First Minister for Wales opens Rolls-Royce office in Cardiff

Above: Artist’s impression of the future AUKUS submarine.
Courtesy Rolls-Royce

Opened by First Minister Eluned Morgan and Rt Hon Jo Stevens, MP for Cardiff East, the new office based in St Mellon’s Cardiff has been selected to access the highly skilled talent pools across the region.

With a renewed interest and enthusiasm for nuclear across the UK and government, alongside Rolls-Royce Submarines’ growth in demand from the Ministry of Defence, the business intends to attract experts across a range of specialisms. These include mechanical design, materials engineering, structural integrity analysis, thermal analysis and fluid dynamics.

Funded by the UK Ministry of Defence, the office will support Rolls-Royce Submarines’ and the Submarine Delivery Agency’s work on the Dreadnought and AUKUS programmes. The investment demonstrates the government’s commitment to delivering the UK’s nuclear deterrent as a national endeavour, led by the Defence Nuclear Enterprise.

In March 2023, it was confirmed that Rolls-Royce Submarines would provide all the nuclear reactor plants that will power new attack submarines as part of the tri-lateral agreement between Australia, the UK and US.

Rolls-Royce Submarines currently employs more than 5,000 people to design, manufacture and provide in-service support to the pressurised water reactors that power every boat in the Royal Navy’s submarine fleet.

Steve Carlier, President – Rolls-Royce Submarines, said: "The Cardiff Satellite Office opening shows Rolls-Royce Submarines’ intent on attracting the brightest and best from across the UK. It also highlights the UK-wide economic benefit that investing in defence can bring.

“We are in a time of unprecedented growth for our business, and Rolls-Royce is dedicated to developing the current and future generations of nuclear talent to help power our ambitions.

“With the work secured from our AUKUS contracts, alongside the Dreadnought programme, and our future Novel Nuclear ambitions, there has never been a better and more exciting time to join our industry.”

Rt Hon Jo Stevens. MP for Cardiff East, said: "I’m incredibly proud to open the new Rolls-Royce Office in Cardiff. This development will bring highly skilled job opportunities and economic growth to the people of Cardiff.

“The partnership with industry shows Wales, and Cardiff, has an important role to play in UK Defence and the long-term work available from this industry will provide security and prosperity for years to come.”

First Minister Eluned Morgan said: "Having major companies like Rolls-Royce bringing new jobs to Wales is a boost to skilled manufacturing industries. We want to attract more global companies like Rolls-Royce to Wales, which is why we are holding our International Investment Summit on 1st December.

“I’m particularly pleased that the company was attracted here by the engineering talent that we have in Wales.”

Rt Hon Luke Pollard MP, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry said: The opening of the new Rolls-Royce office in Cardiff supports the national endeavour, the UK’s nuclear deterrent, and demonstrates how defence investment is an engine for growth in Wales.

“This investment will create more than 100 highly skilled jobs in Wales, supporting our prosperity and security for decades to come.”

In 2022, to ensure a steady pipeline of future talent into the industry, Rolls-Royce opened its Nuclear Skills Academy in Derby. It will provide 200 apprenticeships each year for at least the next decade.

Rolls-Royce is currently supporting the existing Astute and Dreadnought boat build programmes through the delivery of reactor plant and associated components. Additionally, it provides frontline support across the world for reactor plant equipment from its Operations Centre in Derby and supports the submarines when in the Barrow-in-Furness shipyard and the naval bases at Devonport and Faslane.

If you are interested in applying for one of the roles in Cardiff: https://careers.rolls-royce.com/Submarines