New Sizewell C charter aims to leave a legacy of skills for the East of England

In a significant step forward for workforce development in the East of England, Sizewell C has launched a new Skills Charter to help ensure the project delivers a truly skilled and inclusive workforce on the Suffolk coast.

The Sizewell C Skills Charter (PDF, 195KB) is the result of a collaboration between Sizewell C, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), Suffolk County Council (SCC), and East Suffolk Council (ESC).

It contains a series of practical commitments to address the workforce needs for the construction of the nuclear power station, while also ensuring long-term socio-economic benefits for Suffolk and the wider East of England. It will also prioritise inclusivity, focusing on providing opportunities for underrepresented groups, and supporting local communities.
Key to the Charter is the development of new training programmes tailored to the demands of Sizewell C, which will mean workers can gain industry-recognised qualifications and transferable skills.

Commitments in the Charter include:

• Getting people job ready: delivering pre-employment programmes and initiatives to ensure local residents, including underrepresented groups, can access training opportunities and pathways into the workforce.
• Upskilling and reskilling: rolling out tailored programmes for upskilling existing workers and reskilling those transitioning from related industries to meet the project’s unique demands.
• Strengthening local infrastructure: establishing centres of excellence and supporting training networks across Suffolk and the East of England to foster long-term skills development.
• Sharing labour market insights: collaborating on workforce data to optimise planning and ensure training meets industry and project needs.

Tim Balcon, Chief Executive Officer, CITB said: “The launch of the Skills Charter in partnership with Sizewell C, ECITB, Suffolk County Council and East Suffolk Council strongly aligns with our purpose to support the construction industry to have a skilled, competent and inclusive workforce, now and in the future.

“This close collaboration across public and private sector is critical to the success of Sizewell C, and its significant contribution to long-term economic growth both regionally and nationally. By collaborating on this Charter, we are maximising the value for Suffolk residents and local communities – by working with training providers to support local recruitment and skills development that will have a lasting positive impact on employment and productivity in the area.

“At CITB, we are committed to fostering a robust and diverse construction workforce that is equipped to meet the evolving needs of the sector.”

Chris Young, Head of Employment Affairs Unit at Sizewell C, said: “The Sizewell C Skills Charter exemplifies our commitment to creating a highly skilled and inclusive workforce, not just for the construction of Sizewell C but for the long-term benefit of the East of England. This partnership with CITB, ECITB, and our local authority partners ensures we are building a legacy of skills and opportunities that will endure far beyond the project lifecycle.”

The Charter sets a precedent for future infrastructure projects across the UK, demonstrating the value of collaboration between industry training boards, major developers, and local authorities, and highlighting the importance of harmonised training standards, robust governance, and a shared vision for workforce excellence.

Suffolk County Council and East Suffolk Council will play pivotal roles in engaging local stakeholders and ensuring that the project delivers tangible benefits for the region. As industry experts, CITB will focus on supporting the broader construction workforce, encompassing areas such as civil works, foundational infrastructure, and vocational training. While ECITB specialise in the engineering construction sector, covering mechanical, electrical, and advanced technical skills required for highly specialised infrastructure projects like Sizewell C.

Jobs and skills development at Sizewell C

Sizewell C – which celebrated a year of construction last week – has pledged that at least a third of the 7,900 peak construction workforce – around 2,600 jobs – will come from East Anglia. Last year, it made a series of more specific regional pledges, aiming to deliver at least 500 jobs to people from both Lowestoft and Ipswich during the construction phase, launched a new regional jobs fair series with the Department of Work and Pensions, and opened a brand-new employability hub, Nucleus, in partnership with East Coast College.

Across Suffolk, the project is delivering a Sizewell C Jobs Service in partnership with the region – ensuring that local employment is maximised. It is providing a £23m fund to enhance facilities and resources in local colleges, Higher Education and training providers and improve skills. And its ‘Young Sizewell C’ initiative – which aims to help raise young people’s aspirations and help them gain important opportunities on the Sizewell C project and supply chain – has so far seen over 1,300 sign-ups, while 200 schools have accessed the project’s Power Up education resources.

At least 1,500 Sizewell C apprenticeships will be available over the course of the construction period, with at least 540 of those to come from Suffolk, where the project is based.