Local firms get boost from Hinkley C construction

The energy firm EDF has revealed it has spent £5.3bn using South West companies to build the new Hinkley Point C power station in Somerset.

This is one of a number of benefits outlined in the company's annual socio-economic report.

Hinkley Point C Head of Social Impact, Andrew Cockcroft said Hinkley was "providing really significant benefits, long-term opportunities for people and businesses here in Somerset, and across the South West region as a whole".

But as construction reaches its peak, with up to 15,000 workers expected on site, concerns have also been raised that more needs to be done to mitigate the impact of living near the biggest building site in Europe.

The billions spent in the area range from local firms providing food to advanced engineering companies.

But concerns have centred around the difficulty of other firms finding apprentices, parts for construction and problems on the roads in that part of Somerset.

One councillor has also described the local rental market as "broken".

But at Hinkley Point C (HPC), the new report shows some 5,000 people, a third of the people working on site, are from Somerset or the wider region.

That is also the case for 70% of the 1,500 apprentices that are working at there.

Grants totalling £17m have been awarded to local community projects like Bridgwater Carnival and Burnham BMX club.

Andrew Cockcroft, Head of Stakeholder Relations and Social Impact at HPC said: "It's been an absolute priority for us as a project to invest locally."

EDF has invested £24m into education and skilled provision, creating what they call "centres of excellence" in Bridgwater and Cannington, which have trained more than 14,000 people.

Matt Tudor, vice principal of strategy and partnerships at Bridgwater & Taunton College said Hinkley being so close made it a "leader in nuclear education".

Across Britain, 26,000 workers are now helping to build the new power station which EDF estimates has contributed £13.3bn to the British economy.

One firm which has benefitted is Berry and Escott Engineering based in Bridgwater, which makes steel products for Hinkley.

The company's director Lee Berry said: "To be part of the largest engineering project in Europe gives us the confidence to invest in our own company. The stability of work has allowed us to grow."

The company has doubled in size from from 30 to 60 employees and now takes on three apprentices a year, instead of one.

Mr Berry added: "Hinkley has put a spotlight on Somerset, so we're having conversations and dialogues with companies we would have never spoken with before."

Seventy per cent of the apprentices at Hinkley are from the South West of England.

One of them is 19-year-old Letty Smith from Wedmore who could see the Hinkley power station from her school bus-stop. She became an apprentice aged 16.

Alongside her apprenticeship, she is studying for a degree in project controls at London Metropolitan College.

She said: "Becoming an apprentice at such a young age was such a good idea, because I knew, as soon as I got into Hinkley, there are so many internal opportunities and promotions, and moves I can make, that will support my career for the rest of my life."

The BBC has spoken to some businesses, that have asked not to be named, who claim they are struggling to find apprentices, parts and land because they are all being snapped up by Hinkley Point C.

Residents have also raised concerns about congestion on roads in and around the power station.

Leigh Redman, the Labour councillor on Somerset Council for Bridgwater Central and North, has described the private rental housing market as "broken".

He said that "EDF has bought some fantastic things to the area" which has been paid for by mitigation money from the firm, but that it had come with downsides.

"Bridgwater and surrounding towns and villages are suffering with the private rented sector being under capacity," he added.

Councillor Redman said there are too many people working on site and not enough mitigations to remedy the impact on local communities.

He said people who've lived in Bridgwater all their lives cannot rent or buy houses, as they are "overpowered by people with money, most of them happen to be Hinkley workers".

Councillor Redman is calling on Somerset Council to "hold their (EDF's) feet to the fire" and negotiate a better deal for the people of Bridgwater and beyond.

In response, Andrew Cockcroft said: "We are very, very conscious of some of the impacts of such a large project on the community.

He continued: "We are working on plans with Somerset Council to expand the amount of local accommodation we have, which will limit the impact on the local accommodation market."

Mr Cockcroft also said EDF is reviewing parking facilities and working with the Somerset Chamber of Commerce and Somerset Council to develop strategies to mitigate impacts on local businesses.

Somerset Council said EDF and the council are currently in talks regarding the revised forecast number of workers, which will form the basis of mitigation negotiations.

A spokesperson said: "The Hinkley Point C project has bought many social and economic benefits to Somerset and whilst we welcome this investment in jobs and skills and the other positive benefits the project continues to offer Somerset."

The statement went on to say that they are "committed to working with EDF to ensure appropriate mitigation measures" are in place.

EDF estimates that Hinkley Point C will cost around £30bn and be operational towards the end of the decade.

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