Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen has welcomed the announcement that British Steel is to create around 40 new jobs on Teesside. The recruitment process has now opened for a number of new manufacturing jobs at British Steel’s Lackenby site.
The new Teesside jobs is the latest step in British Steel’s efforts to play an important role in supporting the UK economic recovery following the coronavirus impact by protecting thousands of jobs and supplying products and services to its customers.
Production at British Steel’s Skinningrove site resumed last month, with around 300 furloughed staff returning to work. The company says it has increased confidence in the firm’s ability to navigate its way through economic impact of the lockdown and produce the necessary volumes of special profiles at Skinningrove to meet demand.
The comany’s site at Lackenby was not affected by this and the company’s facility in Darlington also remained open.
Mayor Houchen has received assurances that those British Steel employees who have returned to work will have the same high levels of protection that the firm is providing to workers across all its operations, including the provision of face masks, improved cleaning standard, as well as appropriate social distancing measures.
He said: “Ever since a deal was agreed to secure the long-term future of British Steel, I have always been confident of the firm’s commitment to our region, and the recruitment process opening for these new, good quality, Teesside jobs is the perfect example of that.
“British Steel will play an important role in supporting our economic recovery by protecting thousands of jobs and supplying products to those that need them. Our steelworkers going back to work in an appropriate and safe way is a sign that we will succeed as a region and come back bigger, better and stronger than ever before.
Mr Houchen added: “We remain in difficult circumstances and we have to do everything we can to protect our NHS and save lives, but it is important to get our economy moving again when it is safe to do so, and I am pleased that one again here in Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool we are leading the way.
“I’m putting in place the building blocks for a stronger economy and with my plan to attract new investment and create good quality local jobs, we will bounce back.”
Councillor Mary Lanigan, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council, said: “It is fantastic news that British Steel is looking to provide work and training for around 40 people and further investing in Redcar and Cleveland.
“At a time when the economic picture is uncertain, an increased demand from the construction sector is encouraging, and this will hopefully continue.
“Steel plays a vital role in our economy and has a special place in the heart of our residents. We look forward to working with British Steel to do whatever we can to ensure steel production prospers and provides quality jobs for an increasing number of people.”