New report measures Hinkley Point C’s positive impact on people and the environment
- £20 million of community grants to 385 local organisations
- 19,500 people trained in local “Centres of Excellence”
- 1,740 apprentices trained – beating a target of 1,000
- £5.4 billion spent with 1,500 businesses across the South West
- New factory opened in North Wales to support the project
- Suffolk youngsters learn skills to take home to Sizewell C
- 65,000 trees planted and 92 bird species identified around the HPC site
The scale of Hinkley Point C’s positive impact on people and the economy has been detailed in the Hinkley Point C Socio-economic and Environmental Impact Report 2026, which can be read here.
New figures show that the project’s three local training centres, operated in partnership with the UCS College Group, have given 19,500 people the skills they need to be part of the nuclear power project. Almost 70% of the 1,740 apprentices trained at Hinkley Point C are from the South West. Others include youngsters from Suffolk learning skills they can take to Sizewell C, our twin nuclear project in the East of England.
The report also maps grants provided by Hinkley Point C’s Community Fund of more than £20 million to 385 community projects. Stretching across Somerset, the benefits have been accessible to over 600,000 people. The grants are creating community benefit that will continue well beyond the construction of the new power station. The investment has also unlocked match funding of at least £8.4 million. Around 40% of grants support projects in rural areas of Somerset with the majority from areas of known social and economic deprivation.
£5.4 billion has now been spent with businesses across the South West with case studies highlighting the suppliers growing their capability and winning new work thanks to their experience at Hinkley Point C. Benefits are also felt across Britain, including a new factory in North Wales which has opened to support Hinkley Point C and future nuclear projects. This facility alone will employ 200 people.
The project continues to deliver environmental benefits. The report includes examples of the planting of seagrass in the Severn Estuary to benefit the marine environment and the £700 million of fish protection measures being delivered by the power station. Surveys show wildlife around the site is thriving with 92 bird species recorded in newly created landscape areas.
Hinkley Point C’s home-grown electricity will provide Britain energy security for decades to come, meeting around 10% of the country’s current electricity demand.
Stuart Crooks, Hinkley Point C’s CEO, said:
While most people living locally say that they feel the benefits of our project, we don’t take their support for granted. The Hinkley Point C Community Fund has supported many inspiring initiatives which show the vitality of communities and people around our site.As I prepare to move on from the project, I am proud to see what we have achieved, and I look forward to the completion of a power station that is helping to build a more secure, more prosperous and more sustainable Britain.
Minister for Nuclear, Lord Vallance said:
We are delivering a new golden age of nuclear and Hinkley Point C will play a key part in this, boosting Britain’s energy security with clean, homegrown power. Hinkley Point C is driving investment in Somerset, while supporting a new generation of skilled nuclear workers to power Britain and deliver our clean energy mission.
Andy Berry, CEO of University College Somerset said:
Our continued partnership with Hinkley Point C exemplifies the power of collaboration between industry and education, delivering lasting social and economic benefits to the region and the country as a whole. Our partnership not only supports the immediate development of skills and infrastructure but also lays the groundwork for a greener, more resilient economy in the future. Looking ahead, the South West stands out as a leader in nuclear and engineering excellence, perfectly poised to deliver future projects.
Justin Sargent, CEO of Somerset Community Foundation, said:
We know that hosting the construction of Hinkley Point C is a source of great pride for many people in the area and has created many opportunities for local residents and businesses, but a project of this size inevitably also brings many changes in peoples’ everyday lives. The Community Fund has provided an incredible boost to hundreds of organisations in local towns, villages and hamlets, building stronger and more resilient communities which, in many cases, will have lasting impact far into the future.
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Wilstockhub, Bridgwater
Wilstockhub started as a grassroots community initiative in Somerset, driven by local residents who felt their new housing area near North Petherton lacked basic facilities and a sense of community. Since 2018, the Hinkley Point C Community Fund has played an important role in supporting the project which aims to build a multi-use community hub offering social and leisure activities, health and wellbeing services and opportunities for education and skill-sharing.
Cllr Lucinda Spelman-Ives, said;
Wilstockhub represents far more than a building. It responds to a clear and enduring need – a place to gather, grow and support one another. Hinkley Point C Community Fund investment underpins a sustainable, community-led asset that will generate social, economic and environmental value well beyond the construction phase, creating a lasting legacy for generations to come.
Sophie Chant, Nuclear Engineering Apprentice
At school, I often felt like the only girl interested in engineering, but instead of putting me off, it motivated me. It’s why I now do STEM advocacy in schools to encourage other girls to explore the field. I chose a degree apprenticeship because it lets me gain hands on experience, earn a salary, and work toward a degree at the same time. One of the best parts is rotating teams every six months – it has helped me figure out where I want to specialise.
Hinkley Point C has always been on my radar. I don’t live far away from the site, and it’s such a big part of the local area – lots of my friends’ parents work there and it brings so much to the community. So, when the opportunity came up to do my apprenticeship here, it felt like a natural step.
AMS Nuclear, Bridgwater
AMS Nuclear based in Bridgwater specialises in the design and manufacture of electrical instrumentation and control systems and environmental monitoring equipment. Following previous work, the company recently secured a new multi-million-pound contract for the supply of sampling and process equipment at Hinkley Point C. The new contract also places the company at the highest level of the project’s supply chain and reflects strong confidence in AMS Nuclear’s technical capability.
The award is already shaping AMS Nuclear’s development plans, with the company expanding its engineering and project delivery teams and investing in early-career pathways, including apprenticeships and degree level opportunities.
The company is now building on its experience at Hinkley Point C to support future projects, including Sizewell C and emerging technologies such as SMRs, where its system integration expertise is expected to play a key role.
Victoria Park Community Centre, Bridgwater
A grant of £46,000 is helping Victoria Park Community Centre in Bridgwater to modernise its facilities and secure its long-term role as a community hub. Opened in 2007, the fully accessible centre offers activities for all ages, including yoga, support meetings, baby and toddler sessions, a café, and clubs for older adults. With more than 1,000 people attending each week, the investment strengthens long-term community wellbeing and social value
The funding enables investment in staff and facilities, including reinvigorating the youth club, upgrading café equipment, supporting the lunch club, and providing soft play for young children.
Centre Manager Laura Fowler said:
The community centre is well-used, with a welcoming atmosphere. These improvements will create a lasting legacy, supporting a wider range of users, maintaining current services, and future-proofing the centre for years to come.
Jack Davis, Quality Assurance Apprentice
This apprenticeship has completely changed my working life. I knew I had more to offer and I was desperate for a change. One day, I went onto the EDF Job Service website, applied for the apprenticeship – and got it. That really changed everything.
Now, I’m working within the Quality Assurance teams on site, learning how to make sure nuclear specialists follow the right procedures and complete the correct paperwork during construction. My role helps maintain high-quality construction standards, and I find it fascinating. It challenges me in all the ways I had been craving.
Mathias & Sons, Avonmouth
Established in 1952, Mathias & Sons Ltd is a fourth-generation, family-owned business based in Avonmouth near Bristol. The company specialises in innovative, sustainable and inclusive workwear and PPE and has been working as a supplier for Hinkley Point C since 2018.
Work at Hinkley Point C has seen the company grow from 38 to 55 employees and turnover almost doubling in the past two years with the help of a new multi-million-pound contract.
In partnership with Portable Space Ltd, Mathias & Sons formed Suffolk Safety Solutions Ltd and awarded Sizewell C’s main PPE contract in January 2026. This will lead to the creation of 26 additional jobs and increase turnover by an additional 180%.
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