FAQs

FAQs are divded into three sections. Please use the links below to jump to the relevent section

Registering Your Business

The Hinkley Point C supply chain database is actively utilised to match the requirements of contractors involved on the Hinkley Point C project with suitably skilled Somerset and South West companies. If a company is not registered on the database, their details cannot be made available to main contractors.

(Although the main works at Hinkley Point C will be delivered via approximately 150 major contracts to “Tier 1” contractors, each of these major contractors are required to obtain their own suppliers and EDF are taking important steps to encourage major contractors to engage with local suppliers.)

Companies who have registered on the supply chain will receive up-to-date Hinkley Point C news and be invited to relevant project events and workshops, such as Meet the Buyer.

Click here to read case studies of successful South West businesses that have won contracts at HPC already.

My company is based in the South West but not within the boundaries of Somerset. Am I able to register on the Supply Chain and attend events?

Yes. The Hinkley Supply Chain is the main point of contact for Somerset and South West businesses wishing to engage in the Hinkley Point C nuclear new build.

EDF has also developed a nuclear new build supplier portal for UK based suppliers and for Suffolk / Norfolk suppliers to support the proposals at Sizewell. If you are outside of Somerset and the South West, we recommend that you register on this portal, available at:

http://www.edfenergy.com/about-us/energy-generation/new-nuclear/supplier-opportunities/

We would also be very happy to assist in connecting you with local Somerset and South West suppliers where collaboration between national or international and regional suppliers could lead to a productive supplier “partnership”.

What is the difference between a Hinkley site contractor and a Hinkley indirect Services supplier?

When first completing your registration you will have to make a provisional judgement about whether your business is a Hinkley Indirect Services Supplier or a Hinkley Site Contractor. As a guide we say that Hinkley Indirect Services Supplier is a person or business who will be providing a service to the project, whilst not necessarily on site. Where as Hinkley Site Contractor is for companies that will have their products or personnel on site during the construction. Once you have registered and if you change your mind on your selection you can log in to your registration and change this assessment at a later date if you want to.

If unsure we do recommend that all companies register as a HSC as this gives us at the Hinkley Supply Chain Team more information regarding your company and this allows us to accurately promote your business to the contractors engaged with the project.

My company already has a history of working with EDF on the Hinkley B site. Do I still need to register on the Supply Chain Portal?

Yes. EDF have pledged that throughout the project they will be engaging with Somerset and South West suppliers registered on the Hinkley Supply Chain, and they will be encouraging all project contractors to do the same.

This means that even if you already do business with EDF, by registering your company on the Hinkley Supply Chain you are opening up your business to a further 150 tier one contractors that you would not have previously.

What happens after I register?

Once you have submitted your registration you will receive an email confirming that your submission has been received. Your company’s registration will be reviewed and if additional information is required you will be contacted by the supply chain team via email.

Registrations that lack information do not best represent a company, you are strongly recommended to fill in as much as can and return often to update your record with any new, relevant information that can help push you in to searches and appear for the Tier 1 and Tier 2 contractors.

I have registered, what can I do now?

In order to review or update your registration please Login.

If you have any issues you can select “Forgotten password” and follow the prompts to recover your account.

If you are unable to complete the process to create a new password please contact a member of the Hinkley Supply Team at the Somerset Chamber of Commerce who will be able to escalate the problem for you.

I registered a while ago but have not heard anything about my registration or acquired any work on the Hinkley Point C project.

If you want to discuss your registration please e-mail the Hinkley Point C team at the Somerset Chamber of Commerce on [email protected], or call the office on 01823 444924.

You will receive invitations to relevant events. If you have not received communication recently it may be that your e-mail address is incorrect or out of date on your registration. Please Login and check that all contact details are correct. If your contact details are correct but have not received recent correspondence, check that any e-mail notifications are not in your junk folder. You can contact the team any time to discuss the project and your registration.

If you have signed up for the newsletter you will be regularly sent the latest site and contract news

Throughout the development of the project, many different phases of construction will take place, your expertise may be relevant to work packages that have not been released yet. Do not be discouraged if you have not had any recent feedback from your registration as it may be a case of waiting for your capabilities to be required on the project.

In the mean time, we would re-emphasise the need for companies to commit to the project by being as proactive as possible. This can be achieved by actively networking with those involved at supply chain events and workshops.

My company is based in the South West but not within the boundaries of Somerset. Am I able to register on the Supply Chain and attend events?

Yes. The Hinkley Supply Chain is the main point of contact for Somerset and South West businesses wishing to engage in the Hinkley Point C nuclear new build.

EDF Energy has also developed a nuclear new build supplier portal for UK based suppliers and for Suffolk / Norfolk suppliers to support the proposals at Sizewell. If you are outside of Somerset and the South West, we recommend that you register on this portal, available at:

http://www.edfenergy.com/about-us/energy-generation/new-nuclear/supplier-opportunities/

What support is available to all suppliers?

EDF Energy has engaged the Somerset Chamber of Commerce to coordinate and drive local supplier engagement. The www.hinkleysupplychain.co.uk web site is managed by the Chamber and has developed into a major source of information for local suppliers including information about the events and support available.

The Hinkley Point C Supply Chain Team, delivered by the Somerset Chamber of Commerce, can help with any query and can be contacted at [email protected] or on 01823 443425.

http://www.edfenergy.com/about-us/energy-generation/new-nuclear/supplier-opportunities/

Making Contact

Who do I contact if I have questions and where can I find information about the project?

EDF has engaged the Somerset Chamber of Commerce to coordinate and drive local supplier engagement. The www.hinkleysupplychain.co.uk web site is managed by the Chamber and has developed into a major source of information for local suppliers including information about the events and support available.

The Hinkley Point C Supply Chain Team, delivered by the Somerset Chamber of Commerce, can help with any query and can be contacted via email [email protected] or via telephone on 01823 443425

Contracts Tendering and Support Offered to Businesses

How can increase my chances of being invited to tender?

We suggest you consider the following:

Register your company here with as accurate and full data as possible. Give us a chance to match you to requirements by thinking as broadly as possible about what you offer and telling us in the various fields
Review your registration at least every six months and keep all the information up to date
Make clear your prime capability and try to illustrate with some evidence of customers serviced / projects delivered
Attend the events and workshops available to provide information to companies about your prime capability
EDF have made it clear that they will require ISO accreditation or equivalent quality and safety standards to be met by businesses seeking contracts to work on the site. If these are not in place and are likely to be necessary then take steps to find out what is involved. Contact the supply chain team for more details on [email protected]
Continue your normal business development activity to find out which contractors might need your services and when. The Hinkley Point C supply chain should be viewed as one of a range of tools to help you get in front of the right people at the right time

This is a huge project and I’m a small business. What is the scale of work that is likely to be contracted out to small to medium size Somerset companies, and how can I obtain work on a project that involves contract values greater than what my company can normally provide?

The range and size of opportunities is considerable with work packages that range from very small to very significant across a wide spectrum of business activity which is why businesses of all sizes are encouraged to register.

Aside from finding suitable work packages, another way in which small and medium size companies can obtain work on a larger pieces of work is by collaborating with other local companies. This has been done successfully a number of times already during the build and the supply chain team can provide you with more information [email protected] or call on 01823 443425

The Somerset Chamber of Commerce continue to run work package workshops with main contractors where specific requirements and collaboration opportunities will be highlighted. The supply chain team can then use the tools in the office to match suppliers to the requirements or arrange workshops to educate the supply chain about what is needed.

Invitations to such events, and all other events held by Somerset Chamber of Commerce, are sent out via e-mail, so please make sure that e-mails from us are not sent to your junk folder, or you may miss out.

Keep a regular eye on the website www.hinkleysupplychain.co.uk and make sure you register. This is the first step in the process to give your business a chance of getting in front of the right people at the right time.

I have heard there is a meet the buyer event, how can I make sure I can attend?

The meet the buyer events are organised to maximise value for both Somerset businesses and for the main contractors looking for suppliers. They are based on the successful formula developed by Somerset Chamber:

EDF request a selection of main contractors to host a meet the buyer event – a selection based on the current contracts
The Hinkley Supply Chain Team liaises with main contractors about registered Somerset businesses whose capabilities match their requirements
The relevant supplier companies, vetted in the preceding step, are invited to attend the event

There is a rolling programme of meet the buyer events which is constantly updated as more work packages are identified.

How can I find out what contracts are coming up that I can bid for?

Many of the work packages that Somerset businesses will be able to bid for will be put out to tender by the 150 main Tier 1 companies, who themselves have been awarded contracts by EDF Energy.

EDF are also issuing contracts directly to suppliers, some of which have been awarded to Somerset and South West businesses already.

The Hinkley Supply Chain Team is proactively working with Tier 1 and 2 contractors to establish what requirements their work packages have and where that represents opportunities for South West suppliers.

We profile suppliers registered with us that can supply the relevant capabilities and encourage the Tier 1 and 2 contractors to issue enquiries. They will contact you directly so please keep your registration up to date.