Jobs boost New nuclear station to hire 30k trainees
EDF has announced plans to take on 30,000 new trainees to work on the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station.
The French energy giant, which is developing the Somerset plant, said it was investing £24million to create the roles, with some of the money being pumped into three new local training hubs for welding, electrical and mechanical skills.
The firm said the positions were needed to help fit miles of pipes, cables, equipment, and control systems for the plant near Bridgwater, as it reaches “peak construction”.
It added the new opportunities would be created between now and the scheduled completion of one of Europe’s largest construction projects. The start of commercial electricity generation at the site is currently slated for June 2027.
With the announcement EDF said £5.3billion had been spent so far with 1,300 South West companies during Hinkley Point C’s construction, with investment in local infrastructure and associated community support projects now at £139m. It added that 1,130 apprentices had been trained so far.
Stuart Crooks, Hinkley Point C managing director, said: “Nuclear power’s not just essential for the country, it also delivers significant benefits for the communities and region that host it. We’ve worked hard with local colleges and businesses to make sure that Hinkley Point C increases prosperity and productivity in Somerset and the South West - giving as many people as possible the chance to increase their skills and earning potential.”
Energy Security Secretary, Grant Shapps, said: “The work at Hinkley Point C reminds us that nuclear not only boosts our energy security and independence, but also helps deliver greater economic growth here in Somerset, and to the UK as a whole.”
Emma Rawlings, chief executive of Somerset Chamber of Commerce, said the plant was continuing to drive investment into the region, and once the plant was completed, businesses in the South West would be “more than ready to meet the demands of the future net zero economy”.
It comes after EDF announced that offshore work to install an underwater cooling water system for the facility was moving into its final stages. Two jack-up vessels arrived off the coast of the site this month, to help install six shafts to help connect six miles of tunnels on the seabed to the facility’s nuclear reactors. EDF told investors in February that Hinkley Point C could now cost more than £30bn to complete due to inflation. Full construction of Hinkley Point C began in 2016. It was originally estimated the project would cost £18bn to build.