News: Corus set to take on 50 staff in Rotherham

Corus is looking to recruit 160 new workers over the coming months in South Yorkshire with 50 to support its manufacturing operation in Rotherham.

The steelmaker has also strengthened its sales expertise in the aerospace and energy sectors with additional account managers for its South Yorkshire-based Speciality Steels business.

Peter Hogg, Speciality Steels general manager said: "2009 was the toughest year in the European steel industry for over 60 years. We had to make major changes to our business to weather that storm.

"We refocused the South Yorkshire business on supplying our quality steel to customers in high-technology applications in markets such as aerospace, automotive and energy exploration and generation.

"There are signs that more positive trading conditions are emerging in some of the sectors we supply to and we are now strengthening the business to be in the best position to compete for new orders.

"The 160 new workers will be recruited on an agency basis initially, but will be trained progressively into skilled steelworkers. If business conditions continue to improve I hope we'll be able to employ them directly at some point in the future.

"We are also working closely with our sister plant in Teesside, which was recently mothballed in order to provide opportunities to transfer for the skilled steelworkers at risk there. It is important that we do what we can to retain as many skilled workers as possible."

As part of a restructure in 2009, Corus announced that 700 jobs would be lost in January with a further 400 announced in July. They still employ more than 1,500 people at its Rotherham and Stocksbridge plants, as well as its Rotherham technology centre.

Corus Speciality Steels supplies high technology steel to customers in the aerospace, automotive, oil and gas, power generation and renewable energy sectors.

Corus website
Rotherham

Images: corusgroup.com