Centre of excellence could train workers for Essex's major projects
A new site could be created at Bradwell Power Station
An application could be made for Bradwell Power Station to open a “centre of excellence in mechanical and electrical skills” following a shortage of welders across the UK.
There are a number of major infrastructure projects being planned across Essex and the wider south east.
The number of jobs needed for projects including Bradwell B, the Lower Thames Crossing, Ebbsfleet Garden City, the Freeport in Harwich and the London Resort Theme Park is expected to reach 100,000 by 2028.
But a shortage of welders – a phenomena being seen across the country – has already led Hinkley Point to open a welding school of excellence in 2020 and this could be repeated at Bradwell B.
Richard Dinsdale, operations director at Mace, who are consultants to the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, said:
”If we all want to get really rich quick we should all become pipe welders. If there ever was a shortage of skills at the high end – it is pipe welding.”
Head of communications at Bradwell B Kate Stinton added that it is recognised that there is a shortage of welding skills across the UK.
She added:
“There have been multiple discussions – that we have had – with stakeholders in the east of England about this point. Hinkley has recognised this as a need and opened a welding centre of excellence in 2020.
“Perhaps lessons are that if they had understood this point a bit earlier, that would have been opened a bit earlier. They have taken that lesson and are now applying to consider a centre of excellence in mechanical and electrical skills.
“It is something that we should be considering and given all the major projects that we have with that form of a centre of excellence of skills training we can deliver in the east that can help all the projects as one.”