East Anglian Daily Times | Thursday, September 17, 2020 15  Education

Apprentice Poppy encourages others to consider nuclear Sizewell C Poppy Able, of Sizewell’s apprentices, worked on the film of Sizewell B so students in the area get to see inside the station where she works. Here she tells us more aims to about her role. I’m 20 (the big 21 in December!) I’m a degree apprentice in the Sizewell B Engineering department, where I will then become a system engineer employ 1,500 – looking after specific systems in terms of maintenance, amongst other areas. I went to in Framlingham, and then stayed apprentices there for sixth form too. There were a variety of factors that made me consider a career at Sizewell B; my A Level choices, not ‘fancying’ the university Sizewell C is increasing the environment, encouragement during my work experience number of apprentices it is placement, the benefits of an aiming to employ from apprenticeship! I definitely think that young people 1,000 to 1,500, with a should consider nuclear. Despite Sizewell B being on my doorstep, I range of roles available in never really considered what went everything from digital on behind the scenes but there really is something for everyone, engineering and welding and the safety culture is second to none. to environment and Nuclear is needed in our energy mix, accountancy. and someone has to produce it!

Poppy Able is one of Sizewell’s apprentices and encourages young people to consider nuclear Picture: EDF ENERGY

range of opportunities Sizewell C is currently being thousands of jobs and training He said: “The college has will be based on or close to the from conventional to considered by the Planning opportunities in the East of already begun to build capability construction site in , degree level Inspectorate. and across the UK’s and capacity in advance of others will have the opportunity Aapprenticeships will be The new apprentices target nuclear supply chain. Together potential investments at Sizewell to work with suppliers in different offered if construction of the new follows the success in training with our suppliers, we are C, including through our £11m parts of the UK. nuclear power station, Sizewell C, people of all ages at Hinkley Point determined to help people who Energy Skills Centre, which is Gail Cartmail, assistant general goes ahead. C in Somerset. Four years into work for us get good creating benefit to adjacent supply secretary at Unite the Union said: Apprentices will be trained in a construction, more than 650 qualifications and build long- chains such as in renewable “Sizewell will be the catalyst for wide variety of construction and apprentices have already worked term, well-paid careers.” offshore wind or local small and providing young people, mechanical roles including on over 50 different training Cameron Gilmour, vice medium size enterprises in particularly those living in East degree-level engineering, digital programmes linked to the project. president – Nuclear at Doosan mechanical and electrical Anglia, with skills for life and it engineering, welding, project In addition, changes to Babcock, and chairman of the engineering.” will provide a huge boost to the management and steel-fixing. Government guidance mean Sizewell C Consortium, said: “Not Last month saw the launch of local economy. There will also be companies are allowed greater every school-leaver wants to go to the Young Sizewell C scheme, “It is imperative that the apprenticeships in many site flexibility in the training they can university and apprenticeships which is designed to introduce government not only gives the support services including give through apprenticeship are a great way to learn on the 16-21-year olds living in Suffolk green light to the Sizewell C operations management, logistics, schemes. job. This announcement and to some of the jobs development but provides direct environment, health and safety, Humphrey Cadoux-Hudson, demonstrates the huge potential the project could offer. assistance to ensure that this security, and accountancy. managing director of Sizewell C, of Sizewell C to transform the Young Sizewell C and a future project begins as early as possible, Sizewell C is the low carbon said: “The progress being made at lives of young people by offering Jobs Service will be used to so that these commitments on nuclear power station being Hinkley Point C has given us the them paid training and a great identify as many opportunities as apprentices can start to be proposed for Suffolk to help the confidence to announce a career.” possible for young people living in achieved as soon as possible and UK reach net zero emissions by significantly higher target for Stuart Rimmer, CEO/principal the . Sizewell C is the experience of building 2050. The application to build apprentices. Sizewell C will create of , said the also exploring ways to provide Hinkley Point can be fully college had already seen further training and employment utilised.” “amazing opportunities” at the opportunities by transferring EDF Jon worked his way to the top Sizewell C sister project, Hinkley apprenticeship levy to other East Local 16-21 years olds can register Point C, and anticipated similar of England businesses. to be part of YSZC on the website Jon Yates started his career as activities in Suffolk. While many of the apprentices sizewellc.co.uk an apprentice design draughtsman with the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) from 1981 to 1985. On completion of his apprenticeship he was sponsored by National Nuclear Company (NNC) to attend Leeds University, graduating with a BEng Hons in Mechanical Engineering in 1988. Jon entered NNC’s graduate Jon Yates, plant manager at Sizewell B scheme before transferring to nuclear power station Sizewell B during construction Picture: ANDREW PAPWORTH as an operations assistant engineer in 1992. Jon worked 2018 he became Sizewell B in various senior roles at the plant manager and is now the

power station and in March acting station director. ESX

A CGI of what the Sizewell C nuclear power station will look like Picture: EDF ENERGY