Only days after the US announced tariffs on steel and aluminium, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds MP launched the Plan for Steel. He said:: 

Steel is critical to the modern economy, and the economy of the future.  

The central mission of this government is growth. Steel can, and will, have an enormous role to play in driving that growth. As well as supporting our mission of making the UK a clean energy superpower, steel is a fundamental component in activities such as the construction of wind turbines, manufacturing the next generation of electric or autonomous vehicles, or building the infrastructure needed to sustain our digital economy.

Whether in the skyline of buildings in our cities, the train lines that bring us closer together, or the pylons and pipes that sustain our modern way of life – you can see how widely steel is used.

As we manufacture, using steel, we can generate jobs, innovate new products, create trading opportunities and support an enormous range of our manufacturing base which is critical to the economic growth of this country. This is the case in the growth markets identified in the industrial strategy, where we have the greatest possible opportunities to drive economic growth. Particularly in advanced manufacturing, clean energy industries and defence. For example, it is estimated that offshore wind alone will require 25 million tonnes of steel – primarily plate steel – out to 2050. This represents a potential £21 billion market for UK steel. 

Steel is a fundamental component in activities such as the construction of wind turbines, manufacturing the next generation of electric or autonomous vehicles, or building the infrastructure needed to sustain our digital economy

The government has committed to delivering 1.5 million homes over this parliament. This too will accelerate the use of industrialised construction and offer new demand for steel providing opportunities to the industry.

We must seize on these growth opportunities. Both to ensure a thriving and long-term future for the steel sector and to best support the wider ambitions for our manufacturing capabilities as a nation.  

The UK has unique advantages that the steel sector can capitalise on.

With an increasingly decarbonised electricity supply, and increased use of scrap steel in production, the UK industry is well-positioned to be at the forefront of the global transition to green steel. We should be able to capture a share of the growing market for low-carbon products and can continue to champion decarbonisation without deindustrialisation. At the same time, our world-leading research and development capabilities offer opportunities to specialise and innovate.

With an increasingly decarbonised electricity supply, and increased use of scrap steel in production, the UK industry is well-positioned to be at the forefront of the global transition to green steel.

Despite the complex international environment, I believe that we can create a vibrant steel sector in the UK and the steel strategy will help to deliver this goal. It will bring together action from across government to establish a clear plan to attract new investment and create a productive, competitive business environment.  

But growth and delivering the steel sector that the UK is capable of cannot be achieved by government alone.  

While we work at speed to bring together policies and financial support that help move the sector into a brighter future, it is those who drive the industry of the day – investors, businesses, wider experts, workers and the communities that surround them – that will:

• inform which goals should be prioritised 
• identify where support should be targeted 
• implement the necessary changes  

That is the purpose of this consultation, to seek the views of those closest to the real needs of the sector.  

The steel strategy – the plan for steel – will need to go beyond words and implementing it must achieve real change so that we can have a thriving and competitive steel industry, which in turn will contribute to wider economic growth and high-quality jobs. Achieving this needs everyone to play their part.  

I urge you to help us deliver this by responding to the questions set out in this consultation.  

With these insights in hand, and the support of our partners in the steel sector, we will publish the plan for steel in spring 2025.

Tata Steel's own policy asks are set out here: tata-steel-uk-briefing-challenges-and-opportunies-for-decarbonising.pdf