Bristol businesses have the opportunity to tender for work worth tens of millions of pounds as the development of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant enters its next phase.
tier 2 supply chain contracts in MEH (mechanical, engineering and HVAC) needed to complete the once-in-a-generation project are now being made available. 
energy giant EDF recently raised its cost estimate for Hinkley Point C near Bridgwater by £1.9bn-£2.9bn to an estimated £21.5bn-£22.5bn but insists it is fully committed to the huge development, which is already employing thousands of construction workers and engineers.
The latest opportunities were outlined at this week’s Nuclear South West conference with EDF Energy Hinkley Point C (HPC) MEH programme director Simon Parsons, telling the audience that opportunities remain to provide support to the programme.
An innovative MEH Alliance was formed last year with representation from Altrad, Balfour Beatty Bailey, Cavendish Nuclear, Doosan Babcock and HPC to integrate and coordinate the delivery of all main MEH on the project.
Speaking at the conference in Bridgwater this week, Mr Parsons, pictured below, said: “While HPC will deliver these opportunities through our MEH Alliance, HPC expect the Alliance to seek support from the local and UK supply chain to realise them.”
He told attendees at the two-day conference that this innovative approach aimed to help different contractors work as a single entity to deliver the complex installation of cabling and pipework in the power station’s 5,000 rooms.
He also talked about the challenges and learnings so far of developing this ‘first-of-a-kind’ plant in a country that has not built a new nuclear power station for 30 years. 
“This is a project that is a decade in development, a decade in construction and six decades of operation, followed by a decade of decommissioning – in total spanning near to a century,” he said.
The MEH opportunities include provision of cable glands and cleats, general electrical, mechanical and pipe consumables, bolted and welded supports laboratory services and PPE, which are yet to be placed. The delivery of the supply chain solution for EDF Energy and its contractors is managed by the Hinkley Supply chain team who engage with both Somerset and South West businesses that want to become part of the project
Nuclear South West chair Matt Burley said: “The opportunity for local and South West suppliers is both large and complex but we have an excellent solution in place to manage that. It’s always fascinating to hear from the supply chain about the sheer size and scale of delivering a project like Hinkley Point C. It’s been great to hear about our multi billion-pound pipeline – the contracts and opportunities for businesses here in the nuclear sector are huge.”
Mr Parsons was joined by a diverse and informative range of speakers who gave an insight into the global overview of the industry from new build to decommissioning and innovation in nuclear. These included Professor Tom Scott, Director of South West Nuclear Hub, Beccy Pleasant, head of Nuclear Skills for the Nuclear Skills Strategy Group (NSSG), NDA Director, Andy Storer, CEO of NAMRC (Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre) Tom Greatrex, CEO of The Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) and Celine Cudelou, from GIFEN on the French supply chain.
Nuclear South West is a partnership between industry, academic and public sector organisations set up to champion the South West nuclear industry as the premier destination for investment, innovation and growth.
It was established and supported by the Local Economic Partnerships (LEPs) for the Heart of the South West, West of England and GFirst, which covers Gloucestershire.
