Hundreds of jobs saved after Tata Steel sale

Tata Steel has announced it has sold its two pipe mills in Hartlepool to the Liberty House Group

That safegaurds hundreds of jobs and many more in the supply chain.

Here's what Middlesbrough MP and Shadow Transport Secretary, Andy McDonald had to say:

"It's fantastic to hear the announcement that two Pipe Mills owned by Tata Steel in Hartlepool have been bought by the Liberty House Group safeguarding up to 140 local jobs and many more in the supply chain.

This rewards the skilled workforce in Hartlepool who are not only showing steelmaking can survive in the UK but that it is still a profitable core industry.

I am equally pleased to hear that Tata Steel will be investing £1 million in their remaining Tube Mill in Hartlepool to increase its capability to make high-strength steel tubes, reiterating their commitment to the UK business and their 270 Hartlepool employees.

The government must now look to make significant investments to secure the UK as a world leader in the research, development and production of speciality metals - and, as I have called for many times, what better place to do that than right here on Teesside".

Sanjeev Gupta, from Liberty House released this statement:

"This is set to become an important addition to our group. Hartlepool has world class LSAW pipe mills, and a skilled workforce, with a long history and recognition worldwide.

This step will inspire investments not only in Hartlepool but also in our upstream plate mill at Dalzell, and potentially also slab from the steel shop at Whyalla in Australia in due course, to give us a fully-integrated world class capability to supply pipeline projects.

The Hartlepool pipes business has faced difficulties in recent times due to the downturn in the UK oil and gas sector but we are eager to begin working with management and staff here to regain former market share and explore expansion into new areas.

These mills can be a symbol of a new Britain, integrated with the world economy, exporting a world-class product globally once again."

Ross Murdoch, GMB National Officer said:

“This is great news for our members who have been through a long period of uncertainty.

Our members have fought to protect the Hartlepool saw mills and deserve a long term future.

The order book was running low and this news brings comfort to our members’ families and communities.

We hope the deal can be completed sooner rather than later so our members can get on doing what they are good at and that is producing steel. We have to remember that without steel we just don't have a sound manufacturing base."

The steelworkers trade union Community has also welcomed the news:

“This is welcome news, which will hopefully bring to an end a long period of uncertainty for steelworkers in Hartlepool.

We look forward to sitting down with Liberty House Group to fully understand the detail of their plans for the business and we will be supporting our members through the coming transfer consultations.

We already have a good working relationship with Liberty and the Hartlepool mills fit well with the other assets that Liberty has acquired over the past year. Today’s news is cause for optimism but now all parties involved, including the government, need to take the necessary steps to ensure a sustainable future for steel in Hartlepool.