THE TEAM behind Cannington's National College For Nuclear held a special topping out ceremony to celebrate the progress on the £10.5m scheme.

Builders have historically held a ceremony once a building is watertight to wish is good luck.

To this end Steve Rosewell from construction firm The Midas Group, Andy Berry, principal of Bridgwater and Taunton College laid a yew tree sprig within the building.

The NCfN is dedicated to supporting the specialist training needs of the nuclear industry.

The new facilities in Cannington will act as a hub for nuclear training across the south of the country, supporting both civil and defence nuclear industries from new build to decommissioning.

Its location will inevitably mean that it will play a key role in supporting the training requirements of Hinkley Point C.

The NCfN Southern Hub, is due to welcome its first students in January 2018.

Mr Rosewell said: “Midas is delighted and very proud to be joined by the site team and stakeholders to mark this important stage in the build.

"Through delivering this flagship scheme, a new generation of highly skilled people will be trained here in Somerset and many will work at one of the biggest projects the UK has embarked on for many years.”

Mr Berry added: “The College is committed to working with employers to develop demand led training that brings benefit to people and businesses within our community.

"The Southern Hub of the National College for Nuclear is a natural extension of our work within this important sector and we are looking forward to a successful opening in January 2018”

The northern hub of the NCfN, is being built in Workington, Cumbria.

A spokesman for the NCfN said: "The two centres will develop the UK’s nuclear curriculum, designing new qualifications and training courses that are attractive to learners and meet specific industry needs and it is envisaged that it will train more than 7,000 people by 2020."

The hubs are funded by £15m from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), with additional finance for the southern hub coming from the Heart of the South West LEP and Bridgwater and Taunton College.