Green light for Hinkley Point C launches nuclear training drive

Yesterday’s announcement of a deal between government and the EDF-led consortium building Hinkley Point C also gave the signal to launch new courses and qualifications to prepare the industry for the nuclear build programme, the CITB has said. 

Initiatives include a new Triple Bar Nuclear Test, which will be mandatory for everyone working on a nuclear site; training courses for specialist concrete workers, steelfixers and formwork specialists; and an initiative to recruit ex-military personnel.

The CITB has been working with EDF Energy, the Nuclear Energy Skills Alliance and construction contractors on the skills and training programme.

William Burton, CITB interim chief executive, said: “The last nuclear power station built in the UK was completed 26 years ago. The construction process, qualification requirements, safety and security processes have changed out of all recognition and CITB is providing the indiustry with the practical support it needs to meet the new requirements.”

Hinkley Point C is expected to cost £14bn to build at 2012 prices, creating up to 25,000 jobs during the construction phase, according to EDF Energy.

But much of that investment will go towards the two nuclear reactors, generators, turbines and connections to the National Grid, with the CITB predicting that the value of the “construction footprint” is closer to £4.5bn.

It says the number of construction jobs to be created is 5,000, and suggests that the project will support at least 270 construction apprenticeships. As a relatively labour-intensive infrastructure project, the CITB says that Hinkley Point would be expected to create six apprenticeships per £90m-£100m of spend. 

The first apprentices, in steel fixing, are due to be taken on by a Tier 1 supplier in February.

The construction footprint includes accommodation blocks for the 900-strong workforce that will eventually operate the facility; park and rides for them to travel to work; and tunnels to bring sea water into the plant.

CITB predicts construction work at Hinkley will be close to £4.5bn

According to Construction Enquirer, around half this work by value has already been let, with one contract to be tendered later this year and others waiting for the announcement of preferred bidders. A Laing O’Rourke and Bouygues JV has secured the £2bn main civils build contract; Bam Nuttall and Kier are taking on the £100m earthworks contract; Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering is building a temporary 500m jetty for construction materials to be shipped in a £30m deal; and Costain has sealed a £250m contract for three tunnels to channel seawater in and out of the plant.

All these contractors will have to ensure that their workers have passed the Triple Bar Nuclear Test, launched in April this year with input from EDF Group. It consists of three elements: the history of nuclear power, why it is important and what behaviours are required when working on a nuclear site.

The course will be transferable, to avoid employers having to duplicate training if an individual moves between companies or phases on the project. 

The CITB also said that it will be encouraging contractors involved in the nuclear programme to consider hiring ex-military personnel. A spokeswoman said: “They have the discipline and right attitudes for working on a nuclear site and large contractors have identified a preference for people with these attributes – as well as on a practical level, their training background means they have shorter course cross-over.”

EDF says that it also plans to invest in local colleges, an enterprise centre and construction skills centre that will help people from Somerset to benefit from the project. It forecasts a £100m boost to the local economy.

It is hoped that Hinkley Point C, by kick-starting the UK’s new nuclear programme, could lead to lower costs for successive power stations. The other proposed projects in the New Nuclear Build programme are Sizewell C in Suffolk, Wylfa Peninsula in Anglesey, Oldbury in Gloucestershire, Sellafield in Cumbria, Bradwell in Essex, Hartlepool in Cleveland, and Heysham in Lancashire.