FSB Wales hails Wylfa nuclear announcement as ‘once in a generation’
FSB Wales hails Wylfa nuclear announcement as ‘once in a generation’
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The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Wales has welcomed the UK Government’s decision to build the country’s first small modular reactors (SMRs) at the Wylfa site on Anglesey, describing it as a “once in a generation” boost for jobs, supply chains and regional infrastructure.
FSB Wales is the voice of small businesses across Wales, advocating for a better social, political, and economic environment.
With a strong grassroots structure, a Members Advisory Council and a dedicated team based throughout Wales, FSB Wales ensures its members’ voices are heard at the heart of decision-making and beyond.
The £2.5 billion project, led by publicly owned Great British Energy-Nuclear, will see work start next year with power generation targeted for the mid-2030s. It is expected to create up to 3,000 jobs and power around three million homes.
Welcoming the landmark decision to build the UK’s first SMRs at Wylfa, Head of FSB Wales, Joshua Miles, said:
“This multibillion-pound project will create thousands of high-quality jobs and significant supply-chain opportunities across north Wales and further afield.
“Small and medium-sized local companies must be at the forefront of procurement planning from day one. By prioritising local firms in this process, Great British Energy-Nuclear can ensure investment stays within our communities, delivering lasting economic benefits for Ynys Môn and the wider Welsh economy for generations to come.
“This announcement is a golden opportunity to review and upgrade north Wales’s infrastructure, from roads and rail to broadband, to make the region more attractive for future investment and to unlock its full economic potential.”
FSB Wales is calling for early and meaningful engagement with small businesses. The organisation also urges collaboration with local colleges to deliver targeted training programmes, ensuring Welsh people can access the skilled roles the project will create.
The Wylfa development marks the UK’s first deployment of Rolls-Royce-designed SMRs and comes after the site was selected ahead of Oldbury in Gloucestershire. The previous large-scale nuclear plant at Wylfa closed in 2015.
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