Leaders' hopes for "positive" future at Speciality Steel in Sheffield and Rotherham after "years" of neglect
Steelmaking is described as the “beating heart” of South Yorkshire
Sheffield MP Marie Tidball says the nationalisation of a steel firm with plants in Sheffield and Rotherham means “continued jobs, pay and pensions” but moreover, a Government that’s “finally” backing British steelmaking rather than watch it “wither after years of neglect”.
Speaking on behalf of the 600 workers employed at the Stocksbridge plant of Speciality Steel UK, she has pledged to continue to press the Government to restart steelmaking across the firm’s South Yorkshire sites.
She spoke out after the Government announced plans on Monday to nationalise SSUK after failing to find a “credible private sector solution”.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the Government would develop a proposal for the public acquisition of the firm, protecting jobs and securing time to “assess the best long-term future for these sites”.
SSUK supports more than 1,300 jobs in Rotherham, Brinsworth and Stocksbridge in South Yorkshire as well as in Wednesbury in the West Midlands.
It 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.
Mrs Tidball said: “Steel is the beating heart of Stocksbridge. At its peak, our site produced 15 per cent of global aerospace and defence steel.
“Restarting production will safeguard the specialist skills, product qualifications and customer accreditations that took decades to build, while creating new jobs and growth for the future.”
Echoing Marie’s confidence, Rotherham Council leader Chris Read said the firm’s 1,300 workers had shown “remarkable resilience”, adding that 200 years of steel production at the town’s Parkgate site “will not come to an end”.
He added: “They deserve a sustainable plan that gives them confidence in the future, protects our industrial heritage and preserves the sovereign capabilities that are so important to the UK economy.
“We have long argued that the capabilities, skills and infrastructure contained within these sites are of national importance.
“At a time of growing uncertainty around global supply chains and economic security, maintaining the UK’s ability to produce high-quality specialist steel is more important than ever.”