Type
Closure
Country
United Kingdom
Region
North East; Tees Valley and Durham;
Location of affected unit(s)
Redcar
Sector
Manufacturing
Manufacture Of Basic Metal And Fabricated Metal Products
Manufacture Of Basic Metals
24.1 - Manufacture of basic iron and steel and of ferro-alloys

2,200 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
12 October 2015
Employment effect (start)
Foreseen end date

Description

It has been confirmed that SSI Redcar steelworks is to close. The closure of the site will result in the loss of 2,200 jobs and the decision to close has attracted a great deal of media coverage. The site had been producing steel for 98 years and was a major local employer. The future of the plant hasĀ been uncertain since the site had been placed in the hands of the receiver in early October. Given the importance of the site to the local economy various pleas were made to keep the site open and attempts were made to find a buyer so that manufacturing could continue. The receivers had initially kept the coke ovens alight while a buyer was sought, but once it became clear that no viable offers were forthcoming, the decision was taken to shut down the ovens. The parent company SSI attributed the decision to close the plant to the worldwide slump in the steel market, caused by oversupply of the product from China, high energy prices in the UK and the uncompetitive pound. The Government has announced a support package of GBP 80 million to support those affected by job losses and to mitigate the effect of the closure on the local economy.


Sources

  • 12 October 2015: BBC Website
  • 12 October 2015: The Guardian

Citation

Eurofound (2015), SSI Redcar, Closure in United Kingdom, factsheet number 85165, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/85165.