expertise, engineering excellence and industrial strength into large-scale deployment. At Cavendish Nuclear, we believe the foundations already exist. The question now is whether the UK can move with the pace and confidence required to lead.
As a wholly owned subsidiary of Babcock, and part of the UK’s largest civil and defence nuclear services provider, Cavendish Nuclear occupies a unique position within the nation’s nuclear ecosystem. Together, we support nuclear assets throughout their entire lifecycle, from design and construction through to operation and decommissioning. With access to the UK’s largest pool of Nuclear Suitably Qualified and Experienced Personnel (SQEP), comprising more than 11,300 specialists, we bring unparalleled depth of capability to the sector.
Our vision is straightforward: to be the whole-life nuclear asset partner of choice.
That vision is already being realised through our role as Owner’s Engineer to Great British Energy – Nuclear. Working at the heart of the UK’s flagship SMR programme, we provide independent technical assurance that helps transform policy ambition into deliverable reality. By ensuring reactor designs, supply chains and delivery strategies align with regulatory requirements from the outset, we help de-risk projects, reduce delays and create the conditions for successful deployment at scale.
The future of SMRs will be defined not only by innovative reactor designs but by the ability to industrialise delivery. Traditional large-scale nuclear construction must evolve into a manufacturing-led model built around modular production, repeatability and quality assurance. This is where the UK’s existing strengths provide a significant advantage.
At Babcock’s Rosyth facility, advanced manufacturing techniques are already being used to deliver some of the most technically complex nuclear systems in the world. Precision fabrication, advanced welding, digital manufacturing, end-to-end traceability and rigorous quality controls are all capabilities that can be directly transferred to the production of SMRs and AMRs. Rather than building a new industrial base from scratch, the UK can leverage proven facilities, established supply chains and highly skilled workforces to accelerate deployment and reduce first-of-a-kind risk.
The UK’s experience on major new build programmes is also creating a powerful platform for the next generation of nuclear technologies.
Cavendish Nuclear’s significant involvement at Hinkley Point C has provided invaluable insight into delivering complex nuclear construction at scale, while the transition from Hinkley Point C Units 1 and 2 to Sizewell C Units 3 and 4 offers a unique opportunity to capture and realise substantial replication benefits. By applying lessons learned in design maturity, digital engineering, supply chain performance, programme delivery and workforce capability, the industry can drive greater certainty, productivity and cost efficiency.
These replication savings do not stop at Sizewell C. They provide a blueprint for how the UK can approach future programmes, including SMRs and AMRs, where standardisation, repeatability and modular manufacturing are central to the business case. The ability to transfer knowledge and proven delivery approaches from Hinkley Point C to Sizewell C, and ultimately across a fleet of modular reactors, will be critical in reducing risk, accelerating deployment and establishing a sustainable, competitive UK nuclear industry.
AMRs represent the next stage of this nuclear evolution. While SMRs will provide reliable low-carbon baseload electricity generation, AMRs have the potential to unlock entirely new applications. Their ability to produce high-temperature heat could transform energy-intensive industries, support hydrogen production and help decarbonise sectors that are difficult to electrify.
Cavendish Nuclear is already helping to shape this future through our work with leading AMR developers, including X-energy. Our focus is on the practical realities that determine whether these technologies succeed, from manufacturability and fuel strategies to regulatory readiness and long-term operational performance. While AMRs introduce new technical challenges, the disciplines required to deliver them safely and effectively are the same capabilities that underpin the UK’s world-leading defence nuclear programmes.
The opportunity extends beyond energy generation alone. Successful deployment of SMRs and AMRs can strengthen UK energy resilience, create high-value jobs, grow domestic supply chains and position the UK as a global exporter of nuclear expertise and technology. It also offers a powerful example of how civil and defence nuclear capabilities can work together to support national prosperity and strategic advantage.
Realising that opportunity requires continued investment in skills, supply chains and advanced manufacturing. At Cavendish Nuclear, we are committed to developing the next generation of nuclear professionals while retaining and evolving the expertise that has been built over decades across the UK nuclear sector.
The UK’s nuclear future is not something that needs to be invented. The skills, infrastructure and industrial capability already exist today. By combining Cavendish Nuclear’s full lifecycle expertise with Babcock’s advanced manufacturing strength, the UK has an opportunity to become a global leader in modular nuclear deployment.
The future of SMRs and AMRs is not just about technology. It is about confidence, leadership and the ability to scale proven capability. If the UK acts decisively, it can create a world-leading industry that delivers sovereign capability, energy resilience and economic growth for generations to come.
Unashamedly British. Uniquely capable. Ready to deliver.