Join us at the National Manufacturing Conference for a critical discussion on the UK’s new Steel Strategy, set for release in spring 2025. This strategy will work alongside the Industrial Strategy to enhance the competitiveness of the UK steel sector, attract investment, and expand steelmaking capacity.
Held just weeks after the inaugural Steel Council meeting, this session will explore how the Steel Strategy can create a competitive business environment, increase market share, and support the growth of the sector.
Why you should attend: The panel will focus on how the strategy can address key Government priorities such as renewable energy, housing, infrastructure, and transport, ensuring these initiatives are supported by UK-made steel and discuss how this will require integration with the wider manufacturing sector.
As demand for steel in sectors like offshore wind is expected to rise dramatically, the session will examine the opportunities for the UK steel industry to strengthen supply chains, create jobs, and contribute to economic growth. With the Government’s substantial steel requirements and its unique position as the largest steel buyer, the strategy offers a chance to reduce reliance on imports and invest in the future of the domestic steel sector.
This session will provide insights into how the Steel Strategy is shaping up, offering an opportunity for industry leaders to discuss the path forward for the UK steel industry and its role in building a sustainable, resilient economy.
What we will discuss:
For an idea of the depth of discussion and expertise that UK Steel can bring, watch the Breakout session from 2024 using the following link – Make UK Conf 24 Breakout UK Steel (youtube.com)
Gareth Stace, Director General, UK Steel
Gareth Stace has been Director General of UK Steel since 2015, representing the sector to Government, Parliament, and the media, while advocating for a level playing field for British steelmakers on the global and domestic market.
He also serves as Executive Director of the International Steel Statistics Bureau (ISSB), a leading supplier of global trade data for steel and raw materials. In addition, Gareth chairs the Energy Intensive Users Group, which champions fair energy prices, supply security, and cost-effective decarbonisation for energy-intensive industries.
He holds a BSc in Environmental Science from King’s College London and is a Fellow of the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment and the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.
Roz Bulleid, Research and Policy Director, Green Alliance
Roz is research and policy director at Green Alliance, supporting and overseeing the development of policy recommendations on decarbonisation, greening the economy and resources. She joined Green Alliance as head of policy in 2019. Before joining Green Alliance, Roz worked for the manufacturers’ association Make UK and spent nearly a decade as an environmental journalist.
Roy Rickhuss CBE, British trade union leader and General Secretary, Community Union
Roy Rickhuss CBE is a British trade union leader and General Secretary of the Community Union since 2013. Beginning his career in 1979 at Monmore Tubes, he became active in the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation (ISTC) and was appointed as a Full-Time Office in 1993. He later served as a National Officer for ISTC and when the ISTC merged with KFAT to form Community in 2004 he became the Assistant General Secretary. He also holds positions on the General Council of the Trades Union Congress and other union executive bodies.
In 2019, he was awarded a CBE for his services to the steel industry.
Jon Bolton, Co Chair, UK Steel
Jon is the Co Chair of the UK Steel council recently established to develop a Steel strategy for the UK Steel industry.
One of the most widely respected figures in the UK Steel industry Jon has over 40 years’ experience in steel on both sides of the Atlantic. Following various engineering and operational roles in the UK Jon was seconded to the USA for 5 years when he was part of the leadership team that constructed and ran a mini mill in Alabama. Between 2000 and 2019 Jon led primary and secondary steel businesses in the UK and Continental Europe. He was also a Non Executive Director of Sheffield Forgemasters from 2016 to 2018.
Jon was the Chair of UK Steel from 2013 to 2015 and jointly chaired a previous incarnation of the UK Steel Council with the Secretary of State for Business and Industry for two years. During this time Jon also chaired a group that formed the UK Metals Council.
He is currently the Chair of the Materials Processing Institute based on Teesside and a Main Board advisor to Emirates Steel.
He has a passion for developing the skills of young people and is The Kings Ambassador for Industrial Cadets, a scheme gives young people direct experience of industry. He is a Trustee of the Engineering Development Trust (EDT) who manage the Industrial Cadets programme.
Jon also chaired the Stakeholder Steering Group for “Transfire”, part of the governments Transforming the Foundation Industries Challenge.
Jon is a Fellow of the Institute for Materials. Minerals and Mining and was awarded the Bessamer Gold Medal for outstanding services to the steel industry in 2019.