With the news that Sizewell C has agreed the lease on Orwell Logistics Park, what are the key benefits this decision brings to the project?

Orwell Logistics Park, being used by SZC (NNB Generation Company Ltd), brings so many benefits to local businesses.  Firstly, and most obviously, local businesses will be well placed to win work supporting the logistics provider and wider SZC team.  Whether this is transporting goods to and from the site or managing the warehouse itself and supporting the daily operations.  But there are also broader implications in play. The site needs some remedial work to make it suitable, bringing additional opportunities for local companies. Plus, ongoing care and maintenance of the building will be required – from cleaning the gutters and furniture to line painting … the list is endless.

Basing SZC at Orwell Logistics Park also benefits local property-related companies and, we hope, will inspire further investment into the wider A14 corridor on this side of the bridge. Having our logistics freight management facility (FMF) based directly on the A14, as opposed to on the old operation stack road as planned, will also reduce traffic congestion and create a far better environment for those making deliveries to the site.

As with most sectors in the region, the local logistics community hopes to play a key role in Sizewell C’s delivery plans. Can you share how companies can prepare for Sizewell C at this early stage in the project?

Currently, several local providers are performing small pockets of work for individual lead contractors on-site.  Each package of work is broadly being undertaken in isolation. Still, over time, Sizewell C will appoint its LLP, and this Tier 1 lead contractor will be responsible for managing all freight to and from the FMF and the various sites around the UK and Europe.

This will involve a huge number of companies, with varying specialisms, and all those involved will be playing a specific role whilst working with that LLP.  The appointment of the LLP is still at the bidding stage, but we are already working with a number of prospective companies looking to run this operation. We are already helping them identify local and regional companies that can provide support in delivering the project’s needs and Sizewell’s ambitions as they relate to the local community, social value, and legacy.

For companies looking to get Sizewell ready …. the key is signing up to our supply chain portals and staying engaged with our team at the Chamber.  As and when those opportunities become available, we will help make sure you are aware of them and facilitate those introductions to the right people

And, if you are not a transport operator, what other logistics-centric services will the project be looking to procure?

The logistics involved in Sizewell C is what makes this project special.  Whether it’s rail, road, or sea (and no doubt, in time, air), this aspect of the project needs precise management while also needing to manage and maintain a host of warehouses and lay down areas and equipment.  Then, there is the whole aspect of compliance and monitoring.  It could be customs related services, surveying, marine support services, the list is almost endless.  So, businesses who support the logistics sector will have the chance to play a role, in some way, either directly for the project or indirectly supporting those organisations working on the project.

How important is it for companies to be, for example, ISO accredited and/or showcase a commitment to environmental good practice in order to be considered during the tender process?

There is still some need for clarity about what is 100% needed, as some of this will be based on the work packages specified. What is evident, however, is that Sizewell C aims to be best in class, and it will expect businesses wanting to work on the project to evidence similarly high standards.

It’s not all about having an ISO (although this is beneficial) but more about being able to evidence that you adhere to those standards you have put in place.  When there are more specific accreditations required, we will ensure this information is passed on (as has recently been done with the FORS and CLOCS requirements), and where needed, we will identify training and funding routes that are open to businesses to help them get ready for Sizewell C.  What is critical, is that you are on that journey. You will not always need to be 100% ready at the very start, as the project and Tier 1 contractors will support SMEs and local businesses on their journey to increase standards and improve the wider Suffolk landscape for business preparedness.

There’s been much talk about alterations to the A12. Can you share what changes we can expect to see in the next twelve months?

Suffolk County Council is making improvements all along the A12, from the Seven Hills roundabout in the south to the top of the Woods Lane roundabout north of Woodbridge.  This will include junction and lane improvements, improved walkways and cycleways, and the dualling of the single carriage-way section at Woodbridge near Seckford Hall.  This work will likely start in early 2025 and will coincide with some other planned improvements directly related to the Sizewell C project.  The new roundabouts and road schemes, focused on bypassing the villages of Stratford St Andrew and Farnham, along with the new link road from the A12 direct to the site to take traffic away from the villages on the B1122, will also commence in 2025. In addition, some minor work will also take place, including a new roundabout at Yoxford and several junction improvements. 2025 will be a big year for upgrades along the A12 corridor.

Can you tell us one thing that will surprise Porttalk readers about the project?

In a way, hopefully, nothing I say anymore is a surprise because we have spent many years trying to educate and enthuse so many businesses about the scale of the opportunities that lay ahead. However, did you know that the walls that will be constructed in each of the reactors are made of four independent parts, somewhere around 10,440 tonnes of rebar and over 45,000m3 of concrete? All this to make it safe enough to survive a direct jumbo jet strike… strangely reassuring, I think!

suffolkchamber.co.uk