NORTH WEST BUSINESSES BACK NEW NUCLEAR AS THE INDUSTRY MARKS 65TH ANNIVERSARY
Leading North West businesses have put their full weight behind Britain’s nuclear industry as it turns 65 today.
The world’s first nuclear power plant was connected to the grid at Calder Hall in the North West on this day in 1956 – close to half of the UK’s 60,000 civil nuclear employees are currently based in the region.
Businesses are backing Sizewell C as a next step to progress new nuclear – and a clear route to the creation of new British technologies and clean growth across the region.
A host of leading North West businesses from across the nuclear supply chain are today calling on the government to commit to new nuclear and Sizewell C as the industry marks its 65th anniversary.
The nuclear industry is currently at a pivotal point, requiring government to commit to a funding solution for new nuclear power at Sizewell C. The businesses are therefore calling on government to secure the future of the nuclear supply chain, boost the UK’s post pandemic recovery and demonstrate delivery ahead of COP26 in November by backing Sizewell C.
The businesses highlight how the project could supply 7% of the UK’s electricity needs and support tens of thousands of jobs and billions of pounds of investment across the country. This could include up to 13,000 job opportunities and £2.5 billion of investment in the north of England alone.
However, without a clear clean growth pipeline in place, the future of the industry remains uncertain
All are therefore using the anniversary today to call for the government to introduce fresh legislation for Sizewell C in this autumn’s parliamentary session.
Trudy Harrison MP, the local MP to the Calder Hall site, said:
“I am proud to be the MP representing the constituency where the world’s first civil nuclear power station was connected to the grid. I myself worked at the Sellafield nuclear site early in my career and know first-hand the benefits that the industry therefore brings to workers and communities.
On this significant milestone for the industry, I remain committed to delivering new nuclear for the benefit of those not just across the north west, but across the country.”
Cameron Gilmour, spokesperson for the Sizewell C Consortium – a collection of over 200 businesses and Trade Unions backing Sizewell C, said:
“The Government has made levelling up a priority. New nuclear will substantiate this agenda and build on the progress made at Hinkley Point C – supporting the creation of more jobs and apprenticeships in towns and communities across the country, establishing a skills legacy for the next generation.
.As the UK progresses towards net zero, the baseload of low carbon, reliable energy that nuclear provides will also complement the rollout of renewables and accelerate innovation in new clean technologies such as hydrogen and carbon capture.
Sizewell C is the sensible next step to take – supporting a supply chain across the North West, and the rest of the country.
We call on government to take the chance and back it in this parliament.’’
Dawn James, Vice-President of Jacobs who have sites in Cumbria employing 700 people, said:
“The UK’s nuclear industry currently finds itself at a pivotal point on its 65th birthday.
Since Hinkley Point C began its construction over five years ago, the industry has gone from strength to strength.
Jobs, skills and opportunities have flourished across the region. Now we need to build on them further – and look ahead to the next 65 years. Sizewell C is a natural next step for net zero, nuclear and new opportunities across the North West.
We call on government to take it now.’’
John Coughlan, CEO of TSP Engineering, said:
“We are proud to continue as part of Britain’s nuclear history – and to celebrate this milestone today.
Working in the nuclear sector has enabled us to innovate and expand our business, providing highly skilled jobs to local people here in Workington. We are excited to help shape the industry’s future.
Going ahead with Sizewell C will guarantee these jobs into the future and provide the potential to create many more across the North West and the rest of the UK.”
Notes to Editors:
On 27th August 1956, the world’s first civil nuclear power plant was connected to the grid at Calder Hall in Cumbria. A couple of months later, on 17th October 1956, the Queen officially opened the power plant before a crowd of thousands.
In December 2020, the Government committed in its Energy White Paper to bring at least one large scale new nuclear power plant to a final investment decision this Parliament.
The Government also announced that they would be entering into talks with EDF regarding a financing mechanism for Sizewell C.
The Sizewell C Consortium is made up of over 200 businesses from across the UK nuclear supply chain focused on building the next nuclear power station at Sizewell.
TSP Engineering, based in Workington, operate from one of the largest workshops in the UK, holding a floor capacity of 20,000m2, two five metre deep manufacturing pits and a lifting capacity of 130 tonnes. These facilities have given them the capabilities to handle some of the biggest engineering and steel fabrication projects in the UK and beyond, including in nuclear.
Job statistics are taken from the Nuclear Industry Association’s Jobs Roadmap.
In September 2020, the Sizewell C Consortium signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the north of England – counter signed by a number of MPs – setting out an intention to invest £2.5 billion and create 13,000 job opportunities in the north of England were Sizewell C to go ahead.