HPC - 350 new British jobs as Bilfinger wins contracts worth £350m
- Industrial services provider Bilfinger will provide design, supplier management, procurement, pipework fabrication and construction works
- Contracts will create 350 British manufacturing and engineering jobs in Humberside, Warrington, Bristol and Somerset
- Investment and jobs will boost spending in North-West, Yorkshire and Humberside where 380 firms already supply Hinkley Point C
Bilfinger has won two new contracts worth £350m to deliver the design, procurement, supplier management, fabrication and construction of high quality pipework and specialist equipment for the new Hinkley Point C nuclear power station.
The industrial engineering company will create 350 new jobs in Britain, including specialist roles in engineering and manufacturing at its UK locations in Warrington, Humberside, Bristol and Somerset. Beginning immediately, the work will be delivered through Bilfinger’s Technologies and Engineering & Maintenance Europe segment with UK bases in Bristol and Warrington whilst some of the manufacturing of specialist pipework will take place at an upgraded factory in the North East.
Warrington-based Bilfinger UK is one of more than 380 Hinkley Point C suppliers based in the North-West, Yorkshire and Humberside. Full details of Hinkley Point C suppliers in other UK regions and nations can be found here
Bilfinger is also committed to training British workers through apprenticeships in a range of skills including welding, mechanical engineering, pipe fitting and health, safety and environment. 16 year-old Molly Fox from Minehead is the first Bilfinger apprentice to start her training on-site at Hinkley Point C.
Simon Parsons, Hinkley Point C MEH Programme Director, said: “With the creation of hundreds of new jobs and training opportunities delivered by this contract, Hinkley Point C is helping to build Britain’s industrial capability and boosting jobs and skills. Development of a near identical power station at Sizewell C will further benefit our extensive and experienced British supply chain. “
“We are delighted to be able to extend our relationship with Bilfinger, with the award of these additional work packages. A primary factor in our decision was not only Bilfinger’s ability to demonstrate their experience and expertise in delivering large scale nuclear construction projects but also their commitment and ethos to working within a trusted partnership.”
Bilfinger CEO Tom Blades, said: “With the two new major contracts, the volume of our work on Hinkley Point C surpasses even our own initial expectations for this project. We are proud to expand our relationship with EDF once again and to be their trusted and valued supplier for this essential work on the power plant. The contracts provide stability for our business while preserving and creating jobs for our local workforce. This new work enables us to strengthen our investment in additional fabrication capacities in the UK. The fact that we are awarded these major contracts in such challenging times not only proves our expertise but makes us confident in our business prospects.”
Charlotte Nichols, MP for Warrington North, said: “The Hinkley Point C project has already brought millions of pounds of investment into the Warrington North nuclear supply chain, and this latest announcement couldn’t come at a more vital time for Warrington or for the country, as we rise to meet the twin challenges of the climate emergency and the post-Coronavirus economic landscape. I am delighted that Bilfinger has been awarded such a significant contract, which will be a huge boost locally. And I hope that we can continue to see progress made on new nuclear- including Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C- for the continued benefit for jobs, skills and our green objectives”
Notes to Editors
With the support of Tier 1 contractors like Bilfinger, 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.
Bilfinger UK, Bilfinger Engineering & Technologies and Bilfinger Peters Engineering are involved in the delivery of the two contracts. They are to provide execution design, supplier management as well as fabrication and installation of pipework and equipment for the Nuclear Steam Supply System (NSSS). The system transports the steam needed to drive the turbine generator unit and ultimately produce low-carbon electricity. Bilfinger will also provide execution design, supplier management, procurement and fabrication of pipework for the Balance of Nuclear Island (BNI). The Nuclear Island is the heart of the nuclear power plant, including the reactor, the steam generators and primary safety and piping systems.
In February 2020, Bilfinger was awarded contract for Hinkley Point C’s Balance of Plant (BoP) package, which comprises piping systems that support the operation of the power station. Bilfinger was already recognized as a strategic supplier to EDF’s Hinkley Point C project in 2018 and had initially received contracts for design preparation and planning work together with the solid waste treatment. All contracts combined bring the total turnover of Bilfinger in the Hinkley Point C project to over £450 million.
Bilfinger is a leading international industrial services provider. The Group enhances the efficiency of assets, ensures a high level of availability and reduces maintenance costs. The portfolio covers the entire value chain from consulting, engineering, manufacturing, assembly, maintenance and plant expansion to turnarounds and also includes environmental technologies and digital applications.
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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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