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EDF investment enables 5,000 people to kick start their careers across the UK

Posted February 13, 2026
  • The Hinkley Point C project in Somerset has now trained over 1,700 apprentices; it has also provided opportunities for nearly 1,000 people to experience a 16-week training programme, with over half gaining employment on the project
  • Sizewell C, in which EDF owns a 12.5% stake, is due to hire 1500 apprentices over the coming years
  • In its nuclear business, EDF currently has over 500 people in our early careers programmes, including apprentices, graduates and industrial placements
  • EDF has a huge range of apprenticeships available across HR, Chemistry, Business, Engineering and more 

EDF continues to invest in its national apprenticeship, graduate and industrial training programmes to help build the skilled workforce Britain needs for the clean energy transition. With around three million workers needing reskilling and large numbers of young people not in work, education or training, apprenticeships and other training programmes are essential to developing the next generation of talent.  

To help deliver its UK business priorities, EDF is continuing to invest in hiring and training young people through various programmes, including apprenticeships. The 2026 intake will span nuclear operations, new nuclear projects, renewables and central support functions – from technical roles to HR – reflecting the wide range of skills needed across the energy and construction sector.  

EDF continues to invest strongly in its new nuclear projects. The Hinkley Point C site in Somerset has now trained more than 1,700 apprentices, surging passed its original target of 1,000 and creating long-term career opportunities in over 70 specialisms. It has also provided opportunities for nearly 1,000 people to experience a 16-week training programme, with two thirds being offered roles. 

At Sizewell C in Suffolk, which EDF helped to develop and has a 12.5% stake in, the project is looking to enable 1,500 apprentices throughout construction, including 540 from the local area and recently welcomed its 100th apprentice to site. Across EDF’s nuclear fleet, more than 200 apprentices are currently working at its stations from Torness near Edinburgh to Heysham in Lancashire and Sizewell B in Suffolk. 

The impact of EDF’s programmes is best seen through the experiences of its apprentices, highlighted during National Apprenticeship Week. Amy, an Engineering Maintenance Technician Apprentice at Heysham 2 power station in Morecambe, joined EDF to gain hands-on experience in the nuclear industry.  

She said: “It’s a very exciting sector with huge opportunities, especially as EDF works to help electrify Britain’s future. I didn’t want to go to university, and this apprenticeship gives me real experience without the debt – and far more practical learning.”  

Having already achieved a Level 3 in Engineering at Bridgwater & Taunton College, Amy is now working towards a Higher National Certificate (HNC) while gaining on-site experience. “Every day is different. We work across all parts of the plant, starting with a safety briefing before heading out with technicians. The support has been amazing – from coordinators and mentors to regular reviews with college teams.” 

She added: “EDF supported me to move to Somerset for two years to work at a live nuclear power station. I’ve taken part in volunteering initiatives and made friends for life. Success to me means being the best I can be – and EDF helps me achieve that.” 

Carol McArthur, Chief People Officer at EDF UK said: “At EDF we know that creating long-term, high-quality careers is essential to securing Britain’s low-carbon future. National Apprenticeship Week is an excellent opportunity to showcase the range of roles available and to show how apprenticeships open doors for people of all ages and backgrounds – whether they are starting out in engineering or exploring emerging professions such as cybersecurity or project management.” 

Over the coming year, EDF will also support EDF Power Solutions’ 2030 skills strategy, and oversee the transition of apprentices to Nuclear Restoration Services (formerly Magnox) as fuel-free stations Hunterston B and Hinkley point B move into their next phase. 

As part of its strategy to support the next generation of talent, EDF has partnered with upReach, an award‑winning social mobility charity that helps more than 3,000 undergraduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds access and sustain graduate career opportunities. 

EDF sets aside a number of Graduate positions within its HPC Nuclear Graduate Scheme and Industrial Placements in Nuclear Services specifically for upReach participants. Following a successful recruitment process, EDF has offered roles to 16 upReach candidates as part of our 2026 intake. 

About EDF

EDF is driving the transition towards An Electric Britain – a secure, affordable, low-carbon future for everyone. As Britain’s biggest generator of zero carbon electricity, we are investing more than £100 million weekly in Britain’s electricity infrastructure. We supply millions of customers with electricity and help homes and businesses switch to electricity for heating, transport and industrial processes.

We operate five nuclear power stations and more than 35 onshore wind farms and three offshore wind farms. Since 2009, EDF has invested almost £9 billion in the nuclear fleet to improve reliability and extend station lifetimes. The five generating stations currently supply about 12% of the UK’s electricity demand.

EDF is building the UK's nuclear renaissance with the construction of a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C. We are a minority investor (12.5%) in and major supplier to a replica plant at Sizewell C in Suffolk. Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C will provide low carbon electricity to meet 14% of UK demand and power around 12 million homes. EDF Group companies Framatome and Arabelle Solutions have a presence in the UK and manufacture critical equipment such as reactor pressure vessels and turbines.

EDF is enabling its 5 million customers, both in business and at home, to choose electric solutions that save cash and carbon, whether it is buying an electric car, generating and storing electricity, selling energy back to the grid or installing solar panels or a heat pump. In 2025, EDF’s Customers business was ranked as one of the Sunday Times’s Best Place to Work.

It is also one of the UK’s leading developers of renewable energy through EDF power solutions UK and Ireland. We have more than 2GW of renewable generation in operation and over 10GW in construction, planning and development across a range of technologies including onshore and offshore wind, solar and battery storage.

We are one of the largest suppliers to British business and a leading supplier of innovative energy solutions that are helping businesses become more energy independent. In addition, the company’s energy services business, Dalkia, one of the UK and Ireland’s largest technical service providers.

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