Significant clean energy jobs pledge sealed for Lowestoft

Lowestoft is set to reap the rewards of the growing clean energy sector thanks to a new agreement.

It will see the town benefit from at least 500 clean energy jobs during the construction of the Sizewell C nuclear power plant on the Suffolk coast.

The agreement between Sizewell C and Lowestoft MP, Jess Asato, comes as part of a special clean energy jobs pledge for Lowestoft - which will be announced today at Nucleus, a new employability hub at East Coast College that opened in partnership with Sizewell C last month.

Nucleus, a new employability hub, opened at East Coast College in partnership with Sizewell C last month. (Image: East Coast College) With Sizewell C previously pledging that at least a third of the 7,900 peak construction workforce – around 2,600 jobs – will come from East Anglia, this commitment aims to ensure people in Lowestoft benefit directly from those significant employment opportunities on site.

It follows a similar agreement with Ipswich MP Jack Abbott.

Work on the Sizewell C project is well under way on the Suffolk coast. Picture: Sizewell C (Image: Sizewell C)

With Sizewell C spending at least £2bn in Suffolk the company said today that some Lowestoft businesses are benefitting from £5m in contracts already issued - these include CEFAS, Elite Interiors, SRK Scaffolding, Pontins and Belle Coaches.

Julia Pyke, joint managing director of Sizewell C, said: "Lowestoft is an important town for Sizewell C – and this pledge is another great example of the major benefits this project can deliver to the area."

Lowestoft MP Jess Asato said: "I am hugely proud to announce this agreement with Sizewell C.

"They have directly promised to deliver 500 jobs to people in Lowestoft, securing a brighter future for our young people and those who wish to reskill.

"Lowestoft is well-positioned to benefit from the growing clean energy sector, creating real opportunities for our residents and helping our local economy to grow."

A CGI impression of what the Sizewell C nuclear power station would look like once complete. Picture: Sizewell C (Image: Sizewell C) The Sizewell C jobs pledge will be supported by a series of activities in Lowestoft to ensure that people can access the many career and development opportunities the project offers - including two-community focused Sizewell C jobs fairs a year and recruitment advertising.

Strong commitment

This activity builds on the strong commitment Sizewell C has already made to the town.

As well as an investment of £150,000 in the Nucleus employability hub and ongoing collaboration with East Coast College, Sizewell C has also recently announced a two-year funding agreement worth £100,000 with Access Community Trust to support Sams Wellbeing Hub and Café - providing a base to grow awareness and help people in Lowestoft access Sizewell C jobs.

In September, Sizewell C announced that it was committing £25m in an essential drainage and flood protection scheme close to the A12 south of Lowestoft, as part of the Benacre and Kessingland Managed Realignment Scheme.

This week, the project’s arts initiative, Sizewell Creative, announced the first in a series of unique creative residencies, launched in partnership with Lowestoft’s First Light Festival CIC.

And work is due to start in January as the Pontins Pakefield Holiday Village in Lowestoft is transformed into accommodation for 500 workers who will be constructing the Sizewell C nuclear power station.