The number of people across Britain working on the Hinkley Point C power station has reached 22,000.

The growing number includes 6,300 on site, compared to just 1,500 at the height of the pandemic last year.

Final contracts for Hinkley Point C were signed on 29 September, 2016. Since then, 3,600 British companies have won contracts on the project. This includes more than 400 businesses in the North of England where spending so far has already topped £1.2bn. The firms include many large and small companies like Blackburn-based Assystem , Darchem on Teesside or Kaefer in Jarrow. By the end of the project £18bn will have been spent with British businesses.

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The nuclear power station will be essential in helping Britain achieve net zero emissions by providing reliable low carbon electricity to meet 7% of the country’s needs, working alongside wind and solar generation in place of fossil fuels like coal and gas.

Hinkley Point C and its suppliers are using factory construction and innovation to increase quality and productivity – with big gains between the first unit and unit two. They are ready to replicate these benefits with the near identical design for Sizewell C in Suffolk.

Managing Director Stuart Crooks said: "Hinkley Point C is essential in the fight against climate change and for Britain’s energy security. It is delivering on its promise of boosting British jobs, skills and industry right across the country.

"Covid-19 has challenged the project and its suppliers and I am proud of the enormous efforts made to keep the site safe and moving ahead. As we emerge from the worst of the pandemic, we can now create more jobs as we step up construction and manufacturing for the next phase of the project."