Questions about whether Government steel investment can save Scunthorpe jobs
Unions are wondering what Government investment will mean for jobs at Scunthorpe steelworks
Last updated 17th Feb 2025
Unions are welcoming yesterday's announcement by the Government it's to invest 2-and-a-half-billion pounds into the future of the UK steel industry but there are concerns jobs may still go at the Scunthorpe site.
It's thought the cash will help ease the move to greener electric arc furnaces but it's believed that will need fewer workers.
The Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds spoke following the announcement.
There is hope for the future for places like Scunthorpe
"The electric arc furnaces employ less people to operate than traditional blast furnaces."
"But the real dangers to steel production in the UK is that currently the blast furnaces lose a lot of money."
"There's only so much time any company will be able to sustain that for."
"This Government is willing to put more money into the steel industry than we've seen for years - our green steel fund is a key part of our strategy."
"There is hope for the future for places like Scunthorpe."
"Because if the transition didn't happen the danger is we'd lose all those jobs over time."
Charlotte Brumpton-Childs from the GMB Union represents workers at the Scunthorpe site and says it doesn't necessarily mean jobs are safe.
There's a gap between the funding and the development of new technology
"I think there's still lots of work to do in terms of deciding on the configurations of the different sites."
"The trade unions are advocating for maintaining the blast furnace operations in Scunthorpe whilst we transition to electric arc furnaces to try and have a smooth transition that minimises job losses and keeps security not only for the workers but also for the customers."
Karen Reay is Unite's regional secretary for the Humber region.
She told us: "There's a gap between the funding and the development of new technology and that gap we've known was going to be there for some time and that's what we've got to close so that we can transition and move across to a green economy and make sure those jobs move with them."