Structural Engineering Design & Fabrication

The managing director of a UK firm which uses British Steel products to build structures worldwide has written to every MP calling for the company to be nationalised. Simon Boyd, of structural steel firm REIDsteel, says action must be taken urgently to bring the business into public ownership. He has written to all 650 members of parliament – including Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. His call comes after British Steel opened a consultation on the closure of the country’s remaining two blast furnaces in Scunthorpe. Simon writes: “Action must be taken urgently to save British Steel - and that means taking the company into public ownership, where it belongs.” He adds: “High grade steel made in blast furnaces is critical for use in our defence, aerospace and other industries as well as for our national infrastructure and economy. “There is no time to lose. The blast furnaces will close as soon as June this year, if the reports are true that the Chinese owners have stopped the forward order of raw materials; making the closure a fait accompli. “If British Steel closes its blast furnaces, the UK will be forced to rely on imported steel. Steelmaking in the UK is essential to our manufacturing base, our security and infrastructure.” The UK steel industry contributes £4.2bn to the UK economy and supports 75,000 jobs. Simon has written to the MPs as part of his Save British Steel campaign. He writes: “We must retain and then replace our blast furnaces with new modern blast furnaces and production technology and further invest in Electric Arc Furnaces for the future.” British Steel has launched a consultation on the proposed closure of its two blast furnaces at Scunthorpe, putting up to 2,700 jobs at risk. Options include ending operations by early June, in September, or at a later date. Dorset-based REIDsteel uses British Steel in its design, manufacture and erection of steel structures, including bridges, aircraft hangars and airports, around the world. It used British Steel in a dual-cantilever hangar at Biggin Hill Airport – the largest to be built for more than 50 years - which won a Structural Steel Design Award in 2022.  The company was the first steelwork contractor to sign the UK Steel Charter and make British Steel its primary supplier.

Simon Boyd, managing director of REIDsteel, said: “REIDsteel was the first steel contractor to sign the UK Steel Charter and make British Steel its primary supplier. “Great Britain once led the world in steelmaking but successive governments have passively watched the sale of British Steel as it has passed through various hands. “They have failed to take a golden share in the company or exert any semblance of control but instead were content to let the private sector take the pain associated with an industry that is vital for our infrastructure and security, and requires significant investment. “The current situation is that British Steel sees no future in blast furnace virgin steel .This is a mistake. “Our government’s current policy is that we produce green steel, which requires the use of Electric Arc Furnaces (EAFs). These EAFs are at least five years away and the size of investment totals circa £2bn. “British Steel needed a contribution of at least £1bn to make the transformation and the government offered half of that required, which has been rejected by British Steel. “The raw material for EAFs is scrap steel yet there is only enough scrap in the world to provide one third of the total demand. So there remains a huge need for blast furnaces which can produce new ‘virgin’ steel. “This virgin steel is critical for the UK’s defence in an uncertain world and other major industries. We ought to be investing in both blast furnace and EAF steel so we have the capability to make both virgin and low carbon steel in the UK. “To be left without the capability to make virgin steel is a real risk to the UK. Once our blast furnaces are shut they can never be used again. “All the race to net zero does is export our manufacturing jobs and steelmaking to countries such as China and India, and as a result we export our carbon emissions too. There is only one atmosphere. “Furthermore, the need to then import steel from these countries will only increase costs and our carbon footprint by having to bring it over here. It will also leave us beholden to other countries and add costs in the UK which will make it harder for us to export manufactured goods which rely on raw steel products. “I am very much in favour of a cleaner environment but to get to net zero we must use our own technologies and capabilities to produce clean virgin steel and low carbon steel, and that is going to take time. “To reach net zero in the way the previous and current government seem hellbent upon, is going to do nothing for the environment but will instead destroy our country’s industrial base and push more people into poverty. “The UK steel industry contributes £4.2bn to the UK economy and supports 75,000 jobs. It is time for the government to stand up and be counted and take control of this situation however it manifests itself. Public/part ownership should be considered, if it’s an option. “With the threatened closure and loss of jobs, an injection of £1bn would help resolve the immediate crisis but there can be no doubt that a higher degree of investment and support will be required to put British Steel back where it belongs. “We must save British steelmaking at all costs. Anything less would be catastrophic for our country.”

REIDsteel has been named as one of the top businesses in the south of England. We’ve been ranked in the annual Solent 250 listing of privately-owned, independent businesses with the highest turnover in the region. The accolade is richly deserved recognition for members of our talented and committed team who work hard every single day to make the company such a success.  We rub shoulders in the table with the likes of fellow Dorset firms Merlin Entertainments, Lush Cosmetics, Sunseeker, AFC Bournemouth and CG Fry. Topping the table is smart energy expert Utilita of Chandlers Ford, followed by Poole-based theme park operator Merlin and air traffic management specialist NATS of Fareham. Qualifying companies for the Solent 250 must be headquartered in the Solent which is defined as Hampshire (south of Basingstoke), parts of Dorset, Wiltshire and West Sussex. The Business Magazine has complied the annual table with sponsorship from HSBC UK , CMA Recruitment Group , Broadfield , Evelyn Partners , Aura Technology and Gallagher .

REIDsteel managing director Simon Boyd has been re-elected to the board of Dorset Chamber as a non-executive director. Simon, pictured third left, was among the appointments at the business support organisation’s 2024 annual meeting. He was first elected in 2019. REIDsteel is also a platinum business partner of the Dorset Chamber and is proud to support the organisation in its mission to ‘drive the growth and prosperity of businesses as the county’s leading business support and representative organisation’. The annual meeting was held at the end of the chamber’s highly successful 75th anniversary year, which included its Dorset Business Festival with the theme of ‘business as a force for good’. Tony Brown, of Y-Not Finance, was elected for a second term as president and Gareth Sherwood, chief executive of YMCA Bournemouth, was elected as vice-president. Other board appointments at the annual meeting included Caron Khan as past president, Helen Stacey as chair of the council of ambassadors, Matthew Fretten as honorary solicitor, Lesley Fox as honorary treasurer, Future Leaders Forum chair Toni Taylor along with Simon Boyd, Nicky Busst, Lesley Keets and Gail Polkinghorne as non-executive directors. Dorset Chamber, with nearly 700 members representing 37,000 employees, is the county’s leading business support organisation and its voice of business.  It is the only chamber in the county accredited to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). (Picture: Dorset Chamber)

Support is growing from companies in Dorset for the national Jobs Foundation charity which champions ‘business as a force for good‘. An independent and non-partisan organisation, it advocates for business of all kinds for the valuable role they play in society – including job creation, training, lifting people out of poverty, advancing social mobility and providing funding for public services through tax. Simon Boyd, managing director of Christchurch-based REIDsteel, a founding member of the Jobs Foundation’s business council, said: “The Jobs Foundation is not a trade organisation nor is it a politically biased lobby group. “It is a much-needed organisation that recognises the important role that businesses and those who run them play in society. “Businesses are often seen by many as vehicles of good fortune for those who own or run them and as such, the vital role they play in society sometimes gets ignored. “Business should be celebrated for their achievements and role in creating employment and taking people from welfare into work.” Simon, who is a trustee of the foundation, added: “I urge every business to join the foundation. “Having a grouping of businesses across the spectrum, no matter their size or sector, will help us realise change and promote the positive impact every business makes on society.” The Jobs Foundation launched in 2023. Nearly 1,000 business have already joined as members of its business council – covering a broad range of sectors, sizes and regions – with many from Dorset. Jobs Foundation president Lord Matthew Elliott, who was one of the keynote speakers at the Dorset Chamber’s Business Festival conference in October, said: “Businesses deserve thanks and recognition for all they do. “There is growing support for the foundation in Dorset where businesses of all kinds continue to join and help us show that business is a force for good.” Dorset Chamber’s Business Festival Conference in October had the theme of ‘business as a force for good’. The chamber, which is Dorset’s leading business support organisation and the county’s voice of business, has thrown its weight behind the foundation. Ian Girling, chief executive, said: “ We fully support the work of the Jobs Foundation and completely agree with its principles. “Our Business Festival conference showed just how critically important a role business plays in Dorset and I would encourage firms to join the council to support the valuable work of the foundation.” Dorset Chamber has nearly 700 members, representing 37,000 employees, and is the only chamber in the county affiliated to the British Chambers of Commerce. It is Dorset’s voice of business. REIDsteel, which employees 130 people, designs, manufactures, and builds steel structures including their secondary steel, cladding, glazing and doors. It has exported to more than 140 countries to date. The Jobs Foundation provides businesses with tools and practical support to find and train people in poverty within their community. It has recently released its foundational research ‘Two Million Jobs’ showing how businesses play a crucial role in helping people from welfare into work. Its business council is free to join through a simple form on its website at https://thejobsfoundation.com/join/ or email info@thejobsfoundation.com with your contact details saying you wish to join.  Businesses can also leave their details with REIDsteel by emailing kylierachman@reidsteel.co.uk and they will be passed on to the Jobs Foundation.

FORE! Players from REIDsteel teed off in style at the company’s third annual golf day, with the best turnout so far.

REIDsteel threw its support behind Dorset Chamber’s highly successful Business Festival Conference.

Campaigning business leader Simon Boyd has called on the government to create better regulation rather than more damaging laws.