New Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens MP has asked for an urgent action plan to support the workforce and the supply chain, as she chaired the first meeting of the Tata Steel Transition Board under the new government.
As part of its £20 million contribution to the Transition Board, Tata Steel will begin work with Bridgend College to offer production-based employees in Port Talbot the opportunity to convert the skills they have gained while working at Tata Steel into nationally-recognised qualifications, which will support them in accessing future employment opportunities.
Tata Steel has also re-confirmed its commitment to offer an enhanced redundancy package and has begun asking for expressions of interest from employees which will run to 7 August.
Ms Stevens, who was appointed Secretary of State for Wales by the Prime Minister following the General Election of 4 July, has taken over as chair of the Board.
The Transition Board has now moved from discussion to delivery
The Transition Board meeting today (11 July 2024) featured representatives from business, unions, Welsh Government and local politicians and demonstrated a reset in the way the board is chaired.
In leading her first meeting, the Welsh Secretary commissioned the board to work collaboratively and at speed to present options on how to support businesses and workers affected by Tata Steel’s transformation plan.
This process will run in parallel with ongoing negotiations with Tata Steel about future aspirations for the UK business.
Many contractor and supply chain jobs are directly reliant on the processes that have already ended at the Port Talbot steelworks, with the closure of the Morfa Coke Ovens and Blast Furnace 5.
The Secretary of State also made it clear the board will now be an equal partnership between political representatives, business and unions.
In Port Talbot, the Welsh Secretary also met current steelworkers at a local cafe where she discussed their concerns about the future of Tata Steel in the town, visited the Tata Steel Skills Academy where she met apprentices, and later travelled to RunTech in Swansea – a logistics company in Tata Steel’s supply chain - to hear about how workers there are affected.
We will work collaboratively with a single focus to support our steel industry and affected communities.
Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said: "This Government is determined to do all it can to protect our Welsh steel industry and has immediately reset our approach on how we work with businesses and communities. We will work collaboratively with a single focus to support our steel industry and affected communities.
“We will deliver for workers and businesses in Port Talbot and across South Wales, whatever happens.”
About Tata Steel UK
- The Tata Steel Group has been named one of the most ethical companies in the world, and is among the top producing global steel companies with an annual crude steel capacity of 34 million tonnes.
- Tata Steel in the UK has the ambition to produce net-zero steel by 2045 at the latest, and to have reduced 30% of its CO2 emissions by 2030.
- Tata Steel is the largest steelmaker in the UK with primary steelmaking at Port Talbot in South Wales supporting manufacturing and distribution operations at sites across Wales, England and Northern Ireland as well as Norway, Sweden, France and Germany. It also benefits from a network of international sales offices around the world.
- Tata Steel employs more than 8,000 people and has an annual crude steel capacity of 5 million tonnes, supplying high-quality steel products to demanding markets, including construction and infrastructure, automotive, packaging and engineering.
- Tata Steel Group is one of the world's most geographically-diversified steel producers, with operations and a commercial presence across the world.
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