Funding boost for ex-Tata workers

THE UK Government has announced that businesses and workers affected by changes at Tata Steel in Port Talbot will be able to access an extra £22m in support.

- ELLIE GOSLEY

The last blast furnace at the steelworks was shut down in September 2024, as part of a transition to greener steelmaking, triggering up to 2,800 job losses in total.

The extra funding announced by the UK Government means there is now £122m available for the community - made up of £102m from the UK Government and £20m from Tata Steel.

The UK Government said the additional funding could support up to 1,000 more jobs in the local community.

Since July 2024, the Tata Steel/Port Talbot Transition Board, which is chaired by Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens, has allocated £80m in UK Government funding to support those affected by the closure of the blast furnaces. The transition board fund was set up to protect jobs and the local economy during Tata Steel’s ongoing transition to greener steelmaking in the town.

The UK Government said the money had funded thousands of training courses for individuals, and supported 200 businesses to start and grow companies, invest in new equipment and move into new markets.

It added that the funding had helped ensure there had been no increase in unemployment benefits take-up in the region during Tata Steel's transition to greener steelmaking.