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C site; the original compound area from when the B site was built. We took it right down to bedrock, rebuilt it to nuclear standards, and installed all the new utilities. It’ s highly technical work but incredibly rewarding. Alongside that, we’ ve delivered the site’ s fuel farm, a new fire station, the main reception centre, and the Waste Consolidation Centre: each one a project of which we’ re deeply proud.”
With a new office in Suffolk, Turnbull is focusing on growth and preparing for the future of nuclear new build in the UK.“ We know that after Hinkley Point C,” James explains,“ the next major project will be Sizewell C in the Ipswich area, so it made perfect sense to establish a local presence there. We’ ve been working in the region for over two years, collaborating with the local chamber and the Sizewell team to understand how we can transfer our experience, skills, and highly regulated working practices from Hinkley. The Ipswich office is home to our mobilisation team, ensuring we’ re ready to support upcoming opportunities. It also signals that Turnbull is not just a project team but a permanent, growing company committed to supporting nuclear new build across the UK.”
Sustainability strategy
Turning to the topic of sustainability, Turnbull is proud to have a dedicated working group where the team promotes, captures, delivers, and communicates initiatives that feed into its sustainability report, celebrating progress and achievements along the way.“ We’ re proud to be a Gold Member of the Supply Chain Sustainability School,” James adds,“ using their tools to identify opportunities for improvement and collaboration. For example, we’ ve partnered with our PPE supplier to eliminate all single-use plastics. Our PPE now arrives in reusable kit bags, and when it’ s no longer usable, it’ s repurposed into products like playground flooring and agricultural boards. We’ ve also optimised our tanker fleet to cut mileage and emissions, and we’ re exploring more sustainable power options, including solar-powered battery packs and electric vehicles.”
On a more personal note, James was recently named MD of the Year for Innovation in Lifecycle Construction by SME News, an honour that came as a surprise to him! The recognition followed external interest in the company’ s innovative approach and proven expertise within the construction industry. Though proud, he credits the award to his team’ s collective effort, emphasising collaboration over individual achievement.
“ Without people,” James shares,“ we don’ t have a business. This year, we reviewed every role from top to bottom, tested the market, and introduced new terms and conditions to ensure our salaries and benefits remain competitive. We’ re also rolling out a new framework to support personal development, including job descriptions, skills matrices, and structured PDPs so individuals can plan their own career progression. I make two commitments to everyone who joins us: I will invest in their growth, and I will make time for them. It’ s simple: if we address frustrations early, they never become problems. Our people will always be our priority.
“ In fact, we recently placed within the top 50 SME apprenticeship employers. This recognition highlights our ongoing commitment to supporting apprentices and graduates, helping them reach their full potential and build rewarding careers within the construction and nuclear industries.”
Growth trajectory
Looking to the future, James shares details of Turnbull’ s strategy for the coming years:“ Our focus as a business is developing our supply chain in Suffolk to support our bid to transfer the skills we’ ve gained from Hinkley Point C to Sizewell. If successful, that will mean formally mobilising a new project team. Alongside that, we’ re expanding into the Thames Valley Corridor, exploring opportunities across nuclear,
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