Getting Suffolk and Norfolk ready for Sizewell C – Jobs Prospectus launches to meet demand

• New Employment & Training Prospectus lists roles needed for Sizewell C and local colleges signed up to offer courses in response to growing demand
• Prospectus comes at a time when a third of calls to the Sizewell community line are about jobs and business contracts
• Number of local businesses registered for contracts now reaches almost 2,000
• Local groups: 'Friends of Sizewell C' and 'Young Sizewell C' now have over 1,400 members
• Bumper number of visits to the Sizewell visitor centre as positive interest in the project grows with all sessions fully booked with local schools for the remainder of the academic year
• Apprenticeships launched early with the project to ensure skills are in place to meet demand
   

Sizewell C has launched a programme to ensure that local people can train and join the project which is in the later stages of the planning approval process with a decision due to be made by the Secretary of State no later than 8 July.
 
The Employment and Training Prospectus which launched at this year's Suffolk Show proved popular with families keen to know more about opportunities with the project. The prospectus shows the jobs on offer and the skills that will be needed. It also showcases apprentices already working on the project, like Will Rushbrook (18) from Suffolk and some about to join and Beth Suckling (18) and Charlotte Ellis (18) from Norfolk.
 
Since reopening the Sizewell Visitor Centre in early 2022, the station guides have engaged with over 3,000 people, including schools and community groups through both outreach events and 780 of those have taken part in the power station tour. Sarah Osborne, Visitor Centre coordinator said: "The prospectus features case studies of people we work alongside and who live in the local area, this resonates with visitors and is relatable for young people thinking about their next steps."
 
The Visitor Centre continues to be a popular choice with local schools and colleges to enhance the school curriculum and is currently fully booked until the end of this academic year.
 
Sizewell C is also working closely with Job Centres across Suffolk and Norfolk and charity partners Access Community Trust and Inspire Suffolk to ensure local people are ready to work on the project. At peak construction over 7,800 roles will be carried out on the Sizewell site and a third of those are anticipated to be filled by local people. The team behind the Sizewell C Jobs Service, an online portal for the jobs and apprenticeship opportunities on the project, are running bespoke training on the service so that Employment Coaches can swiftly match local people with jobs and also support for those who are not quite ready for work.  
 
Sarah Hancock, Sizewell C HR Director, said: "As the interest in joining the project continues to grow we felt it was important to provide the employment and training prospectus as a guide to working with us. It is being shared with all our local colleges and training providers and we hope it will be useful for people keen to find out how to join us or take the next steps in their training towards employment."

Case studies

Will Rushbrook, Kickstart placement with Sizewell C
 "This placement with Sizewell C has lined up the rest of my career. I joined Sizewell C after completing my A-Levels in Maths, Chemistry and Physics at Farlingaye High School in Woodbridge. The placement has given me experience and connections in the business I want to work in before I start my Physics degree in Bristol later this year. I first found out about all the opportunities with the project when I came for a work experience placement at Sizewell B when I was 15, this really opened my eyes to careers in the nuclear industry."

Stephen Mortimer, 50, Jobs Service customer, Hinkley Point C 
Stephen spent 13 years with a commercial tyre business, working his way from a technician to operations manager. During the pandemic, Stephen was made redundant and found himself searching for job opportunities within Somerset. Stephen attended a jobs fair with the Hinkley Point C Job Service team and signed up to the Job Service Portal to receive alerts and notifications of live vacancies matching his skills set. Stephen then applied for the Hinkley Support Operative bronze level training and attended the course in January 2022. Upon completion of the Hinkley Support Operative training, Stephen interviewed for a number of positions on the project, receiving several job offers before accepting a role as traffic marshall with Bylor.
"Living in Stogursey I have made friends with a number of people within the village who work at Hinkley Point C, so when I was made redundant I knew that there could be opportunities available on the project that might suit my skills.”
 
Beth Suckling and Charlotte Ellis, Nuclear Engineer Degree Apprentices, Hinkley Point C
Beth and Charlotte both studied Engineering, Maths, Physics and further maths at A-Level at University Technical College Norfolk before they secured their apprenticeships. Both are now on their way to enjoying an amazing entry into their chosen careers working at Hinkley point C as Graduate Apprentices in engineering. They start their four year apprenticeship in September this year.
Charlotte said: "I am really excited and a bit nervous to start my apprenticeship at Hinkley Point C. It will be my first time away from home but I am being supported with accommodation in my first year and pastoral support provided by the project. I want to challenge myself both through the course and by living independently. Being able to gain industry experience and work alongside and learn from the team delivering Hinkley Point C is amazing and the fact that I am earning whilst I learn is a definite bonus! Sizewell C means that I have the opportunity to return back home to Norfolk in the future using the skills I will gain in Somerset."
 
Sizewell C has already put in place – 
 
•    A Jobs Service already in place with some workers starting with HPC before transferring to SZC Sizewell C Jobs Service
•    An employment and training prospectus that provides a pathway from education and training through to jobs with the project
•    An interactive careers platform to support Young Sizewell C subscribers keen to know more about the jobs on the project
•    Early apprenticeships being placed in welding, pipe fitting, project controls, formwork carpentry, surveying
 
The Sizewell visitor centre is open to the public from 9am to 4.30pm Monday – Friday. To arrange a tour of the power station email Sizewellbtours@edf-energy.com