Industry responds to UK's Steel Strategy

The Materials Processing Institute (MPI) has welcomed the news, highlighting its strong focus on stabilising and future-proofing the nation’s steelmaking capabilities.

According to the MPI, the strategy confirms electric arc furnaces (EAF) as the future of British steelmaking. The MPI plays a central role in enabling and accelerating the transition to a sustainable, low-emission, highly circular, and technically advanced steel sector, including recent public investment to upgrade the pilot-scale EAF at its Green Steel Centre in Teesside, alongside a range of ongoing research and innovation activities to maximise recycled content in demanding low nitrogen steel grades, advance green primary ironmaking technologies, decarbonise heat treatment processes, and provide technical support to steel plants across the UK.

Chris Oswin, CEO of the Materials Processing Institute commented: “Research and innovation sit at the heart of the UK’s steel revival. The Steel Strategy makes clear that our future competitiveness depends on accelerating the development of cleaner technologies, smarter manufacturing, and world‑leading expertise across the supply chain. This is a moment of real opportunity, with the UK’s exceptional RD&I capabilities, strong academic partnerships, and a renewed national focus on green steel, we have the foundations to lead the next era of advanced steelmaking."

Cardiff-based low-carbon steel producer 7 Steel UK, has welcomed the Steel Strategy from the UK government, highlighting the much-needed support required to secure the future of British steelmaking.

While further detail is required to ensure the successful delivery of the UK Steel Strategy, its announcement signals a meaningful shift in how the UK Government intends to approach steel, industrial resilience and national supply chains.

Commenting on the Steel Strategy, Carles Rovira, CEO of 7 Steel UK, said: “The UK Government’s Steel Strategy marks an important step forward for our sector. By maintaining robust steel safeguards and setting a clear path for long‑term industry competitiveness, the Government is giving businesses like ours the stability and confidence we need to invest, innovate, and grow.

"Alongside a clear commitment to support the UK steel industry, the Steel Strategy also confirms Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) production as the future of UK steelmaking. This is something 7 Steel UK has led the way on at its Cardiff site, however, greater certainty is still required to deliver secure, competitively priced electricity.

“These measures help ensure that high‑quality, low‑carbon steel made here in the UK can continue to support our critical supply chains and the thousands of skilled jobs that depend on them. It is very welcome news for steel workers and steel communities across the UK and especially in South Wales.

“We welcome this commitment to building a resilient, sustainable, and globally competitive UK steel industry and look forward to working with the government, alongside industry partners, to ensure the ambitions of the Steel Strategy are realised and support measures are effectively delivered.”

7 Steel UK produces up to 1.2Mt of recycled steel every year through EAF production. The business has supported landmark projects across the country, from the development of railway infrastructure through to renewable energy developments.

According to 7 Steel UK, the steel industry in the UK employs thousands of people across the country and underpins several industries, from construction through to infrastructure. Despite this, it has long faced significant challenges, directly feeling the effects of global overcapacity, volatile trading conditions and high energy costs, all of which have compromised investment and competitiveness.

Community Union General Secretary Roy Rickhuss CBE commented: "Since taking office in 2024, the Government has taken many decisive steps to support the steel industry and those who work within it. This Steel Strategy represents the culmination of these efforts.

"In particular, the urgent and necessary action taken to intervene in British Steel last spring and SSUK in the autumn has demonstrated the Government’s unyielding commitment to protecting the sector and the thousands of jobs it provides in communities across the country.

"The trade measures outlined in this Strategy represent a bold and significant step forward, strengthening our domestic industry and helping to ensure that local economies continue to benefit from a secure, resilient steel sector and the employment it provides.

"We commend the Department for Business and Trade for their work on this Strategy and look forward to continuing to engage with the Government to support the ongoing strength and success of UK-produced steel."

Johnathan Dudley, partner, head of manufacturing at Crowe commented: “The UK’s new Steel Strategy, and its ambition for up to 50% of steel used in the UK to be produced domestically, is welcome. It is vital to delivering the government’s Industrial Strategy, driving economic growth and supporting national security. The focus must now shift from strategy to delivery – actions, not rhetoric: facta non verba.”

Crowe is a national audit, tax and advisory firm with one of the UK’s most active manufacturing practices. They don’t make steel, but they advise the people who do and they see first-hand how national policy shapes UK steel strategy.