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UK Steel announces this year’s UK Steel Forum

Published:  23 September, 2015

Industry trade body, UK Steel, has announced the line-up and date for this year’s UK Steel Forum, the sector’s flagship biennial conference.

The UK Steel Forum provides a platform for the wider steel sector and its stakeholders, including suppliers, customers and Government, to focus on the challenges and opportunities ahead.

This year’s forum takes place on Thursday 24th September in London and is being partnered by Tata Steel. The key theme will be about the future of the sector. Industry leaders and speakers will lead a debate looking at changing perceptions, seizing supply chain opportunities, the sector’s response to the innovation challenge and the ever-rising surge of imports from low cost, low skilled markets such as China.

Gareth Stace, director of UK Steel, said: “We’re delighted that Tata Steel is partnering with us on this year’s UK Steel Forum. Our conference comes at a critical time for the sector which, despite employing around 30,000 people and contributing almost £10bn to the UK economy, is under extreme stress.

“Surplus production capacity in the global market, unfair trade practices, a strong pound, high energy costs and regulatory pressures are all making it hard for UK plants to compete. It’s vital that our sector has this opportunity to come together to find solutions for these and future challenges.”

Tim Morris, head of public affairs at Tata Steel, added: “We’re delighted to be supporting this year's UK Steel Forum. The Forum's themes demonstrate what a crucial role the UK steel sector plays in strategic supply chains like automotive as well as highlighting the sector's strong innovation and sustainability credentials. It's a critical time for steel making in the UK and the Forum gives stakeholders the chance to discuss the ingredients of future success.”