Information

HPC News Update – June 2019
June 17, 2019
Balfour Beatty pour first nuclear concrete at Avonmouth

The Balfour Beatty team poured the UK’s first nuclear concrete away from a nuclear site when they began work on one of the six 5,000 tonne reinforced concrete heads which will cap the cooling water tunnels under the Bristol Channel. In total, 38,000 segments for 6,000 complete rings are required in the build of the three cooling water tunnels.

Kier BAM pushes ahead

The Kier Bam team working on the preparations for the station’s cooling systems have completed more than 70% of the concrete blinding, while good progress has been made on the southern section of Unit 2 by the Deep Dig team. The wave return units are being installed on the Sea Wall and the stairs to the east and west of the wall are being constructed. Backfill work is continuing behind the wall.

HPC up for a host of awards

HPC has been nominated in seven categories at this year’s South West Built Environment Awards. The prestigious awards bring together organisations and projects in the local construction industry to celebrate the region’s best performers. The award ceremony takes place on 14 June in Bristol. The project is in the running for the People Development Award, Innovation Award and Offsite Project of the Year, among others. For more information, visit www.buildswawards.org.uk

Centre of attention

The Hinkley Point Visitor Centre, shared by both Hinkley Point B and Hinkley Point C welcomed its 100,000th guest. Located in Bridgwater’s Angel Place Shopping Centre, it’s a one-stop shop for anyone looking for information on EDF Energy activities across Somerset and throughout the UK. You can also book guided tours of Hinkley Point B and C.

Taken from The Point June 2019

Category: Information, Project News
HPC News Update – May 2019
May 21, 2019
HPC is on track to reach J0 this summer

J0 – or ‘Jalon Zero’ – is a French term meaning ‘milestone zero’. At HPC it refers to the point when work starts on building the nuclear power station’s structures above ground. HPC is on track to reach J0 this summer when the final concrete is poured for the Common Raft.

The journey to J0has been a monumental effort. A total of 5.6 million m3 of rock was excavated for the Deep Dig and 9,800m3 of concrete has been poured to date. The Common Raft is the base of the Unit 1 reactor, made of reinforced concrete and ensures the stability of the Reactor Building, Safeguard Buildings and Fuel Buildings that all rest on it. It’s designed to withstand earthquakes, aircraft strikes and an explosion or fire.

Handover of Unit 2 Nuclear Island

T1 supplier Kier BAM have successfully achieved their latest milestone – the handover of reactor nit 2’s Nuclear Island to Bylor – HPC’s main civils contractor. Tom Moore, Kier BAM Deep Dig Construction Manager, said: “The Kier BAM and EDF Energy delivery teams have worked tirelessly to deliver these works safely and to an exceptionally high standard. We’ve used the lessons learnt and good practice from Unit 1, specifically the sequence of construction and handover process, to improve programme delivery.”

Pump House takes shape

Bylor has now successfully completed the five concrete rafts for reactor Unit 1’s Pump House – the building that will eventually be the focal point for all of the power stations cooling water systems. Although it stands 54m tall, the Pump House is buried 36m deep on three sides. It contains cooling water systems and supporting functions, such as filtration and ventilation.

Clearing the way for National Grid substation

Kier BAM has completed the handover of the area to the south of site that will eventually be the location of HPCs substation – allowing it to transfer its low carbon electricity to the grid. The completion of the platform will now allow National Grid to begin works on the Shurton Substation grid connection.

Work begins on Combwich Wharf

As the site jetty gets ready for commissioning, refurbishment is also beginning soon on the existing wharf at Combwich. When it’s complete later this next year, the improvements at Combwich Wharf will allow large loads to arrive by sea and then be transported the short distance around Combwich via a designated access road, to the C182 and then on to the HPC site. The revamped wharf will help reduce the impact on local roads and traffic.

Category: Information, Project News
HPC Suppliers – Support Grant
May 8, 2019
Sedgemoor-based small or medium-sized business (SME) who work as part of the Hinkley Supply Chain or are registered to be considered for work at HPC could be eligible for a grant of up to £5,000.

The grant scheme is designed to help SMEs meet or better fulfil the requirements of working as part of the Hinkley Supply Chain.

To be eligible, businesses need to demonstrate they have a realistic chance of gaining a contract or have a contract already at Hinkley Point C. Grants could be used for things such as recruitment, new facilities, equipment or processes, research and development, accreditation and training.

Other uses for the grant will be considered but only one application can be made per business will be accepted. Grants cannot be used to pay any staff members salary.

To qualify, SMEs must:
- Be an independent business and be registered in Sedgemoor
- Employ fewer than 200 people
- Have been operating for more than one year
- Provide three quotes for purchases, unless purchasing a specialist product or service
- Provide a full year’s accounts
- Be registered on the Hinkley Supply Chain
- Sedgemoor District Council is encouraging SMEs
Interested business should complete a grant application form which will be assessed by a panel from Sedgemoor District Council. More information and the grant application form can be found online at: https://www.sedgemoor.gov.uk/article/2271/Suppliers-Support-Grant.
Category: Information, Project News
Somerset Chamber of Commerce – Hinkley Supply Chain Team Tier 1 and 2 engagement role
April 16, 2019
The construction of Hinkley Point C power station presents major contract opportunities for the South West supply chain. EDF Energy (NNB) has committed to utilise South West based local suppliers (service providers, manufacturers of components, sub-contractors) wherever practicable on the project. To facilitate this, EDF Energy has been working with the Somerset Chamber of Commerce and the Hinkley Supply Chain Team for several years identifying and engaging with South West supply chain opportunities arising from the Hinkley Point C Project.

Role Overview

The Hinkley Supply Chain Team (HSCT), a collaboration including the Somerset Chamber and EDF Energy, has managed the South West supplier registration portal (www.hinkleysupplychain.co.uk) and associated activities since 2010. As part of this team the Somerset Chamber of Commerce is looking to engage the services of an experienced person to drive the engagement with main Tier 1 and 2 contractors on the HPC project in order to uncover work package opportunities for the SW supply chain. This role, probably circa 3 days a week, will be based within the Somerset Energy and Innovation Centre (SEIC) in Bridgwater.

Roles & Responsibilities
- Engaging with the Client (EDF Energy) commercial teams
- Influence and deliver T1 and T2 engagement strategy / tactics to effectively uncover work package opportunity and scope early in order to and succeed in getting SW suppliers engaged / wining contracts
- Engage Tier 1 and Tier 2 procurement teams from director level to QS as required to explain HSCT and uncover work package opportunities
- Interpret work package scope using own knowledge and experience with limited information made available from main contractors
- Guide / source suppliers with relevant capability for opportunity using HSCT systems / team
- Provide guidance, skill, experience to support Project Lead
- Assist with communicating work package opportunities to the supply chain
Skills
- Attitude – Team First, Positive – Solutions
- Strong relationship building at all levels (Directors to QS)
- Enjoy working at coal face as well as some strategic
- Happy to operate in support role not leading
- Good communicator at all levels of team, written copy, presentation at workshops
- Successful and working collaboratively
Knowledge
- First hand knowledge of procurement practice in large construction / civil / large infrastructure
- Commercial contract management (NEC 3 would be useful)
- Supply Chain assessment / support / SME management
Experience
- Needs to offer credible experience to Tier 1 and 2 contractors delivering £10 -100 million contracts at HPC
- Senior procurement or business development experience in the Civil, Oil & Gas, Utilities or Engineering sectors
- First hand experience in managing delivery, procurement or commercial contracts in relevant sectors
Please send C.V. and covering letter to Sam.Evans@hinkleysupplychain.co.uk

Closing date for applications – 30th April 2019.
Category: Information
Huge opportunities remain for regional businesses to get involved with the Hinkley Point C project.
April 5, 2019
Huge opportunities remain for regional businesses to get involved with the Hinkley Point C project, business leaders from across the area were told this week.

Sam Evans, Head of Hinkley Supply Chain Engagement on behalf of the Somerset Chamber of Commerce’s Hinkley Supply Team, said there were still substantial contracts to be awarded for both tier two and tier three suppliers.

She said there was a perception it was too late to win work at the nuclear power station development and said that view was wrong and urged prospective suppliers to register on the dedicated Hinkley Supply Chain portal.

“We were very Somerset-centric in the early days but that scope has now widened and we would encourage suppliers who would like to get involved from across the South West and South Wales to register on the portal.

“It’s a ten-year build, so we’ve hardly scratched the surface as far as the supply chain opportunities are concerned,” Sam said.

She was speaking at the Insider South West Hinkley Point C Breakfast event which was held in the MacMillan Theatre, in Bridgwater, on Tuesday, 26 March.

Other key speakers and panel members included Jamie Driver, the Hinkley Point C Senior Supply Chain Engagement Manager, Doug Bamsey, Strategic Director at Sedgemoor District Council and local businesses who are already working on the HPC project – Greg van Laun of Astron Fire and Security, Mike Morgan, of MMES and John Chaplin of The Bristol Port Company.

Mr Driver said Hinkley Point C would put £4 billion into the regional economy over the lifetime of the project and added: “The word out there at the moment seems to be that all of the contracts have gone – that’s very wrong.

“There are a wealth of opportunities still to be accessed and we need to look two to three years ahead; there are some contracts we haven’t even started procuring for yet.”

Mr van Laun said networking events about Hinkley Point C and working with the Hinkley Supply Chain Team had been invaluable to ensure his company was best placed to win work on the project.

“We were able to meet the decision-makers directly and Sam played a big part in that,” he said.

Mr Morgan told the event: “I also attended a seminar about Hinkley Point C and then made contact with the Somerset Chamber of Commerce and Sedgemoor Development Team and received an enormous amount of support from them. This is a great opportunity.”

Mr van Laun added: “It can be intimidating but it’s all about engaging with the right people to help you.”

For more information about registering with the Hinkley Supply Chain contact the team on 01823 443425.

Category: Information, Project News

HPC News Update – June 2019

HPC News Update – May 2019

HPC Suppliers – Support Grant

Somerset Chamber of Commerce – Hinkley Supply Chain Team Tier 1 and 2 engagement role

Huge opportunities remain for regional businesses to get involved with the Hinkley Point C project.