British Steel is recruiting scores of workers in a big boost for the industry.
The firm is advertising 50 apprentice roles for its Scunthorpe and Teesside, along with 30 graduate posts for its sites across the UK.
The apprentice jobs are in mechanical and electrical engineering, fabrication and welding.
Those chosen will enrol on three-year training programmes and study towards a National Apprenticeship that will relate to the work they are doing.
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The graduate positions are in sales and marketing, procurement, technical and manufacturing at the company.
Human resources director Derek Scott said: “This is a hugely exciting time for our business and we have a wide-range of opportunities for people to join us and build fantastic careers.
“Steel is vital to modern economies and we’re investing in our business and our people to ensure we keep supplying the steel society needs.
“Our transformation is well underway and our new apprentices and graduates will play key roles in helping us build a net zero future.”
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “It is fantastic to see British Steel backing the next generation of steelworkers, with new apprenticeship and graduate roles.
“It’s a boost for Scunthorpe and Teesside, and the sector – and a huge vote of confidence in the future of UK-made steel.
“This really is great news in the wake of our announcement of further support with energy costs for energy intensive companies, including those in the steel sector”.
Community steelworkers’ union national officer Alun Davies said: "We are delighted to hear that British Steel will be taking on 80 graduates and apprentices, starting the next generation of steelworkers.
“Steel is not an industry of the past, but the future.
“We need our steel for our safety, for a secure and green economy, and for tens of thousands of jobs across the country.
“We look forward to welcoming the graduates and apprentices into our industry - an industry that is vital for our country.”
The news is a boost for the Mirror’s Save Our Steel campaign, launched in 2015 after the sector was hit by plant closures and thousands of job losses.
British Steel’s future was thrown into jeopardy three years ago when its investment fund owners Greybull Capital decided to pull out.
It had bought the firm for a token pound in 2016 and revived the famous name.
But British Steel plunged into receivership in 2019 before it was acquired by China's Jingye Group in 2020 in a £50million takeover.
Last August, it announced it was pumping tens of millions of pounds into a project it said would make the firm “a leading manufacturer on the world stage”.
The company revealed it was investing £26m in “new downstream processing facilities” at its Skinningrove site in Cleveland.
Welcoming today’s announcement, Labour MP Stephen Kinnock, who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Steel, said: “It’s brilliant to see aspiring steelmakers being offered the chance to pursue a career in the steel industry.
“Whoever takes on these positions will feel great pride in their contribution to Britain’s future success – from supporting critical national infrastructure and net-zero projects to providing the backbone for our national security and economic resilience.
“Steel jobs are well-paid, unionised, meaningful jobs in a 21st-century industry of the future.”
Shadow Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “Steel is a great British industry with a bright future ahead and it is fantastic to see firms invest in opportunities for aspiring steelmakers.
“The Government need to match this ambition, show they are committed to this industry and back British steel.
“Labour would support our steel industry to secure a green future with a £3bn investment over the next decade.”
