Cumbrian organisations have joined forces to highlight how the county’s experience can help with the construction of Sizewell C.
Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster, Cumbria Chamber of Commerce and the Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership will link the opportunities at the £20 billion nuclear plant set to be built in Suffolk, with the experienced nuclear supply chain, plus open up opportunities for new entrants to the market.
Suzanne Caldwell, managing director of Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, said: “Sizewell C have an established supply chain relationship with Suffolk Chamber of Commerce so it made sense to approach Cumbria Chamber of Commerce to co-ordinate this activity in the north.
“But it’s not about any one organisation, it’s about us all working together to use our networks and experience to benefit businesses – as we already do on other activities.
“We’ll be working together to do that in a range of ways including identifying and sharing specific supply chain opportunities, helping more businesses gear up to meet requirements and encouraging and supporting businesses to come together and collaborate. There are also great opportunities around skills development
and rewarding job opportunities. And Sizewell C creates a springboard for future activity, nationally and internationally.”
In 2020, several northern leaders signed a memorandum of understanding for the North with the Sizewell C consortium containing a number of commitments which will ensure that the benefits of the project extend across the northern supply chain.
Dianne Richardson, chief executive of Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster, added: “Using the established networks of nuclear clusters, chambers of commerce and local enterprise partnerships and extending into their further connected networks we can ensure that opportunities are visible to all interested businesses across the North of England while providing the support and networks to help them succeed.
“New nuclear is an expanding sector with room for all to benefit. A culture of collaboration rather than competition will create greater business opportunities for supply chain in the north and that’s what we’re creating here.”
Ian Wheeler, head of clean energy at Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership added: “This is a significant opportunity for the supply chain in the North of England and fits with new nuclear development as set out in the Cumbria LEP clean energy strategy.
“We will engage with the Northern Powerhouse and the 11 local enterprise partnerships across the North of England. We look forward to working with Sizewell C and Suffolk team to bring about this huge national infrastructure project and the wider development of new nuclear capability in the UK.”
