Somerset's much-delayed Hinkley Point C nuclear power station is planning to create 3,000 jobs over the next 18 months. The announcement comes as the plant says it is approaching "peak construction" when it will have around 15,000 people working on the site.
Once complete, Hinkley Point is expected to provide six million homes in the 海角视频 with low-carbon energy.
The roles on the Bridgwater-based project will be aimed at local people, according to owner EDF, with many of the positions supporting the fit out of the station with miles of pipes and cables and equipment. Other jobs will be created to support the workforce, the company added.
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Hinkley has established three training centres in Bridgwater and Cannington in a bid to encourage people in the region to take up work on the project. According to EDF, more than 8,000 people have already been trained in welding, electrical and mechanical skills.
It also said the number of apprentices trained had passed 1,500 - 500 more than the original target - with 70% of them from the South West.
Stuart Crooks, managing director of Hinkley Point C, said: “As a former apprentice, I know the impact that training can have in transforming lives for the better. I am determined that we will provide as many opportunities as possible to help people from Somerset and the South West benefit from our project.”
Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Lord Hunt said Hinkley Point C was "a stand-out example" for apprenticeships. He said: "Apprenticeships are incredibly important in equipping thousands of people with the skills needed to take up a career for life in the nuclear sector."
The news comes despite a Somerset Councillor over the rising number of workers based at the site. Somerset Council said last year that it was "not happy" with a perceived lack of co-operation by EDF, but added the company had not technically broken any of the legal agreements concerning the site.
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When the power station was - a form of planning permission for major infrastructure projects - the government set an original limit of 5,600 people who would work on-site at any one time.
Hinkley Point C said on Monday (February 10) that it was "working closely" with local authorities to assess the effects of the expanding workforce, with increased funding of mitigation measures to be put in place as the workforce grows.
"Hinkley Point C will continue to listen to local communities to ensure that any potential impacts are minimised and that the benefits for local people are maximised," a company spokesperson said.
According to EDF, the new support measures will build on initiatives such as the £9m accommodation fund to help deliver new affordable housing, with 4,000 extra bed spaces in local towns. It also said funding and support for other schemes like community safety, local policing and tourism would increase.
Mike Rigby, lead member for economic development planning and assets at Somerset Council, said: “The HPC Project has bought many social and economic benefits to Somerset with employment and training opportunities foremost among them.
"While we welcome this investment in jobs and skills and the other positive benefits the project continues to offer Somerset, we are mindful of the impact that a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project with an expanding workforce has on our communities and are committed to working with EDF to ensure appropriate mitigation measures are put in place to cope with this significant increase.”
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