New nuclear projects that mean a chain reaction of growth ahead

The 50m nuclear advanced manufacturing research centre (Namrc) will grow up to six times over the next 20 years, according to Keith Ridgway, its programme director. Construction starts early next year.

Professor Ridgway, who was co-founder of the advanced manufacturing research centre, also said the project showed that Yorkshire could rival the north-west of England as a major base for the nuclear industry.

Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary, last month revealed that the Namrc, as well as a Rolls-Royce civil nuclear manufacturing facility, would be built in South Yorkshire as part of a "transition to a low-carbon future", which also involves building a string of new nuclear power stations.

Professor Ridgway said the Namrc will provide guidance to firms as they try to pick up contracts domestically and in the global nuclear supply chain.

"It will be the focus for rejuvenating the supply chain. British companies can supply globally. It is an increasingly global market for them to step into and we hope they will continue to work with the research centre.

"When the nuclear programme starts that should add 1bn to our GDP every year. People say the nuclear industry is focused on the North West but that is nuclear service and waste immobilisation."

Prof Ridgway, who set up the original manufacturing research centre with Adrian Allen in 2001, also said the development of the Namrc would be an opportunity for Britain to re-establish its expertise in nuclear new-build, which had declined since the Central Electricity Generating Board built the first generation of Magnox nuclear power stations in the 1950s and 1960s and then more advanced, gas-cooled reactors in the 1960s and 1970s.

"There is some expertise in hazardous waste and waste immobilisation but new build expertise has almost died out because people have retired. Now Britain is talking about building 12 stations.

"We will all work through what they need to do to be a match

for entering the nuclear supply industry.

"British companies which want to be in the supply chain should be match-fit and have an understanding of the relevant nuclear standards."

Davy Markham, the Sheffield-based engineering firm, and Newburgh Engineering, based in Rotherham, could be among those looking to win more business, Prof Ridgway added.

Prof Ridgway highlighted new machine techniques, new welding techniques and how new materials react to each other as areas of research.

When the Namrc was announced, Tom Riordan, chief executive of Yorkshire Forward, said the regional development agency would talk to firms such as Westinghouse, which supplies the commercial nuclear power industry, Sheffield Forgemasters and small and medium-sized firms, such as component makers, about working at the new centre.

It is designed to be a "honeypot" investment.

Namrc will open with 180 jobs but, as the Sheffield University-run original research centre increased from 20 to 120, the nuclear site could expand to the same extent, over 20 years, Prof Ridgway said: "Personally it is satisfying and exciting. South Yorkshire is a major player in aerospace and hopes to position itself as a major player in nuclear. Everyone says the UK has to focus on high-value projects."

50m bid to become centre of excellence

Parts of South Yorkshire could be transformed by the nuclear advanced manufacturing research centre (Namrc). Backed by 15m from Government and 10m from Yorkshire Forward, it is set to be built in Catcliffe, near Rotherham, and will be led by the University of Sheffield, while Rolls-Royce has agreed to build a new civil nuclear manufacturing facility in South Yorkshire.

The total cost of the Namrc is expected to top 50m. Construction will begin in the first three months of next year, the centre being due to open at the end of 2011. The components designed and tested there will go in to production in a neighbouring factory run by the nuclear engineering arm of Rolls-Royce. Rolls-Royce wants Namrc to be a centre of excellence for research and development that will create cheaper and more advanced components.