Staff and apprentices from Hinkley Point B power station in Somerset have met with the Prime Minister to discuss the future of nuclear power.
The employees from the plant travelled to Downing Street for the special meeting with Boris Johnson on Monday, March 21.
Mr Johnson also asked to meet a number of apprentices from EDF sites in a bid to better understand more about the benefits a career in working in nuclear power, Hinkley Point B said.
The meeting was attended by Hinkley Point B’s Tia Brant, a 22-year-old fourth year control and instrumentation apprentice; 21-year-old Siwan Jones-Griffith, also a control and instrumentation apprentice; and Luke Nicklin, the station’s apprentice coordinator.
Mr Nicklin said: “The visit to 10 Downing Street was really quite a special experience. During the day we got our photo taken outside the famous door and even got a tour of the inside. We also got the chance to, briefly, meet the Prime Minister who was really interested in what we do.
“Those of us who work in the industry really care about celebrating its past and ensuring it has an exciting future. That’s why we spoke about the massive contribution Hinkley Point B has made to the UK, we’ve generated enough electricity to meet the needs of every home in the Suth West for more than 33 years, and the local importance of this station too."
The B station apprentices were joined by staff from across EDF including Evie West, David Redpath and Jack Bevins, all from Hinkley Point C.
Mr Nicklin said the power plant had provided "great, well paid jobs" for many years. He added: "Nuclear provides the country with UK generated, zero-carbon energy and it was wonderful for us to be able to tell the Prime Minister and his team just how much it has done for us.”
Hinkley Point B was the first advanced gas-cooled reactor to generate electricity to the grid in the UK, and employs 535 full-time EDF staff, as well as 220 full-time contract partners
In December, a new boss was appointed to lead Hinkley Point B power station. Mike Davies, who has worked at the plant in Bridgwater for more than 18 years, took over as station director from Peter Evans.
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