News: Corus invests in Speciality Steels and creates jobs in Rotherham

Steelmaker, Corus has announced plans to recruit 154 new workers for its South Yorkshire manufacturing operations and the resumption of apprentice and graduate recruitment.



Corus Speciality Steels is looking for 14 apprentices and seven graduates – the first time the business has recruited trainees since the downturn.

43 new workers are needed to support steel manufacturing and steel rolling operations in Rotherham.

Peter Hogg, Speciality Steels General Manager, said the recruitment of apprentices and graduates was a sign the business was committed to the future.

"Just over a year ago, I was explaining to people why the business was having to undergo a painful restructuring which led to the loss of more than 1,000 jobs. At the lowest point, our orders had shrunk to about a quarter of where they were.

"Since then we have been refocusing the business on supplying specialist steel products to the world's most demanding markets, like aerospace and energy exploration and generation. Now we are in a position where we are recovering so we can strengthen the business.

"Many of our products have extremely high technical and chemical specifications, and we need to train new people now to ensure we don’t have a skills shortage in the future. The recruitment of apprentices and graduates is an investment in the future of the business."

In April, Corus began recruiting 50 new workers on an agency basis to support its manufacturing operation in Rotherham.

Peter added: "We are hoping for similar levels of interest to the recruitment earlier this year when we received about 10 applications for every vacant position.

The 133 new workers who will support our operations 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."

When the latest recruitment drive has been completed, Corus will be employing almost 2,000 people at our Rotherham and Stocksbridge manufacturing plants, in addition to about 250 employees at our technology centre in Rotherham.

Corus website

Images: corusgroup.com