New management signals brighter future for British Steel
UK Steel warmly welcomes the appointment of Allan Bell as the interim Chief Executive of British Steel and Lisa Coulson as interim Chief Commercial Officer. Allan and Lisa have vast experience and in-depth knowledge of the company, which will be vital as the Government works at pace to secure the long-term future of steelmaking in Scunthorpe.
UK Steel Director-General Gareth Stace said:
“The appointment of new management to British Steel means a new chapter can open in the company’s operations. UK Steel applauds the decisive action the Government has taken in the past few days to safeguard this vital piece of our national infrastructure.
“We can now look with more confidence to the future – while the Government’s Steel Bill is vital in the short term, it must now find partner investors who can secure the long-term viability of steelmaking at this business.
“As British Steel looks to make a new start, it is crucial not to forget the need for wider actions to improve the business framework for the whole UK steel industry. We look forward to working with Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, who has been a firm and steadfast supporter, to drive forward the Steel Strategy, tackling critical issues such as energy prices, public procurement, and trade policy to ensure the strongest economic environment for our members in the coming months and years.
“There is not a moment to lose, and UK Steel and our sector stand ready to play our full part in securing the future of steelmaking in the UK.”
ENDS
Contact details
Jon Harrison, Regulatory Affairs Manager, UK Steel
0774 3829613 | jharrison@makeuk.org
Notes to editors
UK Steel is the trade association representing steelmakers in the UK. We proudly champion and celebrate the UK’s impressive steel industry. We provide a voice for steel producers of all sizes across every corner of the UK.
The UK steel sector:
- Produces 5.6Mt of crude steel a year, equivalent to 70% of the UK’s annual requirement (annual demand of 7.6Mt in 2023, of which 40% was met by domestically produced steel).
- Employs 33,700 people directly in the UK and supports a further 42,000 in supply chains.
- The median steel sector salary is £37,315, 26% higher than the UK national median and 35% higher than the regional median in Wales, Yorkshire, and Humberside, where its jobs are concentrated.
- Directly contributes £1.8 billion to UK GVA and supports a further £2.4 billion.
- Directly contributes £3.4 billion to the UK’s balance of trade 96% of steel used in construction and infrastructure in the UK is recovered and recycled to be used again and again.
For further information about the steel industry, please see the UK Steel Seven Opportunities for Steel report, 2024 press pack, Why the UK needs a strong steel sector or the 2024 UK Steel Key Statistics report.