Building for the future: Sizewell C accelerates supply chain upskilling

• Project joins the Supply Chain Sustainability School, strengthening skills and raising industry standards
• Local and national contractors gain access to free, expert-led training
• Investment in business-growth better enables regional firms to compete for work

Sizewell C has joined the Supply Chain Sustainability School, giving its suppliers access to a leading national training platform designed to boost skills and improve standards across the construction and infrastructure sector.

The partnership gives companies working for Sizewell C – from local SMEs to national contractors – access to thousands of free learning resources, supporting more sustainable, resilient and modern businesses.

Established in 2012, the Supply Chain Sustainability School is an industry‑wide initiative with over 50,000 active members and backing from 230 partners, helping suppliers upskill their workforce, improve sustainability performance, and share best practice across the built environment.

For Sizewell C, the move directly supports its strategic ambition to deliver significant savings in time, cost, and carbon, while building a stronger, more capable supply chain for one the UK’s largest infrastructure projects.

Malcolm Dare, Commercial Director, Sizewell C, said: “Our partnership with the Supply Chain Sustainability School marks an important step in strengthening how we secure and develop our suppliers. The platform enables us to create a standardised approach to upskilling our workforce and supply chain partners. It will benefit our project too, helping us to successfully deliver this landmark nuclear power station for the UK.”

Through the Supply Chain Sustainability School, Sizewell C suppliers can access CPD‑accredited, expert‑led training covering key topics such as carbon management, social value, modern slavery, and responsible procurement.

A core feature of the school, which is part-funded by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), is its tailored approach. Suppliers complete a self‑assessment that identifies strengths and gaps, generating a clear action plan to help businesses focus on the skills that matter most. This ensures companies of all sizes can improve performance, demonstrate compliance, and strengthen their competitiveness.

The new partnership supports Sizewell C’s wider aim to drive local economic growth, ensuring businesses build lasting skills and expertise beyond construction of the power station, currently underway on the Suffolk coast.

Andrew Wilson, Programmes Manager, Supply Chain School, added: “The School is delighted to offer a specific programme of training for Sizewell C and its supply chain. This will be a dynamic combination of services which will evolve over time and respond to ongoing Sizewell C priorities.

“It follows the same model of bringing together direct training and online support which we’ve provided for other key infrastructure clients such as National Highways and HS2. The support will be freely available and will include a business-wide capability assessment to benchmark and build organisational competence.”

Many of Sizewell C’s contractors are already members of the school, including Balfour Beatty, Flannery, Galldris, Galliford Try, and Kier.

Gemma Quirke, Chief Operating Officer at Essex-based Wilson James, Sizewell C’s Lead Logistics Partner, said: “The school has played an important role in strengthening our approach to sustainability. In fast-paced, highly regulated operational environments, it provides the structure, insight, and practical tools required to better embed sustainable thinking into our service delivery.

“As Gold members, the training, shared learning, and access to industry best practice, has enhanced our focus on areas such as waste and responsible resourcing, while ensuring we continue to confidently meet evolving expectations as Lead Logistics Partner to Sizewell C.”

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 reduce UK carbon emissions by around nine million tonnes each year.

Just two years after securing its Development Consent Order, Sizewell C has already awarded nearly £1bn worth of contracts to businesses across the East of England.

By joining the Supply Chain Sustainability School, Sizewell C is backing practical, accessible training that helps its supply chain become safer, more sustainable, and better prepared to deliver on one of the UK’s largest and most important infrastructure projects – now and in the future.