Nuclear South West champions the South West nuclear industry as the premier destination for investment, innovation and growth.
We’re here to help businesses land in the South West, and support those already here to maximise on the wealth of opportunities available.
We’re part of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership. As an organisation, the partnership works hard to ensure that Hinkley Point C in Somerset provides a long-term, sustainable economic legacy for the region and beyond.
People powering the projects
Hinkley Point C has brought engineers, welders, electricians and more to the region, actively
contributing to the country’s latest nuclear power station -and currently, the UK’s only new build.
Not only are more experienced individuals joining the team, but bright, young apprentices are embarking on new careers, with support and training from Hinkley Point C.
In the Hinkley Point C socio economic report, the team feature Amal Jagadeesh, Trainee Reactor Operator. He says: “I applied for a graduate scheme with EDF because I knew I’d be able to move around the business […]
“I applied for the Trainee Reactor Operator scheme at Hinkley Point C. The training equipment on site is so advanced, if feels as though we’re getting world-class training.”
He is now married and living in Weston, “looking forward to a long career at Hinkley Point C”.
Amal is just one of the examples of how nuclear is attracting the best and brightest candidates to work on the nuclear new build, who then intend to stay, paving the way for a bright future for the region, extending beyond Hinkley Point C.
Putting the South West firmly on the map
The 2022 Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) jobs map demonstrates how many people are working in the UK civil nuclear industry across the UK, split by region. Unsurprisingly, the South West sits within the top band, at over 1,000 employees in each constituency.
According to the Hinkley Point C socio-economic report, the new build site has already generated 19,250 jobs, on target to reach 25,000. As the report states ‘the project will help [people in Somerset] get better jobs and skills, benefiting them, their families and the communities that they live in’.
The Hinkley sites (B and C) have provided careers and investment into the region. The work done by the Hinkley Supply Chain has strengthened this economic benefit to the region, looking towards a robust future. The Hinkley Supply Chain Programme has attracted new organisations to the region, helped them to get established and then encourage them to stay for the long term. Thanks to the programme’s input, £180million worth of contracts have been won within the South West, with more than 1,000 jobs created.
The green energy region
We recently welcomed the news of Jaguar Land Rover’s plans to build a giga-factory outside of Bridgwater. We don’t think it’s a coincidence that this international manufacturer has selected the South West region over other potential sites. Thanks to Hinkley Point C, we have an established supply chain and the core skills within the population for the new site to hit the ground running. The South West is already a hub for green energy, including hydrogen, nuclear and offshore wind – adding this significant car battery manufacturer to the low-carbon mix will elevate it even further.
The future of nuclear in the South West
With the official launch of Great British Nuclear in July this year, the UK government has made clear that further investment into nuclear power is firmly on the agenda. Their initial focus is on small modular reactors, with a competition to attract the best designs both nationally and internationally. In addition to Hinkley Point C, the South West holds licensed sites that would be ideal for the range of nuclear advanced reactors and small modular reactors.
We look forward to leading the charge towards a cleaner, greener and more secure future for the UK’s energy supply.