Sizewell C opens Manchester office to capture talent in North as project’s spend in region passes £168m

• New Sizewell C office opens in New York Street, Manchester to attract talent in the North of England  

• Sizewell C project has so far delivered over £168m in contracts to northern suppliers  

• Announcement follows previous agreement with Uni of Liverpool and LCRA to boost sustainability, skills, and economic growth across region 

• Sizewell C has already made commitment to invest £2.5bn in the North of England and create 13,000 jobs in the region 

Sizewell C has opened a new office in Manchester as it looks to attract talent in the region to join the nuclear power project currently under construction in Suffolk. 

Sizewell C – which last week reached Financial Close – has previously committed to investing £2.5bn in the North of England and creating 13,000 jobs in the region. After almost two years of construction, the project has already delivered £168m in contracts to businesses in the North.  

The opening of the new office, in New York Street in Manchester, is another sign that the benefits and opportunities of the project stretch right across the UK and is a reflection of the talent base that exists in the area.  

The North is an important region for nuclear talent and skills, with a third of the total UK nuclear workforce based in the area, with the majority of those in the North-West.   

Nigel Cann, Joint Managing Director of Sizewell C, said: “Sizewell C is a project that will benefit the whole of the UK, not just by generating energy, but by delivering thousands of jobs, growth and economic benefits right across the country.  

“By opening a new office here in Manchester, we can be part of the strong concentration of nuclear skills and experience here in the North and harness talent that might not otherwise have joined our project. And it’s another step in ensuring that Britain has the nuclear workforce it needs for the future.”  

A British project whose largest investor is the UK government, Sizewell C will support thousands of jobs across the UK, will create 1,500 apprenticeships, and will deliver over 70% of its construction value to British suppliers, increasing to 90% over the lifetime of the project.  

Last month, the project announced a six-year supply contract with Urenco for the provision of enriched uranium services: a contract that will help to support around 1,000 existing highly skilled jobs at Urenco’s enrichment site at Capenhurst, near Chester in the North-West. 

Urenco are one of a number of suppliers based in the North who were present to celebrate the opening of Sizewell C’s northern office this week, alongside suppliers such as Exentec Hargreaves and Laing O’Rourke.  

Exentec Hargreaves, which has manufacturing facilities in Bury, signed a contract with Sizewell C last year to deliver to deliver HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) for the project.  

Ryan Gorman, Managing Director, Exentec Hargreaves, said: “Exentec Hargreaves is proud to be part of the Sizewell C project, which represents a vital investment in the UK’s clean energy future and in the long-term sustainability of our engineering workforce. With over 150 years of heritage, including a nuclear legacy that began in the 1950s, we have always championed British engineering and the development of skilled talent, delivering nuclear safety.  

“Sizewell C enables us to continue that commitment, creating opportunities for apprentices, investing in our manufacturing facilities in Bury, Greater Manchester, and developing the next generation of nuclear HVAC engineers and installers. This project gives businesses across the North the confidence to invest, grow, and contribute to the UK’s net zero ambitions.” 

The office opening event, on Thursday 13 November, saw Sizewell C highlight how businesses in the North can benefit from being “supplier ready”, and there was insight from University of Liverpool academic, Professor Joanne Meehan, who focused on procurement strategy.  

Bill Esterson MP, Chair of the ESNZ committee, said: “This exciting development begins to show us what Britain’s modern industrial strategy will look like in action. With the valuable links already forged with Liverpool University, this builds linkages between regional research, development and skills hubs to spread the benefits of major infrastructure investment right across the country, from Southeast to Northwest. 

“After decades of neglect that eroded the UK’s global nuclear energy advantage, now we see a real move towards strategically rebuilding a national backbone of skilled engineers and technicians. 90% of Sizewell C’s construction value will ultimately be delivered to British suppliers: these linkages are also developing skills and roles for the wider energy transition and help to secure domestic supply chains.” 

Sizewell C last year signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Liverpool and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRA), committing to work together to help boost sustainability, skills and economic growth across the region. 

Sizewell C has regional spend agreements in place across the UK, including £900m in Wales, £2.5bn in the North, and £4.4bn in the East of England where the project is based.   

After two years of construction, there are approaching 2,000 people on site and nearly 100 apprentices, while more than 400 British suppliers have already secured contracts worth £2.8 billion. 

Information about careers and jobs at Sizewell C can be found on the Sizewell C jobs page.