The UK is on the cusp of a major energy transformation, placing nuclear power firmly at the heart of its future strategy.

This renewed commitment to clean, secure, homegrown energy is encapsulated in one of the nation’s most ambitious infrastructure projects: Sizewell C.

The UK government’s recent announcement of a significant £14.2 billion investment into the construction of this new nuclear power plant in Suffolk is a landmark moment.

This commitment, confirmed by the government, signals an end to decades of nuclear policy inertia and kicks off the most ambitious nuclear building programme in a generation (GOV.UK, 2025).

The project, which will take at least a decade to complete its construction phase, is designed to power the equivalent of approximately six million homes for over 60 years (GOV.UK, 2025).

For businesses involved in this colossal undertaking, the ability to source and place highly vetted talent quickly will be the single most critical factor for success.

Astute People, with our dedicated nuclear recruitment expertise and physical presence – including our new office in Leiston, Suffolk, located right on the doorstep of the Sizewell C site – is ready to meet this challenge.

While Sizewell C promises to boost the UK’s energy security and drive down system costs by an estimated £2 billion a year once operational (GOV.UK, 2025), its immediate and profound impact will be felt across the UK’s job market, particularly within the highly specialised nuclear sector.

The project is forecast to create 10,000 jobs at peak construction, including 1,500 apprenticeships, and support thousands more across the nationwide supply chain, with an estimated 70% of the construction value going to British businesses (GOV.UK, 2025).

The Nuclear Talent Gap: Challenges on the Horizon

This surge in demand, however, is set against a challenging backdrop within the UK’s nuclear industry.

The sector, which has already grown its workforce by 35% since 2021 to around 87,000 people, is grappling with a severe talent shortfall (Nuclear Industry Association, 2025).

The industry’s expansion – driven by Hinkley Point C, Sizewell C, and the AUKUS submarine programme – means the sector is forecast to require an estimated 40,000 additional skilled workers by 2030 (Nuclear Skills Strategy Group, 2023).

Nuclear businesses, in their bid to secure talent for Sizewell C and beyond, must navigate several critical challenges:

The Ageing Workforce Crisis

The current nuclear workforce is heavily skewed towards the older end of the spectrum, with around 39% of the Engineering Construction Industry (ECI) workforce in nuclear being over the age of 50 (ECITB, 2021).

This impending wave of retirements risks a significant loss of critical, hard-earned knowledge and experience, creating a void that younger talent pipelines are struggling to fill.

Intense Competition in a High-Demand Sector

Nuclear is competing directly with other high-growth sectors like renewables, defence, and infrastructure for core skills such as engineering, project management, and technical roles.

This makes recruitment for critical roles – like mechanical and electrical engineers or project controls specialists – exceptionally difficult, with over 90% of ECI employers in the nuclear sector already experiencing challenges hiring workers (ECITB, 2021).

The challenge is not just finding skilled people, but also adapting their existing experience for the unique requirements of the nuclear environment.

Highly Regulated Environment and Security Clearance

The nuclear industry is one of the most highly regulated in the world.

Access to sensitive sites like Sizewell C requires rigorous security vetting.

Depending on the role, candidates may need to undergo the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), a Security Check (SC), or even the most comprehensive Developed Vetting (DV) (UK Parliament, 2024).

This complex and lengthy process, with higher-level vetting often taking months, adds friction and delays to the recruitment cycle.

The Need for ‘Nuclearisation’ of Skills

While transferable skills from adjacent sectors like aerospace, oil and gas, or defence are valuable, these professionals require ‘nuclearisation’ – specialised training in the sector’s unique safety culture, regulatory standards, and technology.

Developing these pathways at scale is a significant hurdle for employers.

10 High-Demand Nuclear Jobs Driven by Sizewell C

The construction and future operation of Sizewell C will generate demand across every stage of the project lifecycle, from initial concrete pouring to final commissioning. Here are 10 nuclear jobs that will be in exceptionally high demand. If your business is ready to fill these critical roles, you can Register a nuclear job contact page with Astute People today.

Project Controls Manager/Engineer: Crucial for managing the project’s schedule, costs, and risk, especially given the scale and complexity of new build projects like Sizewell C.
Commissioning Engineer (Mechanical/Electrical): Responsible for verifying, testing, and bringing all systems online safely—a high-stakes role bridging construction and operation.
Nuclear Safety/QA/QC Engineer: Essential for maintaining the industry’s stringent regulatory standards and ensuring quality across all construction and engineering work.
Welding and Pipefitting Specialist (Coded): Highly skilled tradespeople required for the fabrication and installation of critical nuclear-grade components and pipework.
Cranes and Heavy Lifting Specialist: Needed for the complex, large-scale lifts of major plant components, a defining feature of nuclear new build.
I&C (Instrumentation & Control) Engineer: Specialists who design, install, and maintain the complex systems that monitor and control the reactor.
Electrical & High-Voltage Engineer: Required for designing and installing the power transmission systems within the plant and connecting it to the national grid.
Civil and Structural Engineer: Core roles during the construction phase, responsible for the design and construction of the immense reactor buildings and associated infrastructure.
Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) Manager: Given the hazardous nature and scale of the project, top-tier HSE professionals are always in demand to manage safety compliance and environmental impact.
Emergency Planner/Security Specialist: Required to establish and maintain the operational security and emergency response protocols essential for any nuclear site.

Astute People: Strategic Solutions for the Nuclear Talent Challenge

The sheer magnitude of the Sizewell C project and the accompanying industry challenges require a strategic, proactive approach to talent acquisition – one that moves beyond traditional reactive recruitment.

As a professional nuclear recruiter with a local presence in Leiston, Astute People is uniquely positioned to offer solutions that mitigate the risks associated with the skills gap and high regulatory hurdles. Learn more about Astute’s recruitment solutions for the nuclear sector.

1. Strategic Workforce Planning and Mapping

We partner with nuclear businesses to conduct forensic workforce mapping, allowing us to forecast talent requirements years in advance, not just for the construction peak but also for the subsequent operations phase.

This strategic foresight allows companies to build sustainable talent pipelines, targeting niche skills before the market becomes saturated. We focus on identifying critical skills subject to high attrition rates from the ageing workforce, ensuring a smooth transition of knowledge.

2. Deploying Contract Talent to Bridge Critical Gaps

The decade-long construction phase of Sizewell C creates volatile, project-based demand for highly specific skills.

Astute People provides flexible, contract-based talent – including engineers, project managers, and quality inspectors – who can be deployed rapidly to fill immediate, high-priority vacancies.

This is essential for managing the surges and troughs of a major construction programme and ensures project milestones are met without costly delays.

Our expansive network includes professionals with previous experience on similar European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) projects (like Hinkley Point C), providing immediately ‘nuclear-ready’ expertise.

3. Accelerating the Security Clearance Process

Recognising the time-consuming nature of security vetting, we provide expert support and guidance to candidates throughout the BPSS, SC, and DV processes.

By ensuring all documentation is meticulous and accurate from the outset, we minimise delays and friction, significantly accelerating the time-to-hire for roles requiring high-level clearance.

For urgent requirements, we often maintain a pool of candidates who are either currently cleared or have clearances that are readily reactivated.

4. Cross-Sector Talent Sourcing and ‘Nuclearisation’

The future of the nuclear workforce lies in attracting and ‘nuclearising’ talent from adjacent, highly-regulated industries.

We actively source skilled professionals from sectors like defence, aerospace, oil and gas, and naval engineering, where core competencies in safety, regulation, and complex project delivery are transferable.

Our service includes working with clients to identify transferable skills and advising on the training pathways required to embed the necessary nuclear safety culture.

By embracing a strategic partnership approach, Astute People helps nuclear businesses secure the right talent, at the right time, to deliver on the UK’s ambitious nuclear vision, ensuring that the promise of Sizewell C is fully realised.

About the Author: Gemma Nixon

With multiple years of experience in the nuclear recruitment industry, Gemma Nixon is a Senior Recruitment Partner at Astute People, specialising in both permanent and contract recruitment within the nuclear sector.

She has built strong relationships with key players in the industry, helping them secure top talent for projects in new build nuclear facilities, decommissioning, radioactive waste management, and radiation protection.

Gemma takes pride in her consultative approach, guiding clients through the complexities of the nuclear industry.

She leads the recruitment efforts for both large-scale projects, such as Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C, as well as smaller, specialised initiatives.

Gemma’s key areas of expertise include: Nuclear new build, Nuclear decommissioning, radioactive waste management, and contract & permanent recruitment.

As a passionate advocate for the nuclear sector, she is committed to supporting the industry by providing tailored Astute People recruitment solutions that drive success.

If you’re looking to connect with top talent or need recruitment support for your nuclear projects, Gemma is here to help.

Article References

ECITB. (2021). ECITB Workforce Census 2021. [Report]. View Source
GOV.UK. (2025). Sizewell C gets green light with final investment decision. [Press Release]. View Source
Nuclear Industry Association (NIA). (2025). New nuclear drives £20 billion boost for UK economy. [Press Release]. View Source
Nuclear Skills Strategy Group (NSSG). (2023). Summary of Nuclear Workforce Data 2023. [Report]. View Source
UK Parliament. (2024). National Security Vetting Your Questions Answered. [Guidance Booklet]. View Source