Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection:
February 2026
Aim of inspection
The aim of this inspection was to gain confidence in the effectiveness of the NNB GenCo (HPC) Quality Function following the delivery of the Strategic Quality Plan for Quality in 2023 and the evolution of the function during 2024 and 2025.
Subject(s) of inspection
- LC6 - Documents, records, authorities and certificates - Rating: Not rated
- LC17 - Management systems - Rating: Amber
Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made
This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the NNB GenCo (HPC) Quality Function following the delivery of the Strategic Plan for Quality, multiple organisational changes and the projects ongoing development.
The inspection included a review of strategies, policies and management system arrangements supplied by NNB GenCo (HPC) in advance of and during the inspection, in addition to discussions with members of the Quality Function, to provide confidence that the Licensee has:
- Sufficient technical and organisational capability for the near and mid-term.
- Current and integrated strategies and policies for the Quality Function.
- Clear ownership of key quality arrangements.
- Effective governance and oversight of the Quality Function, including clear roles, responsibilities, accountabilities and authorities.
- Processes in place to understand key areas of risk within the Quality Function.
- Mechanisms to ensure arrangements and resources are scalable.
An ONR team comprising Quality and Leadership and Management for Safety (LMfS) specialist inspectors carried out the inspection in person at the NNB GenCo (HPC) office and Hinkley Point C (HPC) site on 25 and 26 February 2026.
The inspection found areas of good practice but several areas for improvement were identified relating to the evolution of the NNB GenCo (HPC) Quality Function.
Conclusion
Based on the evidence sampled, the NNB GenCo (HPC) Quality Function is continuing to deliver its core purposes with adequate levels of SQEP resource. Given the ongoing and future development of the project, NNB GenCo (HPC) are actively seeking to evolve the Quality Function to ensure it is positioned to meet the changing demands. However, the control mechanisms for the evolution of the Function are not yet fully established and/or embedded and therefore require improvement.
On this basis, an amber rating was assigned to this inspection and ONR will seek improvement via a Regulatory Issue.