We are family!

Celebrating the family connections at Hinkley Point C.

If you need any proof of the fantastic opportunities available for different generations of local people at Hinkley Point C, look no further than Simon Roberts and his family!

Simon joined Hinkley Point C in 2011 as a Driver and Site Tour Guide, where he still works on a part-time basis. Four years later, his daughter Nichola Wood joined the project as a Site Team Lead Facilitator for Framatome.

And to ensure it’s a truly family affair, Nichola’s daughter Grace followed in their footsteps by joining the project in 2021, initially with Somerset Larder, before joining Bylor as a Platform Administrator earlier this year. 

Reflecting on his career shift, Simon shared: “I was made redundant after decades with the same company, but I knew that Hinkley Point C was the biggest construction project in Europe and local to where I live, so I applied and was fortunate enough to get a job.”

Nichola added: “I grew up in the villages around Hinkley Point, so I’ve experienced A, B and now C develop over the years. It was always deemed to be ‘the place to work’ and everyone strived to get a job here. I knew it could offer many opportunities for career growth.

“Hinkley Point C has provided many of us with a source of income and job security, something in common and something to talk about when we’re all together. Also, we previously owned a business close to site and it benefitted greatly from having extra people living in the area.”

Family ties

It doesn’t stop there – Simon counts 18 members of his extended family working on the project over the years!

Like father, like daughter

The Mannion family’s links to Hinkley Point stretch all the way back to 1999, when Terry made the move from Heysham nuclear power station in Lancashire to Hinkley Point B. 

The family quickly settled locally, and Terry started what turned out to be a 25-year stint as an Efficiency Engineer at Hinkley Point B. 

In 2022, Terry’s daughter, Lucy, began her role as Internal Communications Consultant at Hinkley Point C, fulfilling a career dream sparked by her father’s stories.

Lucy said: “Dad had a big influence on my career. He’d often come home and talk about how good it was to work for EDF and how much of a family it was, which was a motivating factor to work here.

“I studied English Literature at university, but I always knew I wanted to go into communications and work at EDF, so I’m immensely grateful for the opportunity to work at Hinkley Point C.

“In terms of my career, it’s the best thing that could’ve happened to me. I’ve learned so much over the past two years and I’ve met some amazing people. It also makes me proud knowing that I’m playing a part on a project that will impact the local area.”

A legacy of opportunity

Hinkley Point C isn’t just building a power station, it’s building a community. Families like the Roberts’ and Mannion’s are living proof of how this project is creating opportunities that span generations, building strong connections and a sense of pride among local residents.