Bridgwater & Taunton College (BTC) works in partnership with EDF, supporting one of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects – Hinkley Point C (HPC) – in delivering a wide range of Apprenticeship programmes which are required at many stages of the HPC Project.

One of the Apprenticeship programmes – delivered at the National College for Nuclear at Bridgwater & Taunton College (NCfN@BTC) – is the Project Controls Technician Level 3, which was this month celebrated as the first apprentices on the programme successfully achieved the Apprenticeship qualification.

At a small gathering at the NCfN in Cannington, HPC Managing Director Stuart Crooks talked about the significance of the Apprenticeship and the achievements of the apprentices, and presented two of the apprentices – William Jacobs and Keelan Gunningham – with their framed qualification certificates.

“Your Apprenticeship has set the path for many others to follow”, he said. “We’ve learned a lot; you’ve learned a lot. Successfully graduating through your Apprenticeship is not the end – it is the just start. Your skills are in demand; your career is not just about building a power station, you’re at the cutting edge of us achieving net-zero, making a massive contribution to people’s lives.”

Kevin McNealey, Head of Integrated Project Controls at HPC said: “What you’ve experienced in Project Control is of great value to us. We’ve seen you grow in confidence and as individuals. You’ve shown leadership to those who follow, and it’s really exciting what you’ve achieved, with exciting opportunities ahead”.

HPC has a large and varied Apprenticeship community with a wide ranging set of skills needs and requirements, and BTC has worked with EDF for a number of years in delivering quality training, skills and qualifications to meets these needs. “I remember the first conversation with EDF”, says BTC Principal Andy Berry. “It is a pleasure to see the development from that first conversation through to the achievements we’re seeing today. These apprentices are trailblazers and as a college that is rooted in the community, we are honoured to be a part of it.”

Photo shows Project Control Technician apprentices Keelan Gunningham and William Jacobs