Deputy general secretary Garry Graham said: “Our members have consistently made the case for the need to invest in low-carbon baseload generation in the UK.

“Nuclear generation is a key component in that and this announcement is good news for consumers, businesses and the UK as a whole. Building Hinkley C will provide 25,000 skilled and quality jobs and provide for 7% of the UK’s low-carbon energy needs for decades to come.

“These contracts pave the way for the final investment decision for Hinkley C which we hope to see agreed shortly. Tangible progress will also provide the momentum for the development of new nuclear generating capacity by Horizon and NuGen at Wylfa and Moorside, providing major UK employment opportunities.

“But the skills challenge we face cannot be underestimated, especially given the potential convergence of competing major infrastructure projects.

“We need to ensure we have the capacity and capability to prove the UK not only ‘has nuclear, but does nuclear’ and can be a world leader in the development and delivery of safe low-carbon nuclear power.”

Graham said Prospect will be working with the industry to seek to ensure that we have construction, engineering, scientific and operational skills needed to secure our energy needs for the future.