South West nuclear jobs surge as Hinkley Point C supports local training
Hinkley Point C is helping deliver a long-term boost to jobs, training and apprenticeships across Somerset
Major nuclear projects like Hinkley Point C are creating long-term benefits for communities across the South West, according to the Nuclear Industry Association.
New figures show nuclear employment in the region has risen by 163.6% over the past five years, with the number of jobs increasing from 12,934 to 34,084.
The Nuclear Industry Association’s annual Jobs Map says 21,150 high-skilled and high-paid civil nuclear jobs have been added in the South West since 2021.
Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, has told us projects such as Hinkley Point C are not only helping deliver future low-carbon energy, but are also leaving a legacy of skills, training and employment in the region.
Greatrex told Greatest Hits Radio: "What Hinkley Point C is demonstrating is that if you have big infrastructure projects, there's a real opportunity to develop skills for people so they can work near where they've grown up.
"They don't have to move away.
"Jobs are avalaible in a whole range of different areas; in engineering, manufacturing, and it's skilling people up for the future and that's the real benefit."
Hinkley Point C has been a key driver of the growth, supporting 26,000 jobs across England, Scotland and Wales, with around 13,000 people working on site. Around 4,600 local people are employed at the Somerset project.
The development has also supported major investment in skills. Locally based Centres of Excellence have already trained 19,500 people, while 1,740 apprentices have been trained so far. The power station has also generated £60 million of additional inward investment in skills.
Across the UK, more than 100,000 people are now employed in the civil nuclear sector for the first time in the industry’s history.
Greatrex said the scale of jobs growth in the South West shows the economic value of building major nuclear projects.
He added: “The skills, expertise and industrial capabilities being built today will be absolutely critical to delivering the next generation of nuclear projects across the UK.
“The Government must maintain this momentum beyond Hinkley Point C and its sister project Sizewell C to secure the UK’s energy security.”
Ashley Fox, MP for Bridgwater, said Hinkley Point C has created significant opportunities for local people and businesses.
He said: “These latest figures demonstrate the importance of nuclear to our domestic energy security and the South West economy, particularly in supporting skilled jobs and developing the workforce we need for the future.”