College hails “incredibly valuable opportunity” as Sizewell C hosts first wave of work experience students

• East Coast College students get taste of working life at Sizewell C
• Teenagers gain valuable insight into engineering, nuclear safety and communications
• Programme marks key step in Sizewell C’s long-term skills and employment strategy
• Engineering student: “It’s made me feel way more confident about my future”

Sizewell C has welcomed its first-ever full cohort of work experience students, marking a significant milestone in the project’s commitment to developing local talent and creating new opportunities for young people across the region.

From 2–6 February, a group of 16–19-year-olds from East Coast College in Lowestoft took part in the week-long programme, gaining hands-on experience across several areas of the project.

Throughout the week, students worked alongside a range of Sizewell C teams, including engineering, nuclear safety, and communications. Activities included a guided tour of the construction site, CV‑writing workshops, and sessions introducing students to early career pathways in the nuclear and construction sectors.

The initiative forms part of the Sizewell C Accelerator programme – designed to bridge the gap between education and employment by giving students direct exposure to one of the UK’s most significant low‑carbon infrastructure projects under construction on the Suffolk coast.

Dumitru, an engineering student, said: “Being part of the Accelerator Programme has honestly opened my eyes to what working at Sizewell C is really like. I loved getting stuck into real tasks and talking to people who do the job every day. It’s made me feel way more confident about my future.”

Layla, an organisational capability student, added: “This week has been such a good experience. I didn’t realise how many different careers there are on the project until now. Everyone’s been so supportive, and it’s helped me figure out what I might want to do next.”

As part of the experience, the nine students also had the opportunity to earn two digital badges, officially endorsed by Sizewell C. These badges recognised their participation and development and could be added to CVs, job applications and personal statements to demonstrate the skills and achievements gained during the programme.

The group was selected by East Coast College based on their interest in Sizewell C and their potential to progress into future roles on the project. At the end of the week, the students completed a group project and presented their findings to Damian Leydon – Sizewell C’s Site Delivery Director – highlighting what they had learnt.

Davina Bell, Skills & Employment Outreach Specialist, Sizewell C, said: “As registered members of the Young Sizewell C Programme, this opportunity forms a key part of our commitment to developing the skills of the future generation and bringing local young people into the project to experience what a career with Sizewell C could look like. Building on this success, we plan to expand the programme into other colleges and sixth forms across the region, ensuring even more young people can benefit from this pathway.”

This pilot programme was the first time Sizewell C had hosted a full cohort of work experience students on site at once, marking an important step forward in the project’s long-term employment and skills strategy. It also supported the project’s commitment to creating 500 jobs for people in Lowestoft during construction of the power station.

The work experience programme formed part of a broader effort to attract and develop local talent, ensuring communities across Suffolk benefit from the long-term opportunities created by the project.

Michelle Woolnough, Careers Coordinator, East Coast College, said: “Providing our students with the opportunity to undertake work experience at Sizewell C has been incredibly valuable. It has allowed them to witness a major project first-hand, build their confidence, and develop practical skills that will help shape their future career paths. Our partnership with Sizewell C has been extremely positive, with clear and consistent communication that has made the entire process smooth and well organised. This level of collaboration has ensured our students gained a truly meaningful and rewarding experience.”

Sizewell C is supporting young people through a wide range of early career pathways and hands-on learning opportunities.

Its Young SZC programme connects 16–21-year-olds with local jobs, skills training and career guidance, helping them fast-track into STEM and construction roles.

The project also offers extensive apprenticeship schemes across engineering, business, digital and environmental fields, enabling young people to earn while they learn and gain real industry experience.

As construction progresses, at least 1,500 apprenticeships will be created, including 540 for those in Suffolk, providing significant opportunities for local young people to develop valuable skills and access high quality careers close to home.

To date, Sizewell C has recruited more than 100 apprentices. Many of these will be supported by a new £39.5m permanent post-16 college in the project’s host town of Leiston, which also includes the creation of an Apprenticeship Support Hub and dedicated Training Centre of Excellence.

The college, known as College on the Coast and delivered in partnership with Suffolk New College, is expected to open to students in September 2027, subject to planning consent.

Information about apprenticeships, industrial placements and work experience opportunities can be found here Young SZC.