Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will chair the first meeting of the Council today (January 7, 2025), together with co-chair Jon Bolton, Chairman of the Materials Processing Institute, a non-profit research and innovation centre based in Teesside.
Last year, Tata Steel said it was replacing traditional blast furnaces with an electric arc furnace at its biggest UK site in Port Talbot, Wales.
Traditional steelmaking then ceased in September 2024, with thousands of workers subsequently losing their jobs. British Steel also announced it would close blast furnaces in Scunthorpe in 2023, and unveiled plans to roll out a less polluting electric arc furnace. The plans, which are greener but require fewer workers, raised just fears over potentially thousands of job losses.
As such, a secure future for the steel industry is vital to both the UK’s national security and delivering growth – the foundation of the Government’s Plan for Change.
The Council will bring together steel sector leaders such as CEOs from both Tata Steel and British Steel with trade union leaders, industry experts, devolved government representatives and trade associations to address the challenges facing the steel industry and make the changes needed to secure steelmaking in the UK.
It will meet regularly as the Government prepares to launch its Steel Strategy, providing a vital link between industry, workers, experts and government in every part of the UK and ensuring that both the workforce and economic growth are at the heart of its plans to rebuild the steel sector.
In a statement, Business Secretary Reynolds said: “The industry and steel communities have had enough of lurching from crisis to crisis – this government will take the action needed to place steel on a secure footing for the long term. With the launch of the Steel Council we’re placing workers and local communities at the heart of our plans as we bring forward up to £2.5 billion of investment to secure growth right across the country.
“Steel was a neglected industry in this country under the previous government, but with the launch of this Council and our upcoming Strategy, we’re proving once again that we are the Government that’s committed to driving growth and innovation in the sector.
“A vibrant steel sector is crucial for economic growth and our national security, and by reflecting views from industry across the UK as we bring forward our Steel Strategy we’re delivering on the Plan for Change and boosting economic stability.”
The Government said it will work closely with the Steel Council towards the launch of the Steel Strategy in Spring, and the Council will continue to meet regularly following its publication to help drive investment into steelmaking communities across the country. Its members include organisations such as Sheffield Forgemasters, UK Steel and the British Metals Recycling Association, as well as representatives from the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish Governments.
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