Suffolk community leaders gather to discuss opportunities with Sizewell C

Fifty representatives from charities across Suffolk gathered at the University of Suffolk this week to see how they can best work with Sizewell C.

The event, instigated by Sizewell C’s staff networks, was centred on how Sizewell C and local organisations can together improve opportunities for local people.

Terry Baxter, CEO, Inspire, shared his experiences of working in partnership with Sizewell C over the last three years. Inspire offer a number of work taster courses for skills needed not just by Sizewell C but other developers in the region. This is all in addition to the health and wellbeing support the charity delivers to hundreds of local young people who are NEET (not in education, employment or training) and need support with their next steps in life.

phanuel_mutumburi.jpg

Phanuel Mutumburi, Director of ISCRE (The Ipswich & Suffolk Council for Racial Equality), was one of the speakers at the event

The project has signed MoUs with Suffolk colleges and the University to ensure the skills are in place now so local people can work with Sizewell C. There is also an MoU planned with third sector organisations which the project already works with such as Women into Construction and Inspire to help drive diversity and inclusion which is underpinned by the project D&I Charter.

Speaking about the event, Julia Pyke, Sizewell C Director and Sponsor of the Gender Balance Network said: “It was great to meet so many local organisations and to explore how we can work together to improve opportunities for all. We strongly believe that diversity and inclusion is essential to reflect the society we serve today and in the future. Through events like this, we can better understand how to break down barriers for positive change which is good for business, good for Suffolk and gets the very best local talent working on our project.”

Sizewell C will need a diverse range of skills from construction and engineering through to hospitality and project management.  The project has signed Memorandum of Understanding with all FE colleges in Suffolk to ensure the skills are in place for local people to take up the opportunities that will be on offer.

Some of those apprenticeships have already started with us and young people from Lowestoft are working at Hinkley Point C, which is five years into construction, and will come back to Sizewell C fully qualified.

When the power station is operational, it will deliver 900 skilled well-paid roles to people living within a 25-mile radius of Sizewell. This is in addition to the 800 roles at Sizewell B where many of the managers studied at Alde Valley Academy (then Leiston High School) joining as apprentices and progressing through the organisation to become leaders of the power station.

Pictured at top from left to right: Chris Yau, Chair, United for Race Equality; Pete Bryant – Chair, Pride; Brad Conway, Chair, Next Generation Young Professionals; Nureen Lakhani, Vice Chair, United for Race Equality; Nick Fay, Committee Member, Mental Health Support Group; Caroline Powell, Chair, Gender Balance; Mike Tong, Committee Member, Disabilities, Carers & Parents

Notes

For more information about jobs and skills opportunities at Sizewell C, visit our careers page here

Learn more about our opportunities for young people here