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Rapid progress is being made on the first unit, which achieved its own J0 milestone last June.

Assystem links with HPC on contract to create 100 jobs across the UK

By EDF | Posted June 18, 2020
  • Professional Services Contract will bring nationwide engineering support to the site 
  • 100 new advanced engineering roles will be created at Assystem with a UK base in Blackburn
  • Announcement follows 350 jobs created by Warrington-based Bilfinger last week

Assystem, the world’s second largest nuclear engineering company, has signed a contract to deliver engineering expertise for the construction of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station. The company, whose head office is in Blackburn, will create 100 new British jobs across advanced engineering, site engineering, commissioning, quality assurance and control, with development opportunities for new graduates and apprentices. 

The agreement follows the creation last week of 350 jobs for Hinkley Point C by Warrington-based Bilfinger. Assystem and Bilfinger are part of Hinkley Point C’s growing supply chain in the North West where almost 230 other companies are already involved in the project.  More details can be found here.

New recruits will benefit from being mentored by senior Assystem engineers, who have first-hand experience in nuclear power plant new build, specifically the EPR fleet (Hinkley, Taishan, Olikiuoto, Flamanville), and will join other employees at Assystem in the UK already working on Hinkley Point C.

The new nuclear power station in Somerset will help Britain cut its emissions to Net Zero and produce enough reliable low carbon electricity to meet 7% of the country’s needs.

Peter Higton, Managing Director of Assystem Energy & Infrastructure said, “We are delighted to be providing engineering support to the Hinkley Point C project through this new agreement, bringing insight and expertise gained from some of the world’s highest profile nuclear new build programmes. 

“The development of new nuclear power at Hinkley Point C is an exciting project that represents the next chapter of nuclear power in the UK. The development of Hinkley Point C will be vital in delivering low carbon electricity for generations to come, as well as creating jobs here in the North-West and across the whole of the UK and its success is pivotal for further programmes to develop, such as Sizewell C.” 

Catherine Back, Hinkley Point C Engineering Director, said, “Access to the best expertise, innovation and experience through our agreement with Assystem will be invaluable in helping us deliver Hinkley Point C.

“The jobs and training opportunities being delivered by this new agreement show we are delivering in our promise to build Britain’s industrial capability and to create new jobs and skills for the future.  Development of a near identical power station at Sizewell C will bring further opportunities for our extensive and experienced British supply chain.”

Notes to Editors

With the support of Tier 1 contractors like Asystem, EDF and CGN are leading the UK's nuclear renaissance with the construction of a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C. This will provide low carbon electricity to meet 7% of UK demand. The project remains on schedule and eleven months after completing the foundations on reactor Unit 1, Hinkley Point C completed the same milestone on its second identical reactor, Unit 2 on 1 June 2020

Assystem is an international engineering group. As a key participant in the industry for over 50 years, the Group supports its clients in managing their capital expenditure throughout their asset life cycles. Assystem S.A. Is listed on Euronext Paris.

Assystem employs 6,000 people in 15 countries worldwide and in 2019 recorded revenues close to €500 million. Assystem operates across the clean energy, power generation, pharma, environment, infrastructure and strategic infrastructure markets. 

Assystem provides engineering services to design, build, commission, maintain and dismantle critical infrastructures across the nuclear, life sciences, transportation, industry and defence sector.

Assystem is leading the way in driving a digital transformation in the engineering of complex infrastructures, combining its engineering expertise with the most advanced digital and data methodologies to support its clients’ infrastructure projects, ensuring that they are safe and effective, in line with their budget and schedule.

For more information please visit www.assystem.com / Follow Assystem on Twitter: @Assystem, @AssystemUK.

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The view of the unit 2 base weighing 49,000 tonnes from one of the 43 tower cranes currently on site.
The view of the unit 2 base weighing 49,000 tonnes from one of the 43 tower cranes currently on site.
Final section of the 20,693m3 of concrete being poured into the foundation of Unit 2's Nuclear Island.
Final section of the 20,693m3 of concrete being poured into the foundation of Unit 2's Nuclear Island.

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, is one of the UK and Ireland’s largest technical service providers.

For more information

Andrew Cockcroft
External Communications Manager (South West)
(T) 01278 484098
(M) 07875113689
andrew.cockcroft@edf-energy.com

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