British Steel to Hire 180 Staff, Ramps Up Production Post-Government Takeover

British Steel, now under UK government control following an emergency takeover to prevent closure by its Chinese owner Jingye, is recruiting over 180 new employees to support a significant ramp-up in iron and steel production. The majority of these roles will be based at its Scunthorpe site, home to the UK's last two blast furnaces, with additional positions at Teesside and Skinningrove. Interim CEO Allan Bell emphasized the company's goal, backed by government support, to become one of the world's leading steel manufacturers and to meet rising customer demand. Despite challenges including a 25% US steel import tariff, high energy costs, and a global steel market oversupply, British Steel aims to revitalize production and secure its future, with the government seeking a private sector partner and negotiating trade deals to alleviate tariff impacts. The recruitment effort also aims to fill existing staffing shortages and to stabilize operations, ensuring continued supply for key industries such as rail, construction, and automotive. Government intervention included emergency legislation and procurement of raw materials to maintain furnace operations and preserve thousands of jobs threatened by Jingye's closure plans.