EDF is the UK’s largest producer of zero carbon electricity and meets around one-fifth of the country’s demand. It is also leading the UK’s nuclear renaissance with the construction of the first new nuclear power station in a generation at Hinkley Point C in Somerset, and a new power station at Sizewell C in Suffolk. Together, the two power stations will be able to produce enough zero carbon electricity to meet around 14% of the UK’s energy demand – the equivalent of 12 million homes.
The project
- Since 2017, Costain has been supporting EDF on their fleet of eight Nuclear Power Stations and headquarters, supporting safe operation, plant life extension, and preparations for defueling and decommissioning.
- The work also includes supporting EDF on its transition from generation to defueling of the Advanced Gas Reactors and providing specialist support to EDF’s Central Technical Organisation.
The work
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In a highly regulated sector, Costain is drawing on expertise in overseeing and delivering large and complex infrastructure projects to manage over 400 projects in EDF’s programme. This includes providing project controls including planning, cost management, estimating and risk control to budget in critical timescales. Costain has also created the EDF Steering Group to facilitate collaboration and minimise service disruption with the EDF Accounts team and other third parties.
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Costain is also reducing plant risks by providing leadership and management of complex and interdependent programmes and projects, supporting Nuclear Plant Life Extension.
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The National Nuclear Skills Strategic Plan identified that the recruitment or transfer of people to meet nuclear demand is not a simple process given the breadth of skills required.
Development programme
As part of its work on the project and to help reduce this skills gap, Costain has initiated a development programme, the Early Careers Network (ECN), to support and grow talent across the EDF Project Controls Framework.
The ECN has been established by Costain for Junior and Trainee personnel as a community of peers across the country and business, providing an opportunity to share challenges and best practice. Promoting professional development is a big part of the ECN, helping the Juniors and Trainees to feel more confident and knowledgeable in their roles. The ECN has informative and educational monthly topics covering specialist capability, development training and personal development.
The EDF Project Controls Framework has since grown from 12 project controllers to 160 trusted, integrated project professionals, 50 of which are Trainees and Juniors. This is ensuring that EDF is receiving skilled resources from a cohort that recognise the operations of the business, while also being advocates for nuclear safety and quality.
The sustained success of the partnership has resulted in Costain and EDF extending the contract in 2023. Costain is continuing to develop and grow EDF’s core project controls capabilities, as well as providing specialist support to improve project performance and deliver cost efficiencies. Costain is also seeking to double the number of trainees deployed in response to the quality of work of previous cohorts, which is in turn equipping EDF with a collaborative, solutions-focused product team.
The numbers
- Costain is managing over 400 projects
- 160 integrated project professionals on the EDF Project Controls Framework
- 50 trainee and junior professionals developed through the Early Careers Network
Contact
Bob Anstey
Sector director