BUSINESS Secretary Greg Clark said he was impressed with progress at Hinkley C on his first visit to the site today (Friday, May 25).

Mr Clark was visiting along with Energy minister Richard Harrington, Bridgwater and West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger, EDF chief executive Simone Rossi along with delegates from France and China as EDF hit the milestone of having 250 apprentices working on site.

As well as taking in the site and being updated on progress, Mr Clark met some of the apprentices and staff working on the site.

"I have been looking forward to coming and seeing the progress being made on this very important project. It is great to see the tangible progress that is being made. I am also here to celebrate EDF reaching the milestone of 250 apprentices on the site. This is opening up careers not just in the the nuclear industry but in related areas, and these courses are giving them the skills that are going to make them in demand for many years to come.

"One of the big things that we insisted on in the development is that there are opportunities for local people and young people to develop the skills to be able to work here.

"I have worked closely with the local MP Ian Liddell-Grainger throughout to make sure this is happening.

Asked if these skills would be transferable to future nuclear builds such as Sizewell C, Mr Clark said: "Absolutely. This is not a one-off development. What we have done with Hinkley is to start a series of power stations being developed, building up our strength and capability in the construction of new nuclear power stations. We know the skills that are being created here will be in high demand right across the country and actually around the world."

Site owners, EDF Energy, have set an ambition of 1,000 apprentices working on the project during its lifespan, and hope a number of specialists will be trained at the new National College For Nuclear in Cannington.

Alisha Gallagher, 17, from Watchet, is 10 weeks into a Project Control apprenticeship which she studies partly in Bridgwater and partly in Bristol.

"I saw this opportunity come up and thought that if fitted my personality and would lead to a career. I have really enjoyed it so far," she said.

Josh Moss, 18, from Taunton has been a steel fixing apprentice at Hinkley C for six months.

"A lot of people on site aren't used to working with such young people but everyone has been really good to me so far and helping me learn," Josh said.

"I decided university wasn't really for me and that I wanted to do something more manual.

"I visited the government website and although I didn't know what steel fixing was, after a bit of research I decided to give it a go. I applied, got the job and its been good."

The contract for Hinkley was signed between UK and EDF in September 2016, and currently, there are more than 3,000 staff working on site every day.

Approximately £9.4bn of contracts have now been signed and roughly 64 per cent of the construction budget is spent with British companies.

The site also remains on track to meet its next major milestone, the 2019 nuclear concrete construction target, J0 (pronounced “J-Zero”), the completion of the foundations for the first reactor - and energy production is expected to start in 2025.

The on-site temporary jetty is expected to be completed late this year ready for operation in early 2019.

Stuart Crooks, managing director of Hinkley Point C said “The project is already making a significant positive impact on British industry, employment and skills and I am delighted that we have already seen our 250th apprentice join the team.

"We are developing talent which will have a long-term benefit for industry and the UK’s industrial capacity and we are determined to deliver the low-carbon energy Britain needs, with a relentless focus on quality.”