The agreement will see Vinci’s Warrington based nuclear engineering subsidiary Nuvia provide engineering expertise and the shipbuilders the fabrication facilities and manpower.

Cammell Laird chief executive John Syvret said: “The nuclear sector, like the off shore renewables sector, presents huge growth potential for Cammell Laird.

“We can offer experience in heavy fabrication, specialist engineering and project management together with unrivalled facilities including our 40,000 m2 modular construction hall, capable of fabricating modules and major components of up to 1,000 tonnes.”

Keith Collett, Nuvia managing director, said the contractor had already secured decommissioning work and would now be looking to play a big part in nuclear power station building.

He said the partnership had ‘incredible potential’ and work was already underway to prepare the firms to bid for contracts.

“We are hugely excited about this alliance,” he said.

“Nuvia has an established track record of delivering large nuclear projects in the UK. Reinforcing our expertise in the sector, which covers the entire cycle from new build, to operations and maintenance, to final decommissioning and waste disposal, with Cammell Laird’s skill set forges a formidable team.

Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) Chairman Lord O’Neill said: “This partnership is yet another example of UK companies gearing up to play a role in nuclear new build.

“New nuclear in the UK is moving from an ambition to a reality – and the industrial landscape is rapidly taking shape.”