30th July 2026
The UK Government's announcement of £8.4 billion of additional investment in Britain's nuclear submarine programme has understandably focused on the major shipyards and manufacturing centres in England.
Yet there is another part of the country with a long and distinguished connection to the Royal Navy's nuclear submarine fleet – one that is often overlooked.
That place is Vulcan, beside Dounreay in Caithness.
While many people know Dounreay for its role in developing fast reactor technology, far fewer realise that the neighbouring Vulcan site helped shape every generation of Britain's nuclear-powered submarines for more than forty years.
A unique role in Britain's defence
The Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment was created so that prototype submarine reactors could be tested on land before they were installed in Royal Navy submarines.
Testing reactors on land allowed engineers to examine their performance, reliability and safety under controlled conditions before they ever went to sea.
Over the years, five generations of Royal Navy reactor cores were successfully tested at Vulcan, making the Caithness site one of the most important facilities in Britain's naval nuclear programme.
Although much of its work was carried out away from public attention, the knowledge gained at Vulcan helped ensure the reliability of the reactors that power Britain's submarine fleet.
From reactor testing to specialist engineering
The final prototype reactor at Vulcan ceased operations in 2015 and the site is now progressing through a carefully managed decommissioning programme.
However, that does not mean the expertise has disappeared.
Today, Rolls-Royce supports the site through its Nuclear Engineering Services (NES) business. NES provides specialist nuclear engineering, project management, safety case development, operational support, decommissioning expertise and environmental services.
The work may no longer involve testing new submarine reactors, but it still requires highly specialised nuclear engineering skills that have been developed in Caithness over many decades.
Britain is investing in nuclear once again
The latest Government funding forms part of a much wider expansion of Britain's defence capabilities.
The investment will support construction of the new Dreadnought-class submarines, while Rolls-Royce is expanding its reactor manufacturing facilities in Derby to meet demand from both the Royal Navy and the AUKUS submarine partnership with Australia.
Alongside these developments, Britain is also investing in a new generation of small modular nuclear reactors for civilian electricity generation.
Taken together, these programmes represent one of the largest periods of investment in British nuclear engineering for a generation.
Could Caithness benefit?[b]
It would be wrong to suggest that the latest defence announcement automatically means large numbers of new jobs at Vulcan.
There is currently no evidence to support that conclusion.
However, the investment does reinforce the importance of the skills developed in Caithness.
Engineers with experience in reactor systems, nuclear safety, quality assurance, decommissioning, project management and specialist engineering possess expertise that is increasingly valuable across both defence and civilian nuclear industries.
As Britain's nuclear programmes expand, these skills are likely to remain in demand.
[b]Opportunities beyond the site
The benefits may not be limited to those working directly at Vulcan.
As investment in submarine construction grows, opportunities often spread throughout the wider supply chain.
Engineering companies, specialist manufacturers, inspection businesses, software developers and technical consultancies across Scotland could all find opportunities supporting defence and nuclear programmes.
For a region with a long history of nuclear excellence, that could prove significant over the coming years.
An important legacy
For decades, Vulcan quietly played a vital role in protecting the United Kingdom.
Every new class of Royal Navy nuclear submarine relied on reactor technology that had first been tested and proven on the north coast of Scotland.
That contribution is not always widely recognised, but it remains one of Caithness's greatest engineering achievements.
Looking to the future
The Government's latest defence investment is about much more than submarines.
It reflects a broader strategy of rebuilding Britain's industrial capacity, supporting advanced manufacturing and investing in highly skilled engineering.
For Caithness, it is a reminder that the expertise developed at Dounreay and Vulcan still has national importance.
The days of testing prototype submarine reactors may be over, but the engineering knowledge built up over generations continues to have value.
As Britain embarks on one of its biggest nuclear investment programmes for decades, the skills and experience developed in Caithness remain part of that story—and may yet help shape its future once again.