EDF Energy GRJ0069

Supplementary written evidence submitted by EDF Energy

Nuclear energy has provided the UK with near zero carbon electricity for more than 60 years and will be vital to meet net zero. 

The industry is directly responsible for 65,000 jobs and supports a further 100,000 through the supply chain. Nuclear construction creates thousands of high-quality, well-paid jobs and world-class engineering skills that can be transferred to other sectors and exported globally.  

EDF is the operator of Britain’s eight nuclear power stations. We are building the UK’s first new nuclear power station for a generation at Hinkley Point C in Somerset and are planning to proceed with the construction of Sizewell C in Suffolk. Hinkley Point C has already delivered a multi-million-pound investment into jobs, skills and training in the South West. At the time of writing, over 11,000 job opportunities have been created and 750 apprentices trained since the project began. 

•       EDF has committed £15m to improving local training, education and skills provision. As a result of EDF’s investment, over £40m of additional funding has been accessed. 

•       Upskilling the workforce is not only helping the project directly, but also building on the legacy it is creating by supporting workers from the local area to pursue jobs on other low carbon projects. In 2019, 2,777 workers took part in classroom-based training and 11,354 completed online training courses. 

•       Over 750 apprentices have been trained on the project to date, against a target of 1,000. 

•      Over 50 different apprenticeship schemes are being delivered on the project. 

•      Almost 20% of our apprentices are female – a very high figure for the construction sector. 

•      More than half of our apprenticeships are training at Level 2 or above. 

•       Hinkley Point C Tier 1 suppliers, G4S and Bylor, have developed HPC-specific apprenticeship programmes to fill existing and future skills gaps on the project. 

Sizewell C in Suffolk will result in an equivalent investment in skills and training in the East of England as Hinkley Point C in the South West. 

The project will be the source of £125m investment in the local economy during construction, and £40m per year during its 60 years of operation. It will create thousands of jobs and opportunities for local people to train and develop new skills for careers in sustainable industries. 

12 May 2021