Wylfa project's first wave of North Wales apprenticeships

Coleg Menai has announced a major partnership with  Rolls-Royce SMR to train the first new generation of apprentices linked to the proposed Wylfa Small Modular Reactor project on Anglesey.

The college’s Llangefni campus will become the main training hub for the first intake of apprentices working on the landmark scheme, which is expected to play a significant role in the future of the nuclear industry in North Wales.

Rolls-Royce SMR is now recruiting its first cohort of Anglesey-based apprentices, with 10 places available in safety and regulatory affairs. Successful applicants will work towards a Level 3 Engineering qualification while gaining hands-on industry experience and specialist in-house training.

The programme is designed to help develop the next generation of skilled workers needed to support the delivery of Small Modular Reactor technology, which uses a modular “factory-built” approach aimed at transforming how nuclear projects are constructed and operated.

Dr Siôn Peters-Flynn, Principal of Coleg Menai, said the partnership marked the beginning of a major economic opportunity for the region.

“This is a really exciting time as economic growth and the job opportunities associated with large infrastructure projects such as Wylfa begin to take shape,” he said.

“At Coleg Menai, we are working closely with Rolls-Royce SMR and Great British Energy – Nuclear to train the people of North Wales to be part of the next generation nuclear workforce.”

He added: “With our world-class facilities and expert staff, we are perfectly positioned to ensure the future workforce at Wylfa is trained to the highest standards. This is hopefully the beginning of a new era of economic growth and high-skilled employment for our communities.”

The apprenticeships will focus on safety and regulatory affairs, giving recruits experience in how nuclear projects are kept safe, compliant and legally regulated. Apprentices will support industry experts with technical documents, safety assessments and engineering processes while developing specialist skills for the future.

Applicants must have at least five GCSEs graded A* to C, including Maths, English and a Science or Engineering subject, and must live within commuting distance of the Llangefni campus.

The roles offer a starting salary of £20,706 alongside a pension scheme, healthcare cover and annual leave benefits.

The announcement is likely to be seen as another significant step forward for the long-discussed Wylfa development, with hopes the project could create hundreds of skilled jobs and provide a major economic boost for Anglesey and the wider North Wales region.