On 18th October, I signed an agreement with Sizewell C that saw them pledge to deliver 500 jobs for people in Ipswich during the construction of the nuclear power plant.
This commitment means that people from Ipswich are guaranteed to benefit from the significant employment opportunity on site. The agreement also sets out a series of further activities in Ipswich, to ensure that people can access the thousands of career and development opportunities that Sizewell C offers.
This includes working with the Department for Work and Pensions to run two community-focused Sizewell C jobs fairs a year, sponsoring the Suffolk Future Skills Fair in 2024, 2025 and 2026, and advertising in Ipswich media.
It also builds on existing agreements with local educational establishments, including the University of Suffolk and Suffolk One, and builds on Sizewell’s work with Suffolk New College, including expanding the College’s engineering, welding and fabrication courses, supporting the development of a Welding Centre of Excellence, scoping the development of an Electrical Engineering Centre of Excellence, and developing a Regional Construction Skills Roadshow.
It also commits Sizewell to working with our town’s local charities, including two-year funding agreements worth a total of £150k with the charities Project 21, promoting independence and confidence for people with Downs Syndrome, and Inspire, empowering under 25-year-olds to achieve a better future.
After signing the agreement, I issued the following statement:
“A little over 100 days ago, I was elected on a platform of delivering for local people. Today, I am delighted to secure a new agreement with Sizewell C to guarantee 500 jobs and significant new investment for Ipswich.
“I have long said that the transition to net zero provides enormous opportunities for our town and our county if we are bold enough to take them. This is an example of ambitious leadership delivering for local people.
“Today’s agreement means hundreds of people across Ipswich will have the opportunity to train, retrain or upskill, with a view to gaining secure, well-paid, long-term employment.
“Not only does this agreement guarantee 500 on-site jobs at Sizewell C for Ipswich residents, but it also commits Sizewell C to hosting two job fairs every year in Ipswich, and provides an expanded partnership for our town’s colleges and University.
“My thanks go to Sizewell C for this agreement, and I look forward to continuing working with them in partnership to keep delivering for people in Ipswich and Suffolk - this is just the first step towards a new future.”
The Government also welcomed this agreement, with the Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero, Lord Hunt, adding that “Sizewell C will create hundreds of jobs for people in the nearby town of Ipswich, and is a prime example of how new nuclear will directly support local communities. Our clean energy superpower mission is not just about taking back control of our energy system to protect consumers - it is also about powering economic growth through good jobs.”
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