Sizewell C bosses have agreed to top standards for health, safety and welfare services as part of a new deal with unions and contractors.

The new nuclear plant - planned for the Suffolk coast - has signed three "Solidarity Agreements" with trades unions GMB and Unite and also with its Tier 1 contractors.

The deals set out how its pledge to promote a strong safety culture, high standard accommodation and a diverse and inclusive working environment - as well as agreeing pay and conditions for contractors.

They also include standards and behaviours expected of everyone involved in the building work - including a "right first time, every time" approach to construction.

Sizewell C joint managing director Nigel Cann said the deals put the company in "an even stronger position" as it prepares for site earthworks to start.

“Sizewell C is one of the most important energy projects in the UK and we want it to be one of the best places to work," he said.

"These balanced agreements will help build a spirit of partnership by giving everyone on the project common goals and clear working arrangements.”

Industrial relations at Sizewell’s sister project Hinkley Point C in Somerset already have similar deals in place. 

Sizewell C expects to employ around 7,900 people during peak construction - a third of whom will come from the local area. It has also said it will create at least 1,500 apprenticeships and thousands more jobs in supply chain companies across the UK.

GMB National Officer Charlotte Brumpton-Childs said: "Signing this collective agreement for Sizewell C is another step closer to a net zero energy grid. GMB members are proud to be part of the team delivering clean energy for the UK and today's agreement represent some of the most progressive within the construction sector."

Unite national officer Jerry Swain also welcomed the agreement.

"It clearly sets out the standards for the future which other employers in this field should seek to achieve," he said.

"Agreements like this prove that collaborative working of unions with employers is the answer on major infrastructure projects - it's good for workers and good for the construction industry alike."

The agreements cover pay and conditions for employees of the Tier 1 contractors who make up the project’s Civil Works (CWA) Alliance, the Mechanical, Electrical and Heating (MEH) Alliance and site operations teams.

MEH Alliance Director Mark Dearden said: “While the Mechanical, Electrical and HVAC on-site installation scope will not commence for several years, today’s agreement signifies a major milestone for the Alliance Industry Partners and establishes a really critical, solid and consistent rewards platform for all our employees.”

Around 600 people people are currently working at the Sizewell C construction site, and the workforce is expected to increase to around 1,500 by the end of 2024.

Jobs have included clearing the site for full construction, carrying out archaeological surveys, and local mitigation work. Preliminary earthworks to prepare for the construction of a concrete batching plant and water desalination facility are due to begin soon.

The company - majority owned by the government - is in the process of seeking private investment, and a Final Investment Decision is expected later this year.