“Beyond what we were expecting”: Sizewell C and DWP launch jobs fair series with packed event

By Comms Team | Published on 23 October 2024 | 5 min read

More than two-hundred people attended the first Sizewell C and Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) jobs fair in Leiston as the project continues to create different opportunities for local people.

Sizewell C is creating thousands of new jobs, apprenticeships, and training opportunities for the region. The jobs fair – the first in a series – offered local people the opportunity to connect with many of the local companies in the Sizewell C supply chain. They also had the chance to meet people from local colleges and charities to access advice, make connections and find out what’s on offer.

Chris Young, Head of Employment Affairs Unit at Sizewell C, said: “It was fantastic to see so many of our suppliers and partners here to talk to local people about the diverse range of jobs and career opportunities that we’re going to have on offer at Sizewell C.

“Today has been about giving local people the chance to find out about the wide range of roles the project will need and how to take up the opportunities. The number of people who turned up was well beyond what we were expecting, and we are thrilled at the enthusiasm for the project.  We’re looking forward to running more of these fairs in other areas of the region soon.”

Alongside the Sizewell C Jobs Service and the DWP team, the event brought together numerous Sizewell C suppliers, including United Response, Tru7, Galldris, Dalkia, Vertas, Blackwell Earth, VolkerWessels, Atkins Realis, TCIGB, Civil Works Alliance, local educational  organisations Suffolk New College and East Coast College, charities including Inspire and Access Community Trust, the National Careers Service, and more.

Julia Nix, East Anglia District Manager for DWP, who leads all the Jobs Centres across Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire, said: “We’ve had a great partnership with Sizewell C for many years and we’re thrilled to work together to host this very first jobs fair. It’s so important to come together to show the community what we have on offer. When we get the public sector, the voluntary sector, and the private sector all together like this, that’s when the magic really starts to happen and we can introduce job seekers to the brilliant jobs that Sizewell C is creating.”

Local people of a variety of ages and backgrounds arrived to find out more, from those still at school and finishing university hoping to find their first job opportunities, to those with more experience looking to upskill or change careers.

David Wake, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility for Galldris, a civil engineering specialist working on Sizewell C, said: “We’re really pleased to be here supporting the Sizewell C jobs fair. It’s great to see the enthusiasm from local people all looking to get onto one of the biggest projects in Europe. The day has been really busy, it’s been non-stop since it’s opened, and we’ve had some really good candidates come through so we’re really optimistic.”

1,500 apprenticeships will be available at Sizewell C over the course of construction, and the project has pledged that a third of the peak construction roles – around 2,600 jobs – will come from the local area. Last week, Sizewell C announced that it was guaranteeing 500 jobs for people in Ipswich – the first of a series of specific regional jobs commitments.

Over 1,300 people have so far signed up to the Young Sizewell C service, which helps connect young people to in-demand career and apprenticeship opportunities in the region, while 200 schools have accessed the project’s Power Up education resources.

Councillor Lesley Hill, Leiston Mayor, Leiston-cum-Sizewell Town Council, who officially opened the jobs fair at the Live Well Hub in Leiston, said: “Leiston-cum-Sizewell Town Council consider the value of good career prospects for Leiston residents to be a significant benefit from Sizewell C. Whether starting out on a new career, or building on a career path already chosen, events like the jobs fair will give our residents and our students the opportunity to see what’s on offer and make informed choices. We hope this will be the first of many similar events and are delighted to host this event at the Waterloo Centre in Leiston.”

Sizewell C has also announced that it has launched a new employability hub in Lowestoft in partnership with East Coast College. Nucleus aims to provide employment search assistance and application and interview support to those looking to secure employment in the region.

Located at the College’s Lowestoft Campus, Nucleus will bring together services, training, and employability expertise to reach an untapped local workforce. It aims to combine the best practices of existing specialist stakeholders to provide pathways into employment, offering more opportunities to develop skills and find employment opportunities.

Chris Young, Head of Employment Affairs Unit at Sizewell C, said: “We’re thrilled to be able to support East Coast College to launch Nucleus. It’s going to provide exactly the kind of long-term legacy that we want to leave for this area – offering local people access to training and skills development, and the insights to access the best opportunities, not only on our project but across the region.”

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Posted by Comms Team