UK’ Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, Office of the Secretary of State for Wales Mr Lee Rowley MP, The Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP, The Rt Hon Simon Hart MP and Lord Grimstone of Boscobel Kt’s The Steel Procurement Taskforce has presented the findings of its final report to the Steel Council and ministers, which explores how the steel sector in UKK can best position itself to compete for major public projects & recommendations include the development of new tech, improving data and promoting greater transparency. The Taskforce’s recommendations, outlined in their final report, aim to help industry to compete for major public projects by developing new technology, improving data, and promoting greater transparency. For instance, it found that enhancing data collection, including on the origin of steel, as well as developing a digital products library, could help optimize steel procurement and help industry to best position itself for success.The Taskforce final report also recommends1. Procurers engaging with the steel supply chain early in the buying process2. Government setting a requirement for new contracts involving steel to report and record the origin of the steel3. Government updating the steel Public Procurement Note to ensure it represents best practice4. Highlighting for public buyers the relevant methodology and tools that should be used when purchasing significant amounts of steel5. UK steel industry exploring the future development of a ‘steel standard6. Industry and government assessing the potential to use UK norms where harmonized standards do not exist when publishing the specification of steel required in public projectsThe government and the sector will consider the Taskforce’s recommendations over the coming months.The report was discussed at the meeting of the UK Steel Council, which brings together government and representatives from the UK’s 6 major steel companies, trade unions and the devolved administrations, to support the sector’s transition to a competitive, sustainable and low carbon future. Attendees includedBusiness Secretary, Kwasi KwartengLee Rowley, Industry MinisterSimon Hart, Secretary of State for WalesGareth Stace, Director General UK SteelRichard Warren, Head of Policy and External Affairs, UK SteelSandip Biswas, Chairman Tata Steel UK Ltd & Executive Director and CFO Tata Steel EuropeBobbie Davies, Head of Public Affairs, Tata SteelAllan Bell – Chief Commercial and Procurement Officer, British SteelRichard Bell – Deputy Chief Marketing Officer, British SteelLisa Coulson – Head of Marketing British SteelChris Hagg – Commercial Director, Celsa SteelCarles Rovira, CEO, CelsaRoy Chowdhury, CEO, GFG Alliance UK,Peter Hogg, COO, Liberty SteelDavid Bond, CEO Sheffield ForgemastersDavid Scaife, Director, OutokumpuRoy Rickhuss, Community UnionHarish Patel, Unite UnionRoss Murdoch, GMB UnionIvan McKee, Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, Scottish GovernmentJulie James, Minister for Climate Change, Welsh GovernmentChris McDonald, CEO, Materials Processing Institute
UK’ Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, Office of the Secretary of State for Wales Mr Lee Rowley MP, The Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP, The Rt Hon Simon Hart MP and Lord Grimstone of Boscobel Kt’s The Steel Procurement Taskforce has presented the findings of its final report to the Steel Council and ministers, which explores how the steel sector in UKK can best position itself to compete for major public projects & recommendations include the development of new tech, improving data and promoting greater transparency. The Taskforce’s recommendations, outlined in their final report, aim to help industry to compete for major public projects by developing new technology, improving data, and promoting greater transparency. For instance, it found that enhancing data collection, including on the origin of steel, as well as developing a digital products library, could help optimize steel procurement and help industry to best position itself for success.The Taskforce final report also recommends1. Procurers engaging with the steel supply chain early in the buying process2. Government setting a requirement for new contracts involving steel to report and record the origin of the steel3. Government updating the steel Public Procurement Note to ensure it represents best practice4. Highlighting for public buyers the relevant methodology and tools that should be used when purchasing significant amounts of steel5. UK steel industry exploring the future development of a ‘steel standard6. Industry and government assessing the potential to use UK norms where harmonized standards do not exist when publishing the specification of steel required in public projectsThe government and the sector will consider the Taskforce’s recommendations over the coming months.The report was discussed at the meeting of the UK Steel Council, which brings together government and representatives from the UK’s 6 major steel companies, trade unions and the devolved administrations, to support the sector’s transition to a competitive, sustainable and low carbon future. Attendees includedBusiness Secretary, Kwasi KwartengLee Rowley, Industry MinisterSimon Hart, Secretary of State for WalesGareth Stace, Director General UK SteelRichard Warren, Head of Policy and External Affairs, UK SteelSandip Biswas, Chairman Tata Steel UK Ltd & Executive Director and CFO Tata Steel EuropeBobbie Davies, Head of Public Affairs, Tata SteelAllan Bell – Chief Commercial and Procurement Officer, British SteelRichard Bell – Deputy Chief Marketing Officer, British SteelLisa Coulson – Head of Marketing British SteelChris Hagg – Commercial Director, Celsa SteelCarles Rovira, CEO, CelsaRoy Chowdhury, CEO, GFG Alliance UK,Peter Hogg, COO, Liberty SteelDavid Bond, CEO Sheffield ForgemastersDavid Scaife, Director, OutokumpuRoy Rickhuss, Community UnionHarish Patel, Unite UnionRoss Murdoch, GMB UnionIvan McKee, Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, Scottish GovernmentJulie James, Minister for Climate Change, Welsh GovernmentChris McDonald, CEO, Materials Processing Institute