Sizewell C – once in a generation opportunity for the region

Education and business leaders of Suffolk and Norfolk have come out in support of Sizewell C on the day that its sister project, Hinkley Point C, marks its biggest milestone yet on schedule – the completion of the base for the first reactor. Hinkley Point C also announced a new initiative with the local Bridgwater and Taunton college to offer training for more than 350 people a year in welding, helping boost skills and opportunities in the region around the power station.

Dear Sir,

Sizewell C offers a once in a generation opportunity to boost employment, education and skills in the region and will play an essential role in tackling the climate change crisis.  We must take this opportunity for the benefit of our children and theirs too.

We can see the progress being made at Hinkley Point C in Somerset and how the impact of construction is being balanced by the huge opportunities for local people.  Just two years into the project there are 4,000 workers on the site each day – half from the local area and 400 apprentices already learning new skills. Contracts with businesses in the region have already reached £1.5bn. Sizewell C will offer similar benefits for Suffolk.

Young people in this region deserve the same opportunities through Sizewell C which will bring 1,000 apprenticeships and thousands of jobs to the area.

Our schools, colleges and youth organisations are working with the existing power station Sizewell B and the Sizewell C project.  We want to develop home-grown talent and help them stay and develop their skills in the region so they can live, work and bring up their families in an area with a bright future.

We support Sizewell C because we support the East of England.

Professor David J Richardson, Vice-Chancellor & President, University of East Anglia

Dr Nikos Savvas, Principal, West Suffolk College

Dan Mayhew, Principal, Alde Valley Academy

Stuart Rimmer, Principal, East Coast College

Viv Gillespie, Principal, Suffolk New College

Terry Baxter, CEO, Inspire Suffolk

Emma Ratzer, CEO, Access Community Trust

John Dugmore, CEO, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce

Doug Field, Chair, New Anglia LEP

Simon Gray, CEO, East of England Energy Group