The Nuclear South West public-private partnership is teaming up with regional business organisations to help companies capitalise on key nuclear sector projects.
The organisation – which unites industry, academia, skills, business support and public sector stakeholders – will use its experience of championing the South West nuclear sector to support Suffolk and Cumbria which are also important to the future of the UK’s nuclear industry.
As Hinkley Point C takes shape in Somerset, local business leaders in the East of England and Cumbria will learn from their South West counterparts, so that they are ready to benefit if proposed projects at Sizewell C in Suffolk and Moorside in Cumbria go ahead.
Nuclear South West will be at the forefront of the partnership through the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership which has come together with New Anglia LEP and Cumbria LEP, with all three representing local authorities and businesses.
Nuclear South West stands alongside the East of England Energy Group, North West Nuclear Arc and Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster as one of the nuclear business clusters established to provide an opportunity for like-minded companies to showcase skills and expertise and provide a network for business development in the nuclear sector.
In the South West, Hinkley Point C has created more than 10,000 job opportunities, a new training academy and trained 664 apprentices.
The impact has been transformative, with 40% of the workforce being recruited from the local area. Almost 1000 companies across the South West have benefited, with £1.7 billion spent to date, which is having a marked, positive impact on communities and business.
Hinkley Point C is providing a unique opportunity for UK suppliers to develop their expertise in high quality nuclear construction.
Spearheaded by nuclear business clusters like Nuclear South West, LEPs are working together to ensure the capability, knowledge and skills learned at Hinkley Point C are transferred through the new nuclear pipeline.
Their aim will be to ensure visibility of opportunities and bringing together those other key economic institutions that underpin economic growth from skills, academia and business.
Karl Tucker, Chair of The Heart of the South West LEP, said:
“We’ve helped hundreds of businesses in the South West put in place highly-skilled staff so they are in the best possible position to compete for Hinkley Point C contracts. That is already doing wonders for the prosperity of our region and that’s why we’re so excited by this collaboration.
“As part of our commitment, we will be sharing the knowledge and expertise we have built up and working with our colleagues in East Anglia and Cumbria to maximise the impact of the Sizewell C and Moorside projects on the local economy.
“Businesses from the South West are now in a great position to take advantage of the new nuclear pipeline, and we’re with them every step of the way. They can be confident about the future and, with our support, companies in Suffolk and Cumbria should be equally optimistic.”
Cameron Gilmour, Spokesperson for the Sizewell C Consortium, which is calling on the Government to back Sizewell C, welcomed the collaboration, saying:
“The LEPs are a critical part of ensuring businesses are ready and prepared for Sizewell C and Moorside, and that communities are built back stronger through high quality jobs. Our members represent over 50,000 careers, right across the UK.
“We know companies like Prior Power Solutions in East Anglia see Sizewell C as a massive opportunity. They are looking at the prospect of supplying low emission plant to the project; completely transforming their business and enabling them to expand by 30% and take on 25 additional people from the region.
“In the South West, AMS Nuclear Engineering – an SME specialising in instrumentation systems and environmental sampling – are looking to utilise their extensive experience working with the Hinkley Point power stations to support the build of Sizewell C, securing the growth and stability of its’ specialist engineers for years to come.
“And in Cumbria, an area with a rich nuclear heritage, a clear pipeline to Moorside would allow businesses to grow strongly and sustainably building the skills and expertise required to deliver expertly, every time.”
Companies who want to show their support for the Sizewell C project can join the Sizewell C Consortium by visiting www.sizewellcconsortium.com.