A recent trade mission from Norfolk and Suffolk visited the South West and toured Hinkley Point C in Somerset. It rapidly became apparent, based on that visit, the scale of the potential of the opportunities for local businesses from the construction of a similar project at Sizewell C, just over the border in Suffolk.
The Hinkley Point C site was huge. They were just reaching the end of the earthworks stage and they had already turned a valley into a hill, with the backfilled earth; had nearly 3,000 workers on site; and 13 tower cranes. Together with a whole traffic lighted transport system, including 122 park and ride buses servicing the site each day. Nearly 50% of the workforce were local to the region and it is anticipated that over the lifetime of the project, the average of local workforce would be about 35%.
Throughout the overall project, they expect to move 5.6 million cubic metres of earth; award £1.5 billion of contracts to South West companies; lay 4,000km of electrical cabling; and have 52 tower cranes on site. Overall, the completed nuclear power station will generate 7% of the UK’s electricity.
It is clear that the project at Sizewell C will have huge opportunities for local businesses from groundworks, to catering, electrical and mechanical engineering through to senior scientists. But as a region we must start now to ensure we are ready to take advantage of the opportunity.
So what steps can you take now?
Register your interest in the Sizewell C supply chain
Want to know more – hear from the organisations that went on the trade mission
