Around 200 jobs are set to be created at the North East base of nuclear engineering group Assystem, on the back of work at multibillion-pound power plant project Sizewell C.
Assystem, which has its global headquarters in Paris, is already a major player in the 海角视频鈥檚 nuclear new build programme, as well as the switch to low-carbon energy, transport, and infrastructure, as a key contributor to the development of small modular reactors (SMRs). The business 鈥 which has 10 sites in the 海角视频 including large bases in Sunderland, Blackburn, Derby, Bristol and London 鈥 is also a member of the Sizewell C consortium, a network of over 200 companies dedicated to the 拢38bn Suffolk-based power station project鈥檚 success.
Now Assystem has pledged to double its 海角视频 workforce over the next five years, creating 1,000 new engineering, digital and management jobs, after the Government gave the green light for Sizewell C. The move will see huge expansion of its North East workforce at its base in Southwick, Sunderland, with more than 200 new jobs being added to its existing 81 employees.
Simon Barber, managing director of Assystem 海角视频, said Sizewell C is expected to stimulate hundreds of jobs in the North East in the coming years.
He said: 鈥淭oday鈥檚 news is a major milestone for the 海角视频 as it commits to placing nuclear power and the centre of its future low-carbon electricity system. The deal represents the 海角视频鈥檚 most significant public investment in clean, homegrown energy this century providing a major boost for energy security, jobs and economic growth.
鈥淎ssystem is a leading company in the 海角视频 nuclear sector and we are ready to mobilise and deliver Sizewell C. We have a strong regional presence in the 海角视频, and this means job creation from sites like Sunderland where remote engineering and project management work will be taking place.鈥
The news follows the announcement by the Government on Tuesday that construction of Sizewell C will go ahead after a deal was struck with a group of investors. The Government will take an initial 44.9% stake to become the single biggest equity shareholder in the project, while other firms taking shares include Canadian investment fund La Caisse with 20%, British Gas owner Centrica with 15%; French state-owned energy giant EDF with 12.5%; and Amber Infrastructure with an initial 7.6%.
The scheme was originally estimated to cost 拢18bn to build, but costs have since climbed to an estimated 拢38bn.
Energy secretary Ed Miliband said: 鈥淚t is time to do big things and build big projects in this country again. This Government is making the investment needed to deliver a new golden age of nuclear, so we can end delays and free us from the ravages of the global fossil fuel markets to bring bills down for good.鈥
Sizewell C is expected to directly support 10,000 jobs at peak construction, as well as thousands more in the supply chain. Once completed the plant is expected to deliver cheaper clean electricity for at least 60 years.
