Business update

Welsh Government has confirmed that funding for Cwmni Egino will cease at the end of March next year. As we prepare to wind down our operations, we have taken the opportunity to reflect on what has been achieved since our establishment in 2021.

Our name, Egino – a Welsh word meaning “to germinate” or “to sprout” – captures the essence of our mission: to seed new growth and renewal. From the outset, Cwmni Egino was created to stimulate socio-economic development in North Wales, helping to revitalise communities shaped by their industrial and cultural heritage and positioning the region for a more prosperous future.

Underpinned by this core purpose, our journey began with a clear objective: to explore the technical feasibility of small-scale nuclear deployment at the Trawsfynydd site. We have significantly advanced understanding of the site’s unique characteristics and presented a Business Proposition to both the Welsh and UK Governments outlining the benefits of bringing new nuclear development to the area.

While Great British Energy – Nuclear is pursuing development at Wylfa, we have remained committed to preserving the option for future deployment at Trawsfynydd. For the past 12 months, we have been working with a private developer seeking to bring small modular reactor (SMR) technology to the site. Alongside this, we produced a comprehensive Site Information Pack to support any future developers interested in pursuing new nuclear opportunities at Trawsfynydd.

As well as power generation, we have helped to advance a range of other nuclear-related opportunities at Trawsfynydd capable of delivering short-medium term socio-economic benefits while strengthening the case for major investment in the longer term.

Working on behalf of Cyngor Gwynedd, we are currently coordinating a business case for a new science park at Trawsfynydd, expected to be submitted to the North Wales Growth Deal in the new year. We have also explored opportunities with AI-focused developers to connect advanced technologies with clean energy and contributed to the successful North Wales AI Growth Zone bid announced earlier this month. Collectively, these opportunities form a strong, interconnected base for future growth and represent the emergence of a holistic vision for Trawsfynydd.

Alongside our work at Trawsfynydd, we have played a key role in advancing the region’s wider nuclear and infrastructure agenda and have brought stakeholders together to develop a cohesive response to existing and future opportunities. We published a prospectus to strengthen the case for new nuclear investment in the region and assessed the Welsh supply chain’s readiness to participate in the anticipated future growth within the nuclear sector. We have also developed understanding of social value – aligned with the Well-being of Future Generations Act – to help ensure that nuclear and other major projects deliver lasting benefits for people across Wales.

Our legacy lies not only in what we have delivered, but in the collaborative, people-focused approach and ways of working which we have consistently championed. Through partnership, we have delivered outreach, education, and advocacy initiatives aimed at helping communities, industry, and government to reimagine the potential of a revitalised nuclear sector in North Wales. These efforts have supported a shared, well-informed vision of a region where people, places, and local economies can thrive through nuclear and other low-carbon innovation.

Just as germination begins with careful preparation of the ground, we have been dedicated to laying strong and lasting foundations – cultivating knowledge, partnerships, and trust to prepare North Wales for a new era of sustainable industrial growth. We have established place-based, cross-sector collaborations; and have collaborated with others from outside the region, including Sizewell C, to help maximise their impact in Wales.

Although Cwmni Egino’s chapter draws to a close in March 2026, the story of new nuclear and its potential benefits for Wales is far from over. We have paved the way for projects, partnerships, and opportunities to be taken forward by others, ensuring that North Wales remains at the heart of the UK’s nuclear and clean energy future.