Tata Steel hasn’t been far from the news over recent months, job losses at their plants threatened to badly damage local communities, and while the headlines covered plans to save the plants unions were also working hard to support those facing redundancy.

Allan Sharp is Operations Manager with the Community union and works on the National Project within the Steel Industry, Private Sector Prison Staff and Footwear industry

Allan takes up the story

In late 2015 TATA announced that they were to make major redundancies across their sites in England predominately the job losses would be in Rotherham and Scunthorpe as they put elements of the business up for sale."

There would be 790 redundancies coming from the Thrybergh plant in Rotherham and 700 from the Scunthorpe site, and the union wanted to ensure that all those workers received as much support as possible.

The project worked with the regional Taskforce groups that received funding from Government to support the outplacement of the redundant staff, the taskforce included representatives from BIS, Skills Funding Agency, Tata Steel, Community, Communitas JCP, National Careers Service and Rotherham North Notts College. A fund was agreed through local and national government to provide the required assistance for those being displaced which included retaining for employment into a different sector of up to £3.4 million

Allan points out that the funding wasn’t just to help Tata Steel workers, but also those in the supply chain who would be affected: 

This funding was to also include companies in the Tata supply chain that were forced to make redundancies as a direct result of Tata’s decision. Companies in the supply chain are still accessing this funding today. Kiverton Park Steel recently made 40 people redundant and through our project we managed to get the individuals access to the full support package."

A resource centre was set up onsite where individuals were able to visit and pick up information on how to get help with preparing a CV or interview skills and to see what options were available for reskilling with funding through the taskforce. 

The project's main role was in supporting members to ensure they got the most from the offer that was being made available to them.  Members of the team were based within the resource centre to provide 1:1 support and complete introductions to the other partner agencies that were also in attendance.

IT was one area that workers needed to update their skills. Community utilised their offices to provide introduction to IT courses, due to the locality of the offices and the Tata site, and a tutor from Rotherham North Notts College (RNN) attended to complete assessments and provide training for individuals.

They also used the facility to run other courses such as Nebosh and LGV Driver Theory tests, whereby providers sent in tutors to support courses. Allan sourced a wide and varied range of courses through Rotherham North Notts College to support workers including Microsoft ICT Intermediate, NEBOSH, IOSH, Forklift, CSCS, LGV driver training, Tele Handler 360% Excavator training (JCB).

Allan said as part of the overall activity a number of Job Fairs were held onsite to help people find jobs that would utilise their existing, and new, skills. The taskforce are currently undertaking a tracking process using JCP to support this activity.

The union’s hard work at supporting steel workers through redundancy and uncertainty has made a real difference to their lives and future prospects.

Stuart Hibbert is an ex steel worker and said:

I have received excellent support from the union in producing my CV and ensuring that I received guidance on all my options.  The taskforce support has been invaluable to me having been a steel worker all my life."

Whilst colleague John Crosland said

Having just completed my NEBOSH general certificate over two weeks at Phoenix House I can say the facilities are very good, comfortable and a lot less intimidating than being at college or university. I felt at ease - you could make a drink when you wanted, no pressured time breaks, very well maintained - I would recommend the use of Phoenix House for future courses."

Allan summed up saying

Our role was to support individual in getting the best deal for them in terms of upskilling for a world outside of the steel industry. It’s been a very difficult time for these workers and their families – but we hope that the support and training we have been able to source has helped build skills and opportunities."