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Rolls-Royce said its link up with EDF to build four new nuclear power stations in the UK will safeguard up to 15,000 jobs - nearly half of them engineers.
The aero-engine giant formerly announced its nuclear arm has been chosen by the French energy giant to partner on the 15-year construction project.
The first reactor will, said Rolls, come on line in 2017 and the whole project should be finished by 2025.
Rolls will run the supply chain and provide engineering and technical support in the construction of reactors at Sizewell in Suffolk and Hinkley Point in Somerset, both near to existing nuclear power stations. The reactors, however, will be designed and manufactured in France.
EDF brought in Rolls following its £12.5 billion acquisition of British Energy.
Lawrie Haynes, the head of Rolls-Royce Nuclear and former boss of British Nuclear Fuels, said:"This agreement is another step towards the delivery of our civil nuclear strategy," he said.
"Rolls-Royce is uniquely placed to deliver world-class engineering and manufacturing capability to support the delivery of nuclear power programmes."
