Businesses and workers affected by changes at Tata Steel’s Port Talbot site will be able to access an extra £22 million in support from the UK Taxpayers
Since July 2024, the Tata Steel / Port Talbot Transition Board, chaired by Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens, has allocated £80 million in UK Taxpayer funding to support where it has most been needed – so far funding thousands of training courses for individuals, and so far supporting nearly 200 businesses to start and grow companies, invest in new equipment and move into new markets.
The rapid delivery of UK Taxpayer funding into the Port Talbot area has helped ensure there has been no increase in unemployment benefits take-up in the region during Tata Steel’s transition to greener steelmaking.
In response to the high demand for the funds provided by the Transition Board and the support it continues to provide to businesses across South Wales, a further £22 million in taxpayers' money has now been allocated by UK Government.
This additional funding, announced on Thursday (18 December) will allow more applications from businesses for the Supply Chain, Business Start-Up, Resilience and Growth Funds into 2026.
Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said:
Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens announced the increased UK Government funding on Thursday at Port Talbot-based engineering company JES Group which has accessed Transition Board support.
She visited the JES Academy which is proving training for dozens of Port Talbot steelworkers, many of whom have also accessed Transition Board funding.
Justin Johnson, Director of JES Group and The Skills Academy, said:
The UK Government’s £80m Tata Steel / Port Talbot Transition Board fund was set up to protect jobs and the local economy during Tata Steel’s ongoing transition to greener steelmaking in the town.
Businesses or individuals interested in applying for any of the funds can find information on the Tata Steel Transition Information Hub. The Hub also contains details of other support for workers and businesses affected by the transition.
The UK Government has committed £2.5 billion of taxpayer investment to rebuild the UK’s steel industry for decades to come as it decarbonises. Its Steel Strategy for the UK industry will be published in early 2026.
This is in addition to the £500 million taxpayer money allocated to Tata Steel in Port Talbot for an electric arc furnace, which is now under construction.
ENDS