Tata Steel recruits new talent for future steelmaking in the UK

It has recruited almost 100 new colleagues into its apprentice training and graduate schemes – in locations ranging from Llanwern to Trostre and Port Talbot to Shotton.

Huw Mathias, Tata Steel’s training delivery manager, said: “It’s vital we invest in skills and new talent for the future as part of our development of a sustainable business.

“These new apprentices and graduates will be our engineers and leaders of the future, supporting our focus on supplying high-quality and innovative steel products for manufacturers in the UK and around the world. I look forward to watching our new cohort as they develop their skills and careers.”

The new recruits mean Tata Steel now has nearly 300 apprentices and more than 60 graduates in the UK.

Two graduates who have joined the company, Steve Jones and Michael Venn, described their first impressions of life in the steel industry.

Mr Venn, 23, and Mr Jones, 35 – who both studied chemical engineering at Swansea University – recently started work in Port Talbot in a team which is looking for further cost savings in steelmaking and gaining more value from waste products.

Mr Venn said: “I applied for the graduate scheme off the back of my positive experience in Llanwern – I spent a year there working part-time on projects around the galvanising line. This helped show me how many opportunities there are in the company.”

Mr Jones added: “I wanted to work for Tata Steel because there’s so much going on in the company – it’s real engineering.

“But beyond that, there’s a chance to work for a company that makes a difference in the community. It’s such a big part of the local economy and a brilliant challenge to be part of supporting that.”

Tata Steel www.tatasteeleurope.com