As the CEO responsible for leading the delivery of Sizewell C, Nigel Cann is at the helm of one of the largest infrastructure projects in the UK – a responsibility he takes extremely seriously, and with pride.
Yet by his own admission as a non-academic and easily distracted teenager, it was an apprenticeship opportunity that drove his ambition and taught him to never lose his appetite to learn – a message he is now keen to deliver to the next generation of young talent.
Nigel during his time at Hinkley Point B (Image: GEOFF PAGOTTO/HINKLEY POINT B/EDF)
Raised in Folkestone and on Romney Marsh in southeast Kent, Nigel was a sporty teenager more interested in football, music and scooter rallies than the classroom.
“School wasn’t my natural environment, I was easily distracted and I didn’t leave with much in the way of qualifications, but when I got the opportunity for an apprenticeship it changed everything.”
Travelling weekly to Cockfosters in north London and staying in dormitories with many other apprentices, the experience gave him invaluable confidence.
“They taught you basic skills that meant there’s not much I can’t turn my hand to now. That confidence stays with you.
“At 16, I had no idea what I wanted to do – a lot of young people feel the same.”
Nigel with former joint MD Julia Pyke and the prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer (Image: SIZEWELL C)
Nigel began his career as an electrical craftsman at Dungeness Power Station, quickly rising through the ranks.
By 25, he had become a shift supervisor – unusually young for the role at the time – but determined to keep learning, he completed a higher national certificate in electrical engineering and later earned a degree in energy engineering from London South Bank University, travelling up to London one day a week for study while working full time.
He went on to become a fully trained reactor operator, progressing rapidly during a period of industry change and privatisation.
By his late 30s, Nigel was plant manager at Dungeness B and Sizewell B, responsible for the day-to-day operations at both stations.
Leadership positions at Hinkley Point C followed, where he played a key role in delivering one of the UK’s most significant new nuclear projects for a generation.
“We were pioneers,” said Nigel. “We learned a lot about technology, about productivity, about people.”
Nigel on a visit to the temporary construction area concrete batching plan (Image: SIZEWELL C)
Now, after three years as joint MD with Julia Pyke, and as formal construction enters its third year, Nigel is leading the next chapter as sole CEO at Sizewell C.
“I could have retired after Hinkley, but I still felt I had something to give because I’m still passionate about the industry I joined.
“Initially, there was so much to do, but it was a real blessing to share it with Julia. We achieved a hell of a lot to get to financial close.”
The power station, which will sit in 33 hectares of land, will eventually deliver 3.2GW of low-carbon electricity – enough to power around six million homes.
Extensive enabling works are now under way, including sea defences, transport links and environmental mitigation, with ambitions to deliver net biodiversity gain through tens of thousands of new trees and habitat creation.
“I do of course also acknowledge the fact that large-scale construction brings disruption. Traffic management, roadworks and visible changes are unavoidable, but we do everything we can to minimise those and be transparent.
“We run open forums, we’re present in the community, and we’re clear about what we’re doing and why. The best thing we can do is deliver the infrastructure quickly and responsibly.”
Long-term opportunity is key to Nigel’s vision, with the project committed to creating 1,500 apprenticeships, with 540 marked for local people in Suffolk.
A new College on the Coast will also aim to strengthen post-16 education paths and provide clear routes into employment.
“Young people are far more confident than I was, but one of the challenges today is distraction – there’s so much competing for their attention.
“One of the things local headteachers tell us is that aspiration can be missing in rural areas. Young people need visibility of what’s possible. If they know there’s a job at the end of their training, that changes everything.
“At Hinkley I watched employees progress from entry level roles to skilled careers, buying homes and building lives. You become part of those life stories. These are life-changing opportunities.”
Nigel is also pragmatic about the place of nuclear in the wider energy mix.
“We’re not saying it’s all nuclear or nothing else. It’s about balance. Nuclear provides stability, security and low-carbon power, and it does so from a relatively small footprint.
“We’re already applying lessons learned from Hinkley. By replicating the design and increasing modular construction, we aim to build more efficiently and at lower cost.
“We want to copy the ‘what’, not necessarily the ‘how’. We know the design works. Now it’s about building it smarter, but success is collective. My job is to support people and not get in their way.”
Away from work, Nigel commutes back to the family home in Somerset for the weekends to spend time with his wife, three children and four grandchildren.
“My weekends are mostly spent outdoors. I am lucky to have a bit of land, so I spend time tending to it, fixing fences on tractors, doing industrial gardening and walking the dogs.
“I never switch off completely as the weekends are still semi workdays, but I’ve been doing it for a long time now, so I know how to cope with it.
“I have also rediscovered my love for Suffolk. Waking up and hearing the waves, I’d forgotten how much I had missed that.”
A VISION FOR THE FUTURE
Nigel’s aim is to create an enduring legacy at Sizewell C, spanning the next decade and beyond.
“This is a huge job – and I take that responsibility seriously. I never see myself taking credit for anything. I’ve just been really blessed to be part of great teams.
“We don’t want boom and bust for 10 years, we want a pipeline of opportunity.
“Success is proving that nuclear can learn and get better – cheaper and quicker than before. You can store years of fuel for a nuclear plant. That gives you security.
“My vision is simple. I want to see Sizewell C quietly pumping out electricity, providing skilled jobs and serving as a platform for the next generation of nuclear projects for decades to come.
“About a third of the country’s electricity will come from this coast. People should be proud of that.
“We have to deliver everything we’ve said we’ll deliver – to the community, to apprentices, to businesses, to the environment – that’s our job.”
This story is also published in Insight Energy magazine, covering the latest news from the UK’s energy sector. Read the latest edition here.