The West Midlands has always been the beating heart of British industry.
From the Black Country’s foundries to the factories of Birmingham, this region forged the backbone of the industrial revolution.
Now, it’s time we lead the next one – by becoming the home of cutting-edge steel technology.
This isn’t a pipe dream. This year, a major new iron ore mine opens in Guinea, part operated by a British company.
It offers a unique opportunity to import some of the world’s highest-quality raw materials and use them to produce world-class steel right here, in the centre of the UK.
Imagine it: steel made in the West Midlands, powering the next generation of green infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, transport and defence.
We have the talent. We have the industrial heritage. We have the location. All we need is the political will to make it happen.
But there’s one major roadblock: energy.
Steelmaking is energy-intensive. Right now, the UK’s broken energy system means it costs significantly more to produce steel here than in other countries. That simply isn’t sustainable. If we want to compete globally, and bring thousands of high-skill jobs to regions like the West Midlands, we need the government to step in.
Fixing the UK’s energy market is no longer a nice-to-have. It’s essential to building a greener, more resilient, more self-sufficient Britain.
We have the ore. We have the opportunity. We have the ambition. Now we need action. The West Midlands can – and should – be the home of modern steel. But only if Westminster plays its part.
