A consortium led by Rolls-Royce has announced it expects to create 6,000 jobs in the next five years, including in the North West, as part of plans to construct 16 nuclear power stations.

The UK SMR consortium has said it will make the move if the UK Government makes a “clear commitment” that enables a fleet of 16 small modular reactor (SMR) power stations to be built over the next 20 years.

Rolls-Royce has said the power stations will help secure the UK’s net zero commitments affordably, “revitalise” the UK’s regional industrial base and position the UK to secure exports of at least £250bn.

Up to 80 per cent (by value) of the power station components will be made in factories in the Midlands and North of England, before being transported to existing nuclear sites around the country for rapid assembly inside weatherproof canopies.

As well as a further 34,000 long-term jobs by the mid-2030s, mostly high value manufacturing roles, the power stations will also provide low carbon energy to produce net zero synthetic aviation fuels and hydrogen, supporting the UK Government’s Jet Zero ambition and the wider decarbonisation of transport