If You Build It, They Will Come

National Apprenticeship Week reminds us of the vital role apprenticeships play in developing the workforce of tomorrow. As the Government conducts a Comprehensive Spending Review and prepares a new Industrial Strategy, we stand at a crossroads—a window of opportunity to address the skills shortage and meet our clean energy goals.

The Government’s recent commitment to accelerating nuclear infrastructure planning highlights the growing momentum behind the industry, yet there is still one problem: the skills gap.

New research from the Sizewell C Consortium – a coalition of over 300 nuclear supply chain businesses - underscores just how crucial a timely Final Investment Decision (FID) for Sizewell C is to this effort. This isn’t just about jobs in the local area but a supply-chain that means investment and opportunities across the country, including for young people in places like Peterborough.

While contracts worth £2.5 billion have already been agreed with 290 suppliers across the UK, and 1,000 people are currently employed on-site, FID will signal the start of formal construction, giving confidence to investors and businesses that the project is moving forward.

Almost half of those surveyed from the Consortium believe the skills gap is hindering their ability to meet current contracts. In an age of reindustrialisation, the need for a skilled workforce has never been more urgent.

66% of businesses say FID for Sizewell C will lead to more apprenticeships, with 70% expecting to hire apprentices within three years. Additionally, 79% believe a fleet approach to nuclear—where multiple reactors are built in sequence, streamlining construction and workforce planning—will create more apprenticeship opportunities in the UK.

This is about FID sending a clear signal of confidence to supply chain businesses, enabling them to make strategic long-term plans and invest confidently in apprenticeships that will cultivate the next generation of skilled workers, crucial for revitalising traditional British industries and promoting economic growth.

Without pushing ahead with the current pipeline of projects, thousands face having to transition out of the nuclear industry, taking their expertise with them.

Chris Conboy, Managing Director, Nuclear EMEA at Atkins Realis said: “Retaining skilled workers is crucial for the success of our industry. A timely FID for Sizewell C will not only allow us to retain our best talent, but also harness the next generation of innovators, driving forward the cutting-edge technologies and expertise needed to meet future energy demands.”

Stephen Tarr, Divisional CEO and Group Sector Lead UK Energy at Balfour Beatty said: “The importance of Sizewell C extends far beyond nuclear energy. This project will provide a gateway to developing the skills that will be used to develop all forms of infrastructure, from hospitals to schools to transport networks. Trained through Sizewell C, the next generation of skilled workers will be those that build the critical infrastructure that supports our communities and economy for years to come.”

Sizewell C is the best opportunity in a generation to bolster Britain's skills, accelerate towards net zero ambitions, and drive the reindustrialisation of the UK. Doing so will provide an estimated 1,500 apprenticeships in communities across Britain.

But this isn’t just about nuclear. The supply chain has the ability to fuel job creation in other sectors, from aviation to defence to tech, helping ignite an industrial workforce fit to build for the future In Peterborough we are becoming a green hydrogen hub with jobs and opportunities coming in clean energy. By investing in them, we secure a talent pool fit to support British industries while offering young people opportunities and revitalising out industrial heartlands.

These high-quality jobs are available across the country, particularly in those areas with rich industrial heritage which are crucial to the Government’s plans to get Britain building. As co-chair of the Apprenticeships APPG and MP for Peterborough, an area that is home to many supply chain businesses, I’m acutely aware of the transformative impact apprenticeships can have on regional economies.

With momentum already behind Sizewell C, pressing ahead with the project is a tangible policy solution to meet the UK’s energy needs and address the skills deficit. If you build it, they will come. Let’s seize this moment and ensure Britain has a workforce equipped with the skills for a new age of clean reindustrialisation.

This article was originally published in New Civil Engineer.

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