Hinkley Point C has announced it expects to hire 1,700 people in the next year, helping the South West economy recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The jobs forecast comes in the latest report into the positive social and economic impact of the new nuclear power station, which will play a key role in helping Britain fight climate change by achieving net-zero emissions.

The report shows that spending with South-West based businesses has already hit £3.2billion, more than twice the initial target of £1.5bn set as the project began. It also shows that:

• During construction, 71,000 jobs across Britain will be supported by the project which is now projected to deliver £18 billion into the wider UK supply chain

• Over 750 apprentices have been trained already as the project closes in on a target of 1,000

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• 14,000 people have now been trained and assessed in facilities funded by Hinkley Point C

• The Construction Skills and Innovation Centre and Welding Centre of Excellence are helping local people get the skills they need to join the project.

The new jobs on the project will include roles in construction, welding, electrical and equipment installation and wider support roles. The Hinkley Point C Jobs Service is working with Somerset colleges and training providers to make the new roles as accessible as possible to local people. Facilities like the new Welding Centre of Excellence and Construction Skills and Innovation Centre operated in partnership with Bridgwater and Taunton College, give people a chance to learn new skills to start careers with the project, even if they don’t have previous experience.

Minister of State for Energy and Clean Growth, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, said: "Today's report underlines the tremendous benefits the first nuclear power station in a generation is bringing to local people in Somerset and beyond. I was delighted to meet some of the talented apprentices already being taken on when I recently visited Hinkley Point C, and it's clear to me that major infrastructure projects like this are fundamental to our future prosperity as we build back greener from the pandemic.

"As we work towards our world-leading climate targets and drive forward Britain's green industrial revolution, nuclear will continue to be an important and reliable source of clean electricity, and Hinkley Point C will play a chief role in delivering that."