The UK Government reaffirmed its commitment to revitalizing British steelmaking during the second meeting of the Steel Council on 8 April. The meeting brought together leaders from major firms such as Tata, Liberty, and British Steel, alongside trade unions and the industry’s trade association UK Steel.

Held shortly after the steel plan green paper consultation closed with nearly 100 responses, the meeting addressed global challenges, including US tariffs on steel and aluminum. Minister Jones stressed the Government’s continued backing for the industry. The discussion also highlighted ongoing efforts to safeguard jobs, particularly at British Steel in Scunthorpe.

Coinciding with the meeting was the launch of the Network Charging Compensation scheme, part of the British Industry Supercharger package, which aims to reduce energy costs for steel companies and other energy-intensive industries to better align with those in leading global economies. The scheme is set to deliver over £15 million in energy price relief in May alone. When fully rolled out, the Supercharger package is expected to cut electricity costs by between £320 million and £410 million in 2025, with total savings projected to exceed £5 billion over the next decade.