British Steel jobs event was 'buzzing', union says

Martin Foster, from Unite union, says the mood in Scunthorpe is now "very positive"

A British Steel recruitment event held in Scunthorpe earlier was well-attended, according to a trade union.

Just a few weeks ago, workers were facing the end of steelmaking in the town and the loss of more than 2,500 jobs, but after the government passed an emergency law and took control of the company, redundancies were cancelled and there are now 180 jobs on offer.

Martin Foster, a full-time Unite union convenor, said there was a "really good turnout" and described the atmosphere as "buzzing".

British Steel said they had a range of vacancies available, from apprenticeships to management roles.

John Kennington said he was looking for a career at the steelworks

Mr Foster said: "We've had a really good turnout.

"It was supposed to start at 10am. I turned up at about quarter to 10, and there was already a queue of the door."

Mr Foster encouraged people who are out of work to apply.

"This is about planning for the here and now, replacing those people we need to replace and taking people on for the future through apprenticeship schemes," he said.

John Kennington, who went along to the event, said it was "really busy".

His father worked at the plant for 26 years.

"Once you get in there [the works], it's what you call a career. And there's not a lot of careers around anymore," said Mr Kennington.

"There's still a concern there. But if the future is bright, [you] might as well look forward to the future."

Jermaine, who is taking his GCSEs at the moment, was also among the attendees. He is hoping secure an engineering apprenticeship.

He said: "It was a big worry when I realised it could close down, because it's one of the biggest providers to work with engineering.

"When I heard they were recruiting, it gave me some sort of hope to think, well, they might actually be able to keep this running. I've got somewhere to go."

Jermaine, who is taking GCSE's at the moment would like to do a manufacturing apprenticeship

Mr Foster said there was still a degree of caution at the plant around the issue of decarbonisation, adding the government intervention had bought the industry time.

He said the mood was now very positive.

"The turnaround has been so dramatic that this offers a massive opportunity and a good future for anybody who's looking for a job in Scunthorpe", added Mr Foster.

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