Apprentices helping British Steel look to the future

An apprentice at British Steel has said the industry's nationalisation has united young workers looking to build their future.

The company was taken into public ownership in July after the government passed an emergency law to take control.

Speaking after British Steel welcomed 70 new apprentices and graduates, Liam Leggat, 19, said: "It's strengthened the steelworks company and brought us together as apprentices. Now we're making a job for our future."

Children's commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza, whose father was a steelworker in Scunthorpe, said: "We need more projects like these British Steel apprenticeships – more of these opportunities for young people across the country."

In April last year, the government passed an emergency law to take control of British Steel amid reports the then-owner Jingye was planning to switch off two blast furnaces in Scunthorpe.

The Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill became law in July, taking the company into public ownership.

Last week, British Steel welcomed the latest batch of apprentices following a period of uncertainty over its future.

The North Lincolnshire steelworks has 36 apprentices and there are 17 at the northern mills in Teesside and Skinningrove and one at the research and development centre in Sheffield.

The company said it had reopened its Scunthorpe apprentice training centre as part of its "ongoing commitment to skills development".

New apprentice Maddy, 17, who is based at the Scunthorpe site, said: "It's really exciting to see what we'll be working on and where we'll be going in the next year.

"I'm hoping to work my way up through the company and hopefully get an important role in the future."

Sophie, 16, said her first impression of the place was "terrifying but also very exciting".

Jess Stewart, 19, is in her second year at the Scunthorpe plant.

"We've learnt so much, definitely a lot of health and safety – making sure that when we go on site, everything is done correctly," she said.

"We've taken pumps [and] motors apart, gearboxes as well. It's definitely given us an insight on what we'll be working on."

The company has also welcomed 16 graduates who have started roles in engineering, manufacturing, technical, commercial, finance and IT.

British Steel said they were the first new starters appointed since 2022 following a relaunch of its graduate recruitment programme.

Dame Rachel was in Scunthorpe welcoming the new recruits.

"We're hearing lots of things about kids worrying about taking the next step, getting good work experience, getting jobs, so I wanted to talk to the young people doing it in Scunthorpe," she said.

She said the government needed to do more about young people not in education, employment or training (Neets) and the opportunities available to them.

After meeting the apprentices, she said: "All of the young people here are focused, the apprentices talking about what they want for their futures."

She added: "These are the skills that are needed now – the hard-hat skills."

Industry minister Blair McDougall said: "Reindustrialising Britain starts with steel. These new roles will help build the next generation of skilled workers we need to secure the long-term future of British Steel and strengthen one of our foundation industries."

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