National Nuclear Laboratory

Our Purpose

Today, nuclear energy is part of the solution to the deep challenges of energy independence, national security and net zero. Government owned but operationally independent, we are here to help solve some of these challenges and, in doing so, deliver on our long-held purpose of nuclear science to benefit society.

Whether it’s keeping the lights on or keeping our submarines at sea, as demand for nuclear has grown, so too has the demand for our combination of niche and highly-specialist skills and facilities. Rather than replicating what our partners, suppliers and colleagues across the sector already do, we focus on work that can only be done by a sovereign national laboratory.

What We Do

We drive innovation in nuclear science, ensuring the UK has the capabilities it needs – whether in physical infrastructure, or in the skills and knowledge of our sector workforce – to create and deploy the technologies of the future.

Working in partnership with universities, we champion the best new ideas and concepts, nurturing upcoming scientists and researchers. And alongside our partners in industry, we help keep existing nuclear reactors running successfully, support a strong and effective UK supply chain and ensure new technologies have a chance to become commercially viable.