SWMAS, the region’s leading support organisation for manufacturing and engineering businesses has voiced its support of the Hinkley Point development.
Quoting information just released by EDF Energy, SWMAS highlights the risk of losing the £4bn of economic activity set to land in the South West during the lifetime of the project.
Simon Howes, Chief Executive of SWMAS says “we understand the need for a new government to take stock before signing the go ahead on such a major project but we urge them to do so swiftly and decisively” he added “we have been working since 2010 to prepare the region’s manufacturers and engineers for this opportunity and many local businesses have built their strategies on this with plans underway to invest in new equipment and jobs. We have seen significant uncertainty in the market since the vote to leave the EU but until now this has been offset by confidence that the Hinkley Point C station project will go ahead and will continue to bring significant new opportunities for local businesses. Delaying or cancelling it now would be damaging to the local and national economy”.
SWMAS asked local small and medium sized businesses for their views on how the delay to Hinkley Point C would affect them.
Karen Friendship, MD of Aldermans, based in Plymouth stated that ‘‘the Fit4Nuclear program that Aldermans has been embarking on for the past year has occupied a great deal of time and resource in our business. It has been a worthwhile project and really promotes some critical messages about the importance of skills, investment, safety and innovation to UK Manufacturing. We had hoped this would lead to return on investment by way of much needed opportunities to supply Hinkley C. With the huge uncertainty surrounding the BREXIT vote, businesses do not need any more procrastination about the critical and long awaited sign off of major projects like Hinkley C. We need to be bold and positive about the future and lead from the front, otherwise we will be talking ourselves into a much unwanted slowdown. We must maintain the mantra Britain is open for business and continue to invest, this way we can all have the positivity of investment and new jobs in our respective industries’’.
Bill Haley, Director of the Haley Group, which is located just 15 miles from Hinkley in Highbridge said ‘‘we employ 140 people and are the largest steelwork manufacturer in the South West. We have been investing in quality systems, sales, and engineering innovation directed at Hinkley C since 2013. We have taken the decision to invest in factory extensions in both Somerset and Gloucester partly based on receiving steelwork orders from nuclear projects. We also have a plan to build a new factory in Somerset based on Hinkley contractors ordering a new product we have developed. We look forward to the final decision to get on with Hinkley C as soon as possible.’’
