HINKLEY C would-be developer EDF Energy this week officially confirmed plans for a £15 million training centre in Somerset as it unveiled details of its planned billion pound investment in the project.

The energy company outlined its investment proposals, job opportunities and major contract partners for the site preparation works at a special event in London.

Representatives from more than 350 companies attended and were told construction partnership Kier Bam had won the £100 million-plus contract for the site preparation works.

EDF said the contract would create an estimated 350 jobs from next year with many workers likely to come from the local workforce.

The work, which is subject to clearance of planning conditions, will include large-scale excavation, earthworks, terracing, the installation of construction site infrastructure and formation of roads and networks to pave the way to allow the main construction to begin.

If permission for the main power station is approved in around 12 months' time by the Infrastructure Planning Commission, more than 20,000 people could eventually be employed on the project.

Having previously pledged multi-million pound support for colleges and students in both West Somerset and Sedgemoor, EDF confirmed a £15 million investment in what it hopes will be a world class national training centre in partnership with Bridgwater College.

The facility will build on existing work at the college and help to address potential skills shortages in the energy sector by providing professional training.

The firm also announced it had selected Areva to carry out early design work for the main reactor systems, work that it likely to begin in January.

EDF said the agreement was a "critical step" towards developing detailed equipment specifications which would be used to ask companies to bid for equipment supply contracts.

Areva is already starting to produce the heavy forgings required for critical reactor components, as a result of a contract signed in July.

Speaking at the event in London, EDF Energy chief executive Vincent de Rivaz, said: "The contracts we have announced will secure over 500 jobs and provide an immediate economic boost.

"This is just the beginning. Our project will inject billions of pounds into the economy, revitalise entire sectors of industry and support tens of thousands of jobs.

"Furthermore, our £15 million national training centre in Somerset will help a new generation of young people develop the skills they need for a bright future and a long-term career."