Rolls-Royce Submarines to create jobs and expand site in Derby

Rolls-Royce today announced it plans to almost double the size of its Raynesway site, creating hundreds of new jobs in Derby. Funded by the MoD, the site development is required to meet the growth in demand from the Royal Navy and as a result of the recent AUKUS announcement.

Rolls-Royce today announced it plans to almost double the size of its Raynesway site, creating hundreds of new jobs in Derby. Funded by the MoD, the site development is required to meet the growth in demand from the Royal Navy and as a result of the recent AUKUS announcement.

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.

This increase in demand will see new manufacturing and office facilities being built on recently acquired land surrounding the existing Raynesway site. It will also create 1,170 skilled roles within Rolls-Royce across a range of disciplines, including manufacturing and engineering.

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Rolls-Royce Submarines President Steve Carlier said:

“This is a truly exciting time for our business, with work secured that will see us support UK and Australian submarines well into the second half of this century. It will see thousands of jobs created across the UK supply chain, many of which here in Derby, and we’re proud to be playing our part in this international endeavour.

For over 60 years we have provided the power to the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarines and our expansion plans are the first step in helping Australia acquire their own nuclear propulsion attack submarine capability, while showcasing British innovation and expertise on the world stage.”

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Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge, said:

“This is a crucial investment and a significant next step in ensuring we have the capacity, skills and nuclear expertise to support the UK’s current and future submarine programmes, including the next-generation nuclear-powered submarines for the UK and Australia through our AUKUS partnership.

Supporting hundreds of high-skilled jobs in Derby, this investment demonstrates this Government’s unwavering commitment to the defence nuclear enterprise and growing the UK economy.”

Rolls-Royce Submarines currently employs more than 4,000 people and designs, manufactures and provides in-service support to the pressurised water reactors that power every boat in the Royal Navy’s submarine fleet.

To ensure a steady pipeline of future talent into the industry, last year Rolls-Royce, with investment from the MoD, opened a new Nuclear Skills Academy in Derby. It will provide 200 apprenticeships each year for at least the next decade. This latest announcement comes as outline planning permission is submitted to Derby City Council covering over 100,000 sqm of new floorspace across the Raynesway estate.

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.

Illustration of proposed Raynesway site expansion.

Current Rolls-Royce Submarines Raynesway site footprint

About Rolls-Royce Holdings plc
  1. Rolls-Royce develops and delivers complex power and propulsion solutions for safety-critical applications in the air, at sea and on land. Our products and service packages enable our customers to connect people, societies, cultures and economies together; they meet the growing need for power generation across multiple industries; and enable governments to equip their armed forces with the power required to protect their citizens.
  2. Rolls-Royce has customers in more than 150 countries, comprising more than 400 airlines and leasing customers, 160 armed forces and navies, and more than 5,000 power and nuclear customers. To meet customer demand for more sustainable solutions, we are committed to making our products compatible with net zero carbon emissions.
  3. Annual underlying revenue was £12.69bn in 2022 and underlying operating profit was £652m.
  4. Rolls-Royce Holdings plc is publicly traded company (LSE: RR., ADR: RYCEY, LEI: 213800EC7997ZBLZJH69)
  5. For the last 60 years Rolls-Royce Submarines has designed, supplied and supported the nuclear propulsion plant that provides power for all of the UK Royal Navy's nuclear submarines. They are responsible for delivering the Nuclear Steam Raising Plants, plus parts of the secondary propulsion systems to the UK Ministry of Defence, including managing these assets across their full lifecycle.
    www.rolls-royce.com

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