24.04.2025

Bribery at Hinkley Point

A claim for unfair dismissal by project director Garrick Nisbet against Notus Heavy Lift Solutions, one of the heavy lift subcontractors working for EDF on the construction the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in the UK, has highlighted cases of bribery and corruption at the site, relating to the supply of heavy lift and rigging services.

An employment tribunal held last year. was told that Ashley Daniels, at the time EDF’s head of lifting and temporary works at Hinkley Point C, accepted gifts from Nisbet on the basis that it would help ensure more business for him and his employer Notus. The ‘gifts’ included an £11,000 quad bike, £2,000 worth of tickets for a boxing match and of all things a refill for a Montblanc pen. Daniels’ activities are reportedly the subject of an ongoing investigation by EDF.

Notus Heavy Lift dismissed Nisbet without notice in April 2023 when evidence came to light, indicating that he had given the quad bike to Daniels in exchange for more work or to retain existing work levels. Daniels had apparently told Nisbet that the quad bike would give “Notus a bit of breathing space".

In evidence given by the former managing director of Notus Heavy Lift, the tribunal heard that Daniels had "the full authority to decide who came on site and that without Ashley's approval, Notus would not have any work on the site".

Nisbet claimed that the ‘favours’ he had offered Daniels were limited to lunches, coffee and biscuits, and argued that he had nothing to do with the boxing tickets, adding that the Montblanc refill was simply a spare he had bought, which Daniels had asked for.

Employment judge Colm O'Rourke found that Nisbet's use of the word "favours" was "disingenuous", adding that the items given were "clearly bribes”.

He went on to say that while Nisbet had been unfairly dismissed due to the fact that Notus had not followed a proper procedure, the fact that the “core allegation – relating to the quad bike - had been forensically examined in the hearing and remains incapable of an innocent explanation. It is clear from the evidence that Mr Nisbet]was, on the balance of probabilities, complicit in bribery and corruption involving Mr Daniels".

He later concluded by stating that if a fair disciplinary procedure had been followed it would not have made any difference to the outcome or to Nisbet losing his job and as a result he refused to award any compensation.

A spokesperson for Hinkley Point C said: "The project sets and enforces high standards for all employees, contractors and suppliers and will rigorously investigate and take action over inappropriate conduct."

Important Note

The company in this hearing – Notus Heavy Lift Solutions of Warrington – is not connected with Notus Contract Lifting of Sittingbourne, Kent or other companies in the Notus group. Notus Heavy Lift Solutions was acquired in 2022 by British Engineering Services the ownership of which runs up though a number of shell companies until disappearing offshore.

More information on the ruling and evidence

This case was concluded in October last year but updated earlier this month.
To see the full list of reasons and evidence in this case go to: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/673c76869a48a5ab14acc394/Mr_G_Nisbet_-vs-_Notus_Heavy_Lift_Solutions_Limited_-_6001564.2023_-_Written_Reasons.pdf