Sizewell C has signed its third and final Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with leading further education providers across Suffolk and the East of England, completing a trio of partnerships designed to strengthen skills, create opportunities, and invest in its future workforce.
The refreshed agreement with Eastern Education Group (EEG) follows the recent signing of MoUs with East Coast College and Suffolk New College, establishing a coordinated regional approach to education and training.
The partnership with EEG was formalised at One Sixth Form College in Ipswich, and will give students access to expanded training routes, apprenticeships, and employment opportunities linked to Sizewell C, and the wider construction and energy sectors.
The MoU builds on a decade of collaboration between Sizewell C and EEG, and will deliver:
Phil Stittle, Executive Director for Business and Growth at Eastern Education Group, said: “Today is really important to re-align our partnership with Sizewell C, look at what we have done in the past few years, and what our priorities need to be moving forward so that both organisations can benefit.
“We currently support over 15,000 students across three colleges, a university centre and four learning centres in Suffolk, huge developments in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, SEND and primary schools in East Anglian locations – and all of these educational establishments will benefit from this exciting link up.”
Previous work between Sizewell C and EEG includes an immersive virtual experience exploring the journey of an atom, now featured at the Sizewell C visitor centre and Sizewell B power station. Meanwhile, its CTEC status – awarded to West Suffolk College through a £100m government initiative – places it at the forefront of UK construction training, and marks it as a key partner for Sizewell C.
Chris Young, Head of Employment Affairs at Sizewell C, said: “Our refreshed MOU reinforces the importance of further education in the skills system for us as an organisation.
“We want to continue to work with EEG to make sure the learners they support have the skills that they need to access careers with us and other employers and projects. And with EEG being the CTEC of the East it puts them in a prominent position to impact the delivery of construction and infrastructure skills across the region – so, we are delighted to be connected with them, and our other local education partners, not just now, but for generations to come.”
Students at the MoU signing event highlighted the initiative’s role in retaining local talent and opening career pathways.
Sebastian, 18, from Ipswich, said: “I think the MOU signing is great news for young people. It will create so many jobs and help keep young people stay in the area. It’s great for Suffolk and East Anglia in general.”
Lydia, 18, from Flowton, added: “It’s incredible – particularly for students who have a STEM focus for a career. It gives opportunities here – and will bring people to Suffolk.”
With this final MoU, Sizewell C has established a comprehensive regional education framework to equip local people with the skills needed for major infrastructure projects, support economic growth, and deliver lasting community benefits.
For Suffolk New College, this means supporting Sizewell C in establishing a new permanent post-16 College on the Coast on the edge of Leiston, which will deliver technical, vocational, and academic pathways aligned to the workforce needs of Sizewell C and the wider energy, infrastructure, and engineering sectors.
It also involves developing a new Civil Engineering Campus, a Construction Centre of Excellence and a Driver Academy.
Alan Pease, Principal and CEO, Suffolk New College, said: “The MOU will help connect our college (and education more generally) to a national infrastructure project. It will also help to create well-paid jobs for people of all ages, and this in turn will have a positive impact on the local and national economy.
“This formal agreement now means we are working very closely with one of the largest employers in the region – and the signing of the deal will mean our plans are moving from a place of ambition to reality. And we can’t wait to get started on all of these incredibly exciting projects.”
Meanwhile, Sizewell C’s partnership with East Coast College in Lowestoft has led to the creation of an on-campus employability hub. The college has also been awarded a grant through the project’s Asset Skills Enhancement and Capability (ASEC) Fund to establish the Lound Civil Campus — a dynamic training hub developed in collaboration with regional employers for new entrants, career changers, and existing workers looking to upskill.
Paul Padda, Principal and CEO, East Coast College, added: “East Coast College has been working with Sizewell C for a number of years, and the signing of the MOU continues our close working relationship. We see ourselves as a vital partner for the project and the work we do together will lead to investment in skills and job opportunities for our communities. Already we are seeing significant numbers of local people being trained and gaining jobs and apprenticeships, which will continue for years to come.”
These renewed agreements with our further education partners reinforce Sizewell C’s commitment to delivering a lasting legacy in clean energy, skills, and opportunity across the East of England. The project is also expected to sign an MoU with its higher education partner, the University of Suffolk.
At peak construction, almost 8,000 people will work at Sizewell C. The project will also create at least 1,500 apprenticeships, with around a third reserved for local people in Suffolk.
