THREE thousand more jobs are being created on the Hinkley Point C (HPC) nuclear power station construction site.

The employment boost will happen over the next 18 months as HPC hits what is known as ‘peak construction’ with a maximum number of workers on site.

A spokesperson for Hinkley C owners EDF said: “The growth will create new opportunities for local people to get better skills and jobs with the project.”

Many of the new jobs will support the fit-out of Britain’s largest low-carbon energy project with miles of pipes and cables and equipment.

Other roles will be created to support the workforce, providing a wide variety of jobs on offer.

The spokesperson said Hinkley C had also passed a new milestone with the number of apprentices trained reaching 1,500, which was 500 more than its original target, and more were still to come.

They said 70 per cent of the apprentices were from the Westcountry.

Three training ‘centres of excellence’ had been established in Bridgwater and Cannington to help local people join the Hinkley C project.

More than 8,000 people had already been trained in welding, electrical, and mechanical skills as the National College for Nuclear, in Cannington, was training a new workforce for Britain’s nuclear industry.

The spokesperson said: “Many of the new apprentices started their careers as part of the project’s Somerset-based Young HPC programme.

Jobs and careers support was provided by the Hinkley Point C Jobs Service, based in Bridgwater.

They said EDF was working closely with local authorities to assess the effects of its expanding workforce, with increased funding of mitigation measures to be put in place as the numbers grew.

The new support would build on successful initiatives such as a £9 million accommodation fund to help deliver new affordable housing, with 4,000 extra bed spaces in local communities.

Hinkley C’s community fund had now provided more than £16 million for local projects and community groups, and funding and support for other initiatives such as community safety, local policing, and tourism would increase.

The company would continue to listen to local communities to ensure any potential impacts were minimised and the benefits for local people were maximised.

Hinkley C managing director Stuart Crooks said: “As a former apprentice, I know the impact that training can have in transforming lives for the better.

“I am determined that we will provide as many opportunities as possible to help people from Somerset and the South West benefit from our project.”

Somerset executive Cllr Mike Rigby said: “The HPC project has bought many social and economic benefits to Somerset with employment and training opportunities foremost among them.

“While we welcome this investment in jobs and skills and the other positive benefits the project continues to offer Somerset, we are mindful of the impact that a nationally significant infrastructure project with an expanding workforce has on our communities.

“We are committed to working with EDF to ensure appropriate mitigation measures are put in place to cope with this significant increase.”