Developing our workforce
When we look to the future, we do so with a better view of the number of jobs that will be created by the project. There is also a more detailed view of the phasing of different elements of the project. Latest estimates based on this information show that the number of people working on the project is likely to increase to a peak of around 10,000 – assuming normal conditions.
Experience gained in the first years of construction gives the project confidence that these numbers can be well managed. Investment in skills and training means that many local people will benefit from these extra job opportunities available in the next few years.
Building local opportunity
Hinkley Point C is already providing substantial benefit to the local area. Almost £3 billion has been spent with regional businesses and thousands of jobs and apprenticeships are helping local people to start and develop new careers.
Over the coming months we will also be launching new training programmes and opening new facilities so that everyone can make full use of the future opportunities available. The new training routes and facilities such as the Construction Skills Centre, Welding Centre of Excellence and Electrical Centre of Excellence will be in place to support people of all backgrounds and skill levels into new, long-term careers.
A pipeline from education to employment
The Hinkley Point C education, skills and employment pipeline is continuing to ensure that the opportunities available throughout the construction of the new power station can be accessed whether people are in school, exploring new careers or considering wider training routes such as apprenticeships.
The Inspire education programme is working with schools across the region to motivate young people into science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Young HPC is providing an innovative bridge from education into the world of work – supporting local careers advice and guidance.
Apprenticeship schemes designed for people of all ages are supporting people into new careers and raising the overall skill level of people based locally and across the region.
Reducing our impact
We take our responsibility for minimising local impact seriously and have been working with the Local Authorities to assess the impact of the additional workforce. Our experience shows that nearly half of the peak workforce will be made up of people living in their existing homes. This will limit the impact on the roads, local housing market, healthcare and the emergency services.
Over the coming months, we will ensure that any potential impacts are minimised and that the opportunities for local people are realised.
Find out more about how our existing community work is proving effective.
The Hinkley Jobs Service is supporting local people into employment – helping people find the right opportunity for them in a large variety of roles.
Our experience shows that a higher proportion of workers than initially expected are local enough to stay in their own homes – at around 40%.
This reduces the need for temporary lodgings and reduces the pressure on local accommodation. However, we do understand that some people may still move into the area to be closer to Hinkley Point C.
The £7.5 million Hinkley Point C housing fund provided to the Local Authorities is successfully helping to increase the amount of accommodation available for the workforce and increase the pool of affordable homes for local people and families. The Local Authorities expect to deliver more than 4,000 new bed spaces into the local area, far more than our workers are expected to use.
In addition, our own Campus sites provide 1,500 rooms. Coupled with growing capacity in the private rental sector, we are confident that there will be enough space to accommodate the new workforce.
We recognise that the communities closest to the Hinkley Point C site continue to prove popular with the workforce. To address any localised impacts on the housing market we will make an additional payment to the Local Authorities to help deliver additional housing initiatives.
Find out more about Hinkley Point C’s Accommodation Fund
Evidence suggests that fewer workers than expected are bringing their families with them and using local schools. Our on-site health centre is continuing to help reduce any pressure on health services and its capacity will be increased as the workforce grows.
Engaging the community
We take our responsibility for minimising local disturbance and creating maximum local benefit very seriously and have been working for many years to ensure it.
We are committed to transparency around the work being done and our plans for the development of the future workforce. Feedback provided will be considered by both our project team and the Transport Review Group and Socio-Economic Advisory Group when considering proposed amendments to our strategies.
Up-to-date and accurate information will always be available online, via our monthly updates, through our community magazine Plugged in and via our forums where local people can engage directly with the project.
Our Main Site, Community and Transport Forums meet regularly, helping us to keep in touch with our closest neighbours to understand concerns and offer regular updates on progress.
Explaining the changes
We are committed to ensuring that the community understands our latest plans for future workforce increases.
Access our virtual exhibition, where you can find out more, register and attend live events or submit a question or comment.
Hinkley Point C forums
Community Forum
The Community Forum meets three times a year, with more than 75 groups represented. Members discuss and advise us on key issues affecting the community and work with us to minimise the impact and maximise the benefits of new nuclear build to those living in the area.
Meeting notes and related forum papers are available.
If you are interested in joining the Community Forum, please contact us via e-mail: Hinkley-enquiries@nnb-edfenergy.com.
Main Site Forum
First beginning in 2011, the Main Site forum has been established to provide a mechanism for regular discussion between ourselves and our closest neighbours to the construction site itself.
Members discuss and advise us on key issues affecting those living closest to the main site.
Meeting notes and related forum papers are available.
If you are interested in joining the Main Site Forum, please contact us via e-mail: Hinkley-enquiries@nnb-edfenergy.com.
Transport Forum
Beginning in 2011, the Transport Forum is designed to a means for regular discussion between ourselves and representatives of the local community on the key issues affecting the local road network and our work to minimise the impacts to those living in the area.
Meeting notes and related forum papers are available.
If you are interested in joining the Transport Forum, please contact us via e-mail: Hinkley-enquiries@nnb-edfenergy.com.
Frequently asked questions
When will your peak workforce be on-site?
We anticipate reaching peak towards the end of 2022, with a steady increase in workforce between now and then, as COVID-19 conditions allow.
How will you be engaging with local people regarding these changes?
We have a dedicated web page where residents can find out more information about these changes. We're also holding two virtual events where people can speak with members of the Hinkley Point C team. The events will be held online, with a dedicated website that will share information on key subject areas relating to our workforce management and community commitments. We'll also be using Zoom to speak directly with members of the public and answer your questions.
Where will the workforce live?
As part of our assessment of workforce numbers, we have seen that a higher proportion of workers than expected are locally based and stay in their own homes. At the peak of construction we are expecting around half of workers to be locally based.
For the rest of the workforce who work away from home, we anticipate the majority will live in the main towns and villages in close proximately to the Hinkley Point C site as well as our dedicated campuses which can accommodate 1,500 workers.
The £7.5 million Hinkley Point C housing fund provided to the Local Authorities is successfully helping to increase the amount of accommodation available for the workforce and increase the pool of affordable homes for local people and families. The Local Authorities expect to deliver more than 4,000 new bed spaces into the local area, far more than our workers are expected to use, even at the new peak. Over 1,500 bed spaces have already been created in Sedgemoor.
How many vehicles will you have on the roads?
Over the past four years of operation, we have been able to improve the efficiency of our bus services so that, even with an increased workforce, we expect that we will only operate half the number of bus journeys that we forecast in our original plans. We are also confident that the number of Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV’s) travelling to site will remain within the strict limits of our planning conditions.
Our DCO assessed the impact of 1,104 bus movements per day, with a more efficient service now in operation the maximum number of bus movements is expected to be in the region of 525 per day.
In quarter 4 of 2020 we saw an average of 148 HGV movements per day, which is well within our limit of 500.
To help put this into context, pre-pandemic there were approximately 16,000 vehicles on the A39 south of Cannington every day.
What about fly-parking?
Monitoring fly parking will remain an ongoing focus for the project throughout construction. Whilst we’ve noticed a significant drop in fly parking enquiries since moving to a bus service which focuses on our Park & Ride’s, our dedicated team remains on hand to look into reports of fly parking and take appropriate action.
How will you ensure that as much benefit as possible stays local?
Hinkley Point C is already providing substantial benefit to the local area. Almost £3 billion has been spent with regional businesses and thousands of jobs and apprenticeships are helping local people to start and develop new careers - something that is especially significant as the country faces the economic challenges of the pandemic.
The Hinkley Point C Jobs Service works with it’s partner Jobcentre Plus, as well as other support organisations and training providers, to promote vacancies to local people. They offer support to help people update their CV’s and prepare for a job application. In normal times we run regular recruitment events, which attract hundreds of people, enabling them to speak to employers and find out more about opportunities. We are currently hosting virtual job fairs and online web chats as part of our ongoing support.
As part of our commitment to leave a lasting legacy, we’re recognised as a Cornerstone Employer meaning we invest time and resources to support local schools and colleges to inspire the next generation, whilst also providing careers advice and guidance.
How will Covid-19 affect your workforce numbers?
Our extensive measures to prevent infection are proving to be effective and they will continue to be in place for as long as the risk exists. As part of this, we are undertaking an extensive testing programme completing 1,000 tests a week.
We are continuing to follow Government and Public Health England advice and take expert advice to protect our workforce and the community. The number of workers on site will continue to be led by what is safe.
Contact us
The best way to contact us about Hinkley Point C is by completing our online enquiry form. You can also call us on 0333 009 7070 (24 hour free phone number).
For EDF's 24/7 media enquiry line call 01452 652233.