Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station Advances CCNSG Safety Passport Collaboration to Ensure Site Safety During Peak Construction

Hinkley Point C (HPC) nuclear power station in the UK is deepening its collaboration with the Client Contractor National Safety Group (CCNSG) to safeguard thousands of workers on site during the peak construction phase. Located in Somerset, the project is progressively transitioning from civil works to mechanical and electrical installation, placing greater demands on unified safety access standards and workforce competency.

The CCNSG Safety Passport scheme, delivered by the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), has been operating in the engineering construction industry for over 30 years, with more than 85,500 active cardholders. The scheme is industry-led and continuously overseen by a relevant committee, of which Hinkley Point C is a member. The committee also includes representatives from engineering construction asset owners, employers, contractors, training providers, and trade unions, primarily responsible for advising on course content and delivery methods.

Joanne Moore, Head of Employment at the Hinkley Point C project, said that Hinkley Point C will not only support the UK's future energy supply but also play a role in creating job opportunities and developing key skills. She noted that the project is currently at its peak construction phase, having directly and indirectly supported 26,000 jobs across the UK, and has directly invested £24 million in education, skills, and employment programmes, providing training opportunities for over 19,500 people. To date, the project has trained more than 1,740 apprentices, already exceeding its original target.

The CCNSG Safety Passport course is a two-day programme aimed at engineering construction industry workers, with a focus on enhancing health and safety awareness. The course is delivered through classroom training, group discussions, and experience sharing, concluding with a knowledge test. Successful participants receive a CCNSG card valid for three years, which is typically an essential access credential for entering relevant work sites. Cardholders can renew their card through a one-day refresher course or a test-only renewal option.

At the Hinkley Point C site, workers can renew their cards through the CCNSG test-only renewal route at the HOST campus. This arrangement has been facilitated jointly by the ECITB, EDF, the MEH Alliance, Bridgwater & Taunton College, and HOST.

Jamie White, EDF Construction Skills Capability Lead, Chair of the ECITB Nuclear Skills Forum, and Vice Chair of the National College for Nuclear (NCfN), represents the Hinkley Point C project on the CCNSG industry committee. He stated that operating a construction site of this scale and complexity requires safety to be embedded across every aspect. The CCNSG course ensures that all workers meet a consistent standard before entering the site, and also helps meet the practical needs of the project's workforce and supply chain.

Hinkley Point C and the ECITB have collaborated on several nuclear skills development initiatives, including the development of the Hinkley Point Support Operative Bronze training programme. This two-week programme integrates multiple ECITB short courses and CCNSG Safety Passport training, and is designed for operatives entering the Hinkley Point C site for the first time. It helps participants acquire health and safety knowledge and basic engineering skills, and gain the competencies required for general support operative roles. After completing the Bronze level, participants can progress to Silver and Gold level courses, laying the foundation for subsequent apprenticeship pathways.

Hinkley Point C's investment in the training and development of nuclear craft workers was recognised in 2024 with the ECITB Skills and Training Charter Gold Award. Andrew Hockey, Chief Executive of the ECITB, said that large-scale infrastructure projects require thousands of workers from multiple employers, industries, and disciplines to work together safely and efficiently. The CCNSG Safety Passport scheme provides a nationally recognised safety standard grounded in industry input, helping Hinkley Point C maintain a consistent safety culture across a complex, high-risk construction site.