Recruiting now
Credit: Sizewell C / EDF
Today marks the start of an exciting new chapter for Sizewell C, the UK’s first British-owned nuclear power plant in over 30 years. The government has agreed to pump billions of pounds into Britain’s nuclear energy sector, putting £14.2bn towards construction of the new Sizewell C nuclear power station which could create as many as 10,000 jobs, helping secure Britain’s energy future and revitalise the UK’s nuclear industry.
The green light for the development at Sizewell C marks the end of a long 15-year journey to secure investment for the plant since the site was first earmarked for new nuclear development in 2010.
Julia Pyke and Nigel Cann, Joint-Managing Directors of Sizewell C said:
“Today marks the start of an exciting new chapter for Sizewell C, the UK’s first British-owned nuclear power plant in over 30 years. It’s a privilege to be leading a project that will create over 10,000 job, secure Britain’s energy future and revitalise the UK’s nuclear industry.
“This will be British infrastructure at its best – delivering a cleaner, more secure energy future for generations to come.”
Announcing the news, Ed Miliband, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, said the investment in nuclear would ‘protect family finances, take back control of our energy, and tackle the climate crisis’.
Based on the Suffolk Coast close to the sites of Sizewell A and B, the project has been described by the independent consultancy firm Enco as the best-prepared nuclear energy site in modern nuclear history.
It is the first nuclear power station in the UK that will be funded through a Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model. Under the model, consumers are protected through independent regulation, strict cost controls, and transparent oversight – ensuring families benefit from secure, low-carbon energy without bearing the risk of cost overruns.
Sizewell C will provide:
Clean and reliable energy for around 6 million homes – equivalent to 1 in 5 of all UK homes.
Over 10,000 direct jobs, supporting thousands more across the UK.
More than 1,500 training and apprenticeship opportunities, creating the next generation of British engineers, scientists, and construction workers.
Additional revenue for over 3,500 British companies in nearly every constituency across the UK, including Wright Bus in Northern Ireland, the William Hare Group in south Wales, and TRM in Sunderland.
Over £1-1.5 billion of annual savings across the electricity system when the project is up and running.
Energy security and the cost of energy have dominated the UK news agenda in recent years following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The UK’s reliance on volatile international gas markets led to a sharp spike in energy bills, prompting government interventions that cost close to £50 billion in 2022 and 2023.
By investing in nuclear energy, the UK can produce reliable, homegrown power and reduce its dependence on overseas energy supplies.