Hinkley Point is the home of the first new nuclear power station to be built in the UK for over 20 years. Providing low-carbon electricity to over 6 million homes and targeted at bringing lasting benefits to the UK economy, it signifies a significant shift in the UK’s move to reduce carbon emissions. Alongside this, their focus on supporting the environment means that during the plant’s 60 years of operation, it is expected to positively impact the environment surrounding it. Hinkley Point C is not only driving the move towards more sustainable energy but has also generated over 25,000 employment opportunities.

The Client and The Job

Hinkley Point C is a constantly growing and developing site. To achieve its predicted goals, several thousands of staff and contractors would be expected to be on-site every single day. And, with them, came a number of logistical challenges including catering. Unlike traditional sites, fixed kitchens were unsuitable for this ever-evolving space but the demand for a catering solution still remained.

Aspen Services were brought in and briefed to create a portable commercial kitchen design that could provide a turnkey solution to these issues. The new space needed to feed up to 250 people 2-3 times per day. Built into the portable kitchen, there needed to be facilities for preparation and cooking as well as sanitisation and ware washing. With work continuing as normal at the nuclear site, turnkey project management was quickly deemed the best solution. Our team would take on the specifications of the job, get sign off and then proceed to produce a suitable portable building on time and on budget.

The Journey

It was determined that the most practical and suitable option for this client was to create three separate sections within these portable buildings. One would house a commercial kitchen designed to cater for the required diner numbers. The second would be designated to ware washing, maintaining high levels of hygiene and abiding by the current UK legislation. And, the third would act as a storage facility, keeping fresh foods at optimal condition at all times. We were also contracted to supply all of the light goods and server equipment to the restaurant area.

Each unit was designed and manufactured off-site, meaning that the initial planning stages left no room for error. Our team needed to encompass everything from PVC walling, safety floor installation, electrics and plumbing into the construction, ensuring that the units could be transported to the site for the turnkey installation.

The Challenges

The key challenge with this, and many other turnkey solutions, is the need to create a catering space off-site that will work efficiently when installed. This meant that our team had to be meticulous with every detail of planning and work with the best suppliers to find the most suitable professional kitchen equipment. It was also essential that all work was carried out to the predetermined specification and budget, including the delivery and installation costs too.