Speciality Steel workers returning to Rotherham plant after government unveils takeover plans
“We’re trying to get a position so we are ready to go as soon as we get the thumbs up.”
Scores of South Yorkshire steelworkers are preparing to restart production after the government announced plans to take over the business.
Up to 170 melt shop workers at Speciality Steel in Rotherham will be back on site next week after being furloughed for months, according to Community Union Aldwarke 01 branch secretary Chris Williamson.
They will aim to return equipment standing idle “back to a respectable condition” including two electric arc furnaces, a huge power transformer and a continuous caster, he added.
The business has been under the control of the Official Receiver - part of the government’s Insolvency Service - since it was put into liquidation in summer 2025.
Earlier this month the government announced plans to take it over to protect jobs and buy time to ‘assess the best long-term future for these sites’.
Speciality Steel UK supports more than 1,300 jobs in Rotherham, Brinsworth, Stocksbridge and Wednesbury.
Neither the Insolvency Service nor the department for business, innovation, science and trade confirmed the return of staff.
Mr Williamson said the decision was taken by managers at a local level.
He added: “It can only be seen as a positive. There has been uncertainty for too long.
“We’re trying to get a position so we are ready to go as soon as we get the thumbs up.”
Money had been provided for maintenance and engineering but not to buy raw materials including scrap, he added.
He said: “ I can’t see us producing until December at the earliest. There’s no official timeline, we’re still in a sales process.”
Workers have been told the Official Receiver will consider the government’s proposal alongside any other credible expressions of interest.
At the same time, the business is focused on restarting steel production as early as possible.
An Insolvency Service spokesperson said: "There is no change to the staffing position at SSUK.
“We continue to engage with the preferred bidder, as the Official Receiver continues to pursue a successful sale."