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International Women in Engineering Day is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate women's contribution to nuclear engineering.

Women have always been key to the UK’s leadership on nuclear engineering. Since the UK’s first nuclear power station was opened in 1956, hundreds of women engineers have helped to build the UK's network of nuclear power. Sizewell C will build on this legacy, ensuring thousands of opportunities for women in nuclear engineering.

Dawn James, Vice President of Nuclear Power at Jacobs, an engineering and construction consultancy whose UK arm is based in Knutsford, has spent her career in the sector. "When I started my career, I was often the only woman on site" she said. “While it makes me so happy to see all the women working on Sizewell B and Hinkley Point C today, I know there's so much left to do, and it's so important that we keep pushing for new nuclear projects”.

Sizewell C is already pushing to change the face of nuclear engineering, by making sure women are both encouraged to enter the sector and supported when they do. The project has also committed to the Nuclear Sector Deal, committing to 40% of women in their workforce by 2030.

Schemes like the Young Energisers Programme, raise young women’s aspirations, and encourage them to consider careers in the energy industry. Sizewell C supports outreach programmes like this with schools in the East of England to promote the diverse roles that the project will make possible. Talented people working on the project and at Sizewell B tackle stereotypes by meeting with students from local schools, to share their stories and highlight the incredible, well-paid, opportunities that await in the sector.

To sustain and grow these opportunities, the SZC Consortium continues to call for the swift progression of Sizewell C. The project can be the catalyst on which to bring thousands of women into well-paid, green, jobs – in nuclear engineering, and beyond.

As part of the industry, the Sizewell C Consortium members are committed to boosting women’s participation in nuclear. Already, a number of the 250+ Sizewell C Consortium members have taken proactive action to boost women’s inclusion in nuclear. This includes joining Women in Nuclear – an organisation devoted to attracting, retaining, and improving the careers of women in the sector.

In the wider economy, women will be key in filling the 70,000 jobs that will be generated across Sizewell C’s supply chain in construction. Firms will report against Diversity ESG criteria – ensuring progress is tracked, and these opportunities are filled inclusively.

What starts in new nuclear doesn’t need to end there, either. Sizewell C will help to unleash the power of new clean technologies – including on-site hydrogen and DAC. This in turn can help to unlock jobs, skills, and opportunities across the entire green economy. Already, Consortium member Doosan Babcock are collaborating with Nottingham University to develop carbon capture technologies for Sizewell C.

The female talent pool is an integral part of this. Dr Sarah Williamson is a member of this very talent pool. Named in top 5 Most Influential Women Leaders in Engineering UK and Europe in 2019, Sarah worked on Hinkley Point C and is now Civil Programme Director at Sizewell C. She said "I know first-hand how important new nuclear is for retaining and improving the number of women in engineering. The government’s ambitions in nuclear bring a great opportunity for the industry to deliver transformation needed in many areas– including gender balance”.

Coupling new nuclear with more opportunities for female workers is one of the most powerful tools we have to rebalance the engineering sector, while supercharging British innovation and clean growth.

To get going properly, we need to start by getting Sizewell C built.