It has recruited almost 100 new colleagues into its industry-leading 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.

Michael Venn, 23, and Steve 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.

Michael 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.”

Steve 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.”

Meanwhile Fletcher Baker, who is starting out as an electrical apprentice, is relishing the opportunity to build his career with Tata Steel.

He said: “It’s great to be able to earn and learn at the same time – this is a chance to build up my skills in a really interesting industry. It’s brilliant to get started.”

A total of 60 new apprentices and 28 new graduates have joined the company and are taking up roles across all of Tata Steel’s sites in the UK.

-ends-

Notes to editors: Interview and filming opportunities with apprentices and graduates are available on request.

For further information: Damien Brook on T. +44 (0)207 7174532 or damien.brook@tatasteel.com 

About Tata Steel’s European operations
Tata Steel is one of Europe's leading steel producers, with steelmaking in the UK and Netherlands, and manufacturing plants across Europe. The company supplies high-quality steel products to the most demanding markets, including construction and infrastructure, automotive, packaging and engineering. Tata Steel works with customers to develop new steel products that give them a competitive edge. The combined Tata Steel group is one of the top global steel companies, with an annual steel capacity of 27.5 million tonnes and almost 74,000 employees across five continents. The group’s revenue in the year ending March 2017 was $18.1 billion.