Dounreay is marking the 70th continuous year of its training programmes for young people by sponsoring the inaugural Highlands and Islands Apprentice Awards.

The event in Inverness on 27 November celebrates apprentices, employers, training providers and mentors across the region.

Thousands of young people have been trained in a wide variety of disciplines at Dounreay since the first intake of apprentices in 1955.

This year alone, site operator Nuclear Restoration Services created over 50 new opportunities for young people, including 20 new apprenticeship starts.

Guest: Jamie Hossain, Senior Investment Director at Amber Infrastructure and Lead Portfolio Manager at International Public Partnerships (INPP)
Interviewed by: Antony Oliver

In today's episode we take a close look at the investor’s perspective on the UK’s infrastructure market — and, in particular, what the landmark Final Investment Decision on the new Sizewell C nuclear power station tells us about the appetite, the risks, and the rewards for long-term private capital.

Three companies have won contracts with a total value of up to £2.9bn to supply key non-nuclear infrastructure works on the Sellafield site.

Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, Costain Limited, and HOCHTIEF (UK) Construction Ltd will be part of a long-term arrangement called the Infrastructure Delivery Partnership (IDP).

The partnership will deliver projects and tasks to support essential services at Sellafield like electricity distribution, water, road and rail networks, bridges, foundations and security installations.

A new community and visitor facility has officially opened on Whitehaven’s historic harbour in West Cumbria.

The Edge was delivered in partnership with local organisations through Sellafield Ltd’s Social Impact Multiplied (SiX) programme, which aims to support resilient economies and thriving communities across West Cumbria.

Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) has appointed Costain as the principal contractor to reduce the height of two reactor buildings at Trawsfynydd former nuclear site, located in Gwynedd, North Wales.  

Valued up to £70 million, this transformative project represents a major milestone in the region’s regeneration. At its peak, Costain is expected to employ more than 100 people to deliver the programme, creating opportunities to boost regional skills development and make a lasting contribution to the local economy.

Sizewell C has signed a six-year uranium enrichment services supply contract with Urenco and a long-term fuel fabrication contract with Framatome for fuel for the planned Sizewell C nuclear power plant in the UK.

The supply contract with Urenco for enriched uranium services will support the first six years of the two-unit plant's operation, establishing a secure front-end fuel supply. The enrichment services will be provided at Urenco's enrichment site at Capenhurst, near Chester in the north-west of England.

The 125-metre-long tunnel boring machine - named Elizabeth after the 19th century philanthropist Elizabeth Cadbury - was launched near the Warwickshire village of Water Orton in March 2024. It arrived at Washwood Heath this morning.

Two identical machines were used to dig the 3.5-mile long Bromford tunnel that will carry high speed trains under the M6 and eastern outskirts of the city, with the first one – Mary Ann – breaking through earlier this year.

Great British Energy to roll out solar on military land, schools and hospitals, and more protections for clean energy workers.

Communities across the country will benefit from extra investment in vital public services as more funding is confirmed for Great British Energy solar panels.

Multiple military sites, around 50 more schools and over 70 further NHS sites will save money on their energy bills thanks to up to £75 million in funding from Great British Energy.

Join us at our upcoming recruitment event and connect with HPC contract partners to explore exciting employment opportunities across this ground-breaking project.

Whether you’re looking to start your career or take the next step, employers from across the project will be there to speak with, including:

Rolls-Royce SMR has been selected by Vattenfall as one of only two companies to reach the final stage in the process to identify Sweden’s nuclear technology partner.

After being shortlisted in 2024, Rolls-Royce SMR has progressed through a detailed assessment and will now work with Vattenfall through the final technology selection which could initially result in Rolls-Royce SMR delivering three SMRs.

Rolls-Royce, energy services provider Landmark and carbon dioxide specialist ASCO have teamed up to commission a 10-megawatt gas engine power plant with a carbon capture system in the United Kingdom. Located in Worksop in the East Midlands region, the first tankers carrying purified and liquefied CO2 have already been picked up from the site for use in the food industry to carbonate beverages such as beer and lemonade.

HS2 Ltd, the company building Britain’s new high-speed railway, has bolstered its investment in future talent by welcoming a new cohort of apprentices and graduates into the business.

This week, 21 new starters will begin a two-year programme of work on Britian’s biggest transport infrastructure project. Young people are welcomed into the business every year, and over the last eight years, HS2 Ltd has taken on 209 apprentices and 125 graduates.