New council launched to rebuild UK’s steel economy

The Government is ramping up its plans to rebuild the UK’s steel sector with the launch of a new Steel Council, which will bring together leaders from across the industry to advise on the upcoming Steel Strategy.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds chaired the first meeting of the Council on 7 January, together with co-chair Jon Bolton, Chairman of the Materials Processing Institute – a globally-recognised non-profit
research and innovation centre based in the iconic steel community of Teesside.

A secure future for the steel industry is vital both to the UK’s national security and to delivering growth, the foundation of the Government’s Plan for Change. With the launch of the Council, the Government is taking another “important step” towards safeguarding the sector for the long term.

The Council will bring together steel sector
leaders, such as CEOs from 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 the Government in
every part of the UK. 

The aim is to ensure that both the workforce and economic growth are at the heart of its plans to rebuild the steel sector.

Business Secretary Jonathan 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.”

The Government will work closely with the Steel Council towards the launch of the Steel Strategy in the spring, and the Council will continue to meet regularly following its publication to help drive investment into steelmaking communities across the country.