Sizewell C to host first-ever Women in Construction jobs fair

• Careers fair to inspire more women and girls to pursue roles in construction, engineering, and STEM
• Around 35 contractors from the project’s supply chain will showcase career paths, training routes, and support available to women in the sector
• Event is part of Sizewell C’s commitment to building a diverse workforce

Sizewell C is set to host its first-ever Women in Construction jobs fair – with the aim of attracting a new generation of women into construction, engineering, and STEM careers.

The event will bring together a large number of employers and inspiring women associated with the Sizewell C project to inspire confidence, challenge outdated perceptions, and open doors to real opportunities in the nuclear sector.

Held at the Sizewell Sports and Social Club in Leiston on 15 April, the fair will showcase the wide range of opportunities at Sizewell C and across the industry.

Whether ladies considering returning to work, looking to grow their careers, or just starting out, there are a wide variety of opportunities available – from hands-on site-based delivery positions to engineering, planning, commercial roles, STEM opportunities, and supporting roles such as administration, catering, or driving.

Hayley Critchley, Head of Site Compliance at Sizewell C, and Chair of the Women in Construction Community Group, said: “We established the Sizewell C Women in Construction Community in summer 2025 to celebrate and support women working across our fabulous project – and this is our first-ever jobs fair to inspire more women to join us.

“Construction has long been shaped by outdated stereotypes, and we want to challenge those perceptions by showcasing the real opportunities available to women. With the strong backing of our supply chain, we want this careers event to show that construction is an industry where women can thrive.”

The fair is part of Sizewell C’s commitment to building a diverse workforce and supporting greater gender balance across the construction and infrastructure sectors. With thousands of roles being created during construction of the power station on the Suffolk coast, the project aims to ensure women are well represented and supported at every level.

Sizewell C’s leadership team already has 63% female representation, and its apprenticeship programme – launched in 2021 – aims to be 50% female.

Nicky Paine, Social Impact Manager at the Civil Works Alliance, a partnership between Sizewell C and three leading construction companies, said: “The Civil Works Alliance and our supply chain partners fully support Sizewell C’s commitment to encourage  women to join the project and we are actively engaging with local communities to highlight the wide range of fulfilling and sustainable careers available. Our recent partnership with Women in Construction Anglia and the development of a new Ambassador Programme will also enable us to build a strong pipeline of female talent for the future.

“We want all women to know that their skills, ambition and ideas are exactly what our industry needs – and that they will play a vital role in strengthening and shaping its future.”

Around 35 contractors currently working on the project will be exhibiting at the fair, including the Civil Works Alliance and Essex-based Blackwell Earthmoving.

Samantha McMullan, Administrator and Personal Assistant at Blackwell Earthmoving, said: “My own path into the construction industry has not been a straight road. I was previously a homemaker – fitting in part-time jobs while my children grew up. Jobs varied from shop work to housekeeping.

“I also worked in admin at a wholesale pharmaceutical company, and while I loved it, I wanted something bigger. My ‘bigger’ turned out to be at Sizewell C – working as a PA for one of their major contractors, Blackwell Earthmoving.

“All the skills that I’d picked up in my various jobs have helped me to get where I am now. It shows that wibbly wobbly roads into construction are great. If I can do it, so can you.”

The Women in Construction Careers Fair, which runs from 10:30 to 19:30, is free to attend and open to anyone interested in an exciting opportunity in construction – from those looking for a career change to those wanting to develop new skills.

At peak construction, almost 8,000 people will work at Sizewell C. Once operational, the power station will generate 3.2GW of low-carbon electricity – enough to power six million homes – and will reduce UK carbon emissions by around nine million tonnes each year. The project will also create at least 1,500 apprenticeships, with around a third reserved for local people in Suffolk.

Last year, Sizewell C’s careers fairs in Leiston, Lowestoft, and Ipswich welcomed more than 1,500 people. Details of further fairs will be revealed in the coming months.