Overview
The Energy & Environment Scheme continued in Somerset with a one-day immersive visit to Hinkley Point C and the National College for Nuclear at Taunton College. MPs were given access to one of the most complex infrastructure projects in Europe, alongside the training institutions developing the next generation of nuclear engineers and specialists.
The programme combined strategic context with hands-on exposure, enabling participants to understand not only how nuclear power is constructed and operated, but how it integrates into the wider UK energy, skills, and industrial landscape.
Agenda Highlights
- National College for Nuclear, Taunton College
- Engagement with technical apprentices and educators
- Hinkley Point C project overview and training centre tour
- Reactor unit walkthrough
- Infrastructure, logistics, and site operations briefing
Key Insights
- Scale & Complexity
- MPs repeatedly highlighted the unprecedented scale of the project, referencing figures such as 3,600 km of piping, over 11,000 km of cabling, and infrastructure including the largest bus fleet outside London. The challenge of delivering the UK’s first new nuclear power station in three decades was a defining learning point.
- Training & Skills Excellence
- Participants were struck by the depth and quality of skills investment, both on-site and through the National College for Nuclear. Engagement with apprentices reinforced the long-term commitment to sustaining UK nuclear expertise.
- Energy System Integration
- MPs demonstrated clear understanding of how nuclear power fits within the broader energy mix, including its relationship to net zero ambitions, grid resilience, and links to defence infrastructure such as Rolls-Royce submarines and future SMR development.
- UK Supply Chain
- The UK-focused supply chain surprised many participants, with components manufactured in Wales and Leeds and innovative use of Welsh slag waste in specialist concrete—highlighting domestic economic and industrial benefits.
Outcomes
Post-visit evaluation showed:
- 100% of MPs experienced a significant knowledge gap being closed
- Strong systems-level understanding across the cohort
- High retention of specific operational and infrastructure detail
- Clear intent to apply learning to parliamentary work on energy policy, skills, and net zero transition
A detailed evaluation framework, full MP quotations, and learning metrics are available in the downloadable report below.
