- Major £22 million uplift in Tata Steel / Port Talbot
Transition Board funding.
- Funds available for the community now total £122 million -
£102 million from UK Government and £20 million from Tata Steel.
- The additional funding could support up to 1,000 more jobs in
the local community.
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 Government.
Since July 2024, the Tata Steel / Port Talbot Transition Board,
chaired by Welsh Secretary , has allocated £80 million in UK Government
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 Government 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 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 said:
This government has acted decisively to support workers and
businesses in Port Talbot, allocating the entire £80 million in
initial funding quickly into the community to ensure that whoever
needed support could access it.
Grants have been delivered swiftly to meet the needs of
local people, businesses and communities and there is
evidence that our approach is working. But we want to make sure
that as many people as possible have continued access to support
with the extra £22 million for local businesses into the new
year.
We said we would back workers and businesses affected by the
transition at Port Talbot and are delivering on that promise.
It remains a difficult time for Tata Steel workers, their
families and the community, but we will continue to support
them.”
Welsh Secretary 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:
I want to express our gratitude to the UK Government for
establishing the original Transition Fund and for now having the
foresight to increase the level of support at such a critical
moment. This uplift will make a significant difference to
supply‑chain companies like ours.
As Tata Steel transitions to electric arc furnace steelmaking,
businesses like JES must transition alongside it, while also
diversifying into new sectors to reduce our reliance on what was
once our core work.
We continue to believe that the history of steelmaking in Port
Talbot is far from over and that a brighter, greener future lies
ahead — but while that future takes shape, diversification is
essential.
The journey has not been easy, and it is far from over, but this
additional support creates real opportunities for stability and
growth.
I also want to recognise Business Wales and, in particular, Neath
Port Talbot Council's Economic Development team for their
guidance and practical assistance.
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 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 allocated to Tata Steel
in Port Talbot for an electric arc furnace, which is now under
construction.
