Businesses were urged to throw their weight behind the Jobs Foundation at its regional launch in Dorset. The charity held its first South West Business Council event with presentations about its work, a panel discussion and questions and answer session. It champions business as a force for good which creates employment, lifts people out of poverty and boosts social mobility. More than 40 supporters attended its South West Business Council launch at the Captain’s Club in Christchurch. Regional chairman Simon Boyd, who is managing director of Christchurch-based REIDsteel, led the panel discussion with Jobs Foundation president Lord Elliott of Mickle Fell, Aspire Jobs managing director Helen Stacey and Tim Lloyd, who is president of Christchurch Chamber of Trade and Commerce and managing director of the Captain’s Club Hotel and Spa. Topics included the Employment Rights Bill, the South West jobs market, the hospitality sector, industries best positioned to provide jobs of the future and policy proposals to help businesses create the jobs needed to move two million people from welfare into work. The role of AI, apprenticeships, higher education, workplace-ready training for young people, the Budget, underrepresentation of women in the workplace and support for disabled people in employment were among the topics which generated engaging discussions during the Q&A. Lord Elliott called for businesses to raise awareness of its proposals for a new Skills Tax Relief in the Budget to enable businesses to recoup costs associated with apprenticeships, vocational training and work-based learning to create jobs for nearly one million young people not in education, employment or training. REIDsteel was among the earliest supporters of the Jobs Foundation, which has now has more than 1,300 members on its business council nationwide. Simon, who is a trustee of the foundation, issued a rallying cry for people to join. “Numbers started as a trickle but are steadily growing across the business community. “The more businesses we have, the more power we can generate to pass on expertise to help more people into work and effect policy change.” He added: “The Jobs Foundation is a fantastic vehicle of opportunity for young people, disabled people, older people, those out of work and for businesses to come together to share good ideas and do what’s right for our community, our people and our country.“ The South West is the second regional Business Council to be launched nationwide, after the North East in May. Its next event is a policy roundtable at Exeter College in November with 75 business leaders from across the South West. Georgiana Bristol, chief executive of the Jobs Foundation, said: “We were delighted to launch our South West Business Council. “It will host regional policy roundtables, contribute to the Jobs Foundation’s research programme and become a crucial network for our accreditation scheme when it launches in 2026. “Thanks go to our panel, everyone who attended the launch and our South West Business Council Chairman, Simon Boyd, and REIDsteel, without who this event would not have been possible.” The foundation is an independent, non-partisan charity. Its council is free to join. Global structural steel firm REIDsteel was among the founder members of its business council and featured in its launch video. Visit https://thejobsfoundation.com/ to find out more about the Jobs Foundation and https://thejobsfoundation.com/join-us/ to join its business council.
The countdown is on for the launch of the Jobs Foundation’s South West Business Council. It is being held at the Captain’s Club in Christchurch on Thursday September 25 with a panel of speakers chaired by our managing director Simon Boyd. REIDsteel was a founding member of Jobs Foundation and Simon is a trustee of the charity. He was recently appointed chair of the new South West Business Council. The event on September 25 will formally bring together members in the region and introduce the Foundation’s work to those are interested in finding out more about what it does. Panellists at the launch will be recruitment expert Helen Stacey of Aspire Jobs , Jobs Foundation president Lord Elliott of Mickle Fell and Christchurch Chamber of Trade and Commerce president Tim Lloyd , who is managing director of the Captain's Club Hotel and Spa. An independent and non-partisan charity, the Jobs Foundation was founded in 2023. It believes that business is a force for good which generates employment, boosts social mobility and lifts people out of poverty. It also stands firmly behind business by campaigning for policies and measures which allow them to achieve these goals. The launch event in Christchurch will also be an opportunity to give businesses richly-deserved for recognition and thanks for their critical work in creating jobs, generating tax revenues for public services, supporting communities, driving local economies and fostering social cohesion. It is from 3pm to 4.30pm and includes an afternoon tea. To find out more about the event email southwest@thejobsfoundation.com
Simon's Interview commences approximately 33 minutes in... REIDsteel managing director Simon Boyd spoke of business concerns when he was a guest on the Daily Telegraph’s Planet Normal podcast. Simon appeared on the popular podcast to discuss the Jobs Foundation’s latest report, 'Jobs and Energy' with journalist and columnist Liam Halligan . The conversation also covered such subject matter as the steel sector, manufacturing, the future of British Steel , high electricity costs and the ‘dangerous’ race to net zero. Simon was critical of Ed Miliband , the Secretary for Energy and Climate Change. He said: “He is so far detached from reality and I think it’s quite dangerous.” Simon described net zero as ‘an absolute disaster’ for steel and manufacturing, and said he did not understand the confusing government policy. “They’re encouraging everyone to buy British steel with one hand, but with the other, they demand low carbon content materials. It doesn’t work.” Simon also hit out at government for failing to grasp the importance of business: “It is real madness at the heart of successive governments who don’t understand the principles of good business.” The Planet Normal podcast is hosted by Liam Halligan with fellow Daily Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson . Listen to the episode with Simon here and here :
Global structural steel firm REIDsteel has strengthened its business development team with two high-calibre appointments. The 130-strong firm has welcomed experienced industry professionals Chris Evans and Edith Gil as business development managers under strategic growth plans. Chris joins the market leading company with a 35-year track record in business development and sales in the steel, metals, manufacturing and construction sectors. Multi-lingual Edith comes to REIDsteel with more than 30 years’ experience in business development and sales across multiple sectors worldwide. They join multi-award-winning REIDsteel as the Christchurch-based business continues to grow, expand into new markets and widen its international reach. The company, which has exported to more than 140 countries to date in 106 years of trading, designs, manufactures and supplies steel structures including primary and secondary steel, cladding and glazing for the full building envelope. Its steel structures, including hangars, bridges, stadia, commercial and residential property and disaster resistant buildings designed to withstand such natural events as hurricanes and tsunamis. Simon Boyd, REIDsteel managing director, said: “A very warm welcome goes to Edith and Chris. “They are high-calibre, experienced and results-orientated professionals with proven track records of success in business development across the UK, Europe and world. “They represent an investment in the future of REIDsteel and the company’s strategic growth plans as well as our ability to support even more partners and customers with a smooth and seamless service. “We look forward to seeing Edith and Chris forge the next phases of their successful careers at the company.” Chris will be focusing on business development in the UK and Europe, while Edith’s remit covers international business development. Chris said: “I am excited to start my new role and look forward to introducing many more partners and customers to REID’s exceptional range of steel structures.” Edith, who is fluent in multiple languages including French and Spanish, said: “REIDsteel’s name is a hallmark of quality worldwide which gives me a great starting point in my new role.” REIDsteel supplies steel structures from its headquarters in Christchurch, Dorset, UK, including those shipped worldwide. It can erect the structures with its own inhouse team or supply a supervisor for construction, especially for projects outside of the UK. REIDsteel was the first UK steel contractor to sign the UK Steel Charter and has made British Steel its preferred supplier. The company won a prestigious Structural Steel Design Award – the top industry accolade – for a 'super hangar' at London Biggin Hill Airport to be used by Bombardier in 2022. It is also a four times winner of the Queen’s Award’s for Enterprise (International Trade) to date. Visit https://www.reidsteel.com/ for more information.
We’ve backed calls from an influential pressure group for the government to slash energy costs for business. We’re throwing our weight behind a report by the Jobs Foundation charity warning that soaring energy prices are placing thousands of high-quality jobs at risk and holding back the UK’s long-term economic competitiveness. The Foundation called for action in ‘Jobs and Energy: The effect of high costs on the UK jobs market’ which was timed to co-incide with the government’s publication of its long-awaited industrial strategy. REIDsteel is a member of the foundation’s business council and our managing director Simon Boyd is a trustee. Simon stated in the report: “The impact of persistently high energy costs is doing untold damage to British businesses. “It goes far beyond our heavy industries like steel and chemical plants which are at the core of UK manufacturing. “The result; limited financial resources for businesses to invest in new technologies, upskilling, growth plans and future employment. “If we don’t get serious about tackling the cost of energy, we won’t just lose industries, we’ll lose the chain of businesses that sustain our economy.” The Jobs Foundation gave the first analysis of its kind identifying where in the UK jobs are most at threat because of the high cost of energy and warned that Labour MPs seats are in danger at the next election. Its report highlights that UK industrial electricity prices are among the highest in the developed world – more than 46% above the average of comparator nations. For large users, this premium rises to over 100%, placing British firms at a significant disadvantage in global markets. The government’s new 10-year industrial strategy included measures to reduce electricity costs for 7,000 energy intensive business through a new ‘British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme’ which will exempt companies from paying various green levies but will not come into force until 2027 after a consultation. About 500 of the most energy-intensive firms will also have their network charges cut through an increased discount in the British Industry Supercharger scheme from 60% to 90% from 2026 onwards. Simon said: “These measures are a tacit admission of the failure of the government’s nonsensical and ill-conceived race to net zero policy. “While measures to reduce electricity costs may be welcome for energy intensive businesses, the government needs to get to the root of the problem as a matter of urgency. “That includes immediately abandoning its completely unsustainable race to net zero targets and instead taking a more measured approach which will support our industrial base and help it grow while allowing our country to pursue cleaner energy aspirations in a much more realistic, cost-effective and efficient way.” Earlier this year we launched a Save British Steel campaign to keep steel blast furnaces open in Scunthorpe. We use British Steel in our design, manufacture and erection of steel structures, including bridges, aircraft hangars and airports, around the world. The Jobs Foundation is a charity (1202928) set up to champion the role of business as a force for good, supporting the crucial role companies play giving people a step up in life by providing jobs and training opportunities. It is a non-partisan organisation led by president Matthew Elliott and chief executive Georgiana Bristol. Visit https://thejobsfoundation.com/jobs-and-energy-the-effect-of-high-energy-costs-on-the-uk-jobs-market/ to read the Jobs Foundation report.
Our managing director Simon Boyd showed REIDsteel’s support in person on a visit to British Steel in Scunthorpe. He met staff and was given a tour of the works when he saw one of the blast furnaces which has been saved from closure. Simon presented senior management and blast furnace workers with framed prints thanking the company for supporting REIDsteel by making the finest steel in the world. Simon is pictured presenting the gifts to management and workers in front of the Queen Anne furnace. They show 3,250 tonnes of steel made and forged in Scunthorpe and Teesside in structures designed, fabricated and exported to South East Asia by REIDsteel. The citation reads: “Thank you to everyone at British Steel. “Without you it would not have been possible for us to design and manufacture these structures under the banner of Made in Britain. “To date we have used British steel in projects throughout the UK and in over 140 countries across the world. Including the one on the right, due for completion in 2026. “British made steel, the finest.” REIDsteel was the first steelwork contractor to sign the UK Steel Charter and has made British Steel its preferred supplier. Simon has been a vocal support of British Steel during its recent challenges. He said: “REIDsteel is incredibly proud to be supporting British Steel, which produces the finest steel in the world. “I am grateful to British Steel for a fantastic visit and the opportunity to meet the staff who are taking the company forward to better times. “I urge the government to press on with taking British Steel under full public ownership, at which point it can plan new investment for a long and prosperous future for steelmaking in the UK.”
We're proud to have renewed our membership as a Platinum Business Partner with Dorset Chamber. The chamber's chief executive Ian Girling visited our headquarters in Christchurch to present a certificate marking the partnership to our Managing Director Simon Boyd, who is a also a member of the chamber's board. We first became a Platinum Business Partner in 2020 and have seen first hand all of the valuable work the chamber does to support businesses in the area, fight their corner and help drive the local economy. It is one of the most progressive, dynamic and successful chambers of commerce in the country. As a leading employer with its roots in the local area and a major contributor to the supply chain, our platinum business partnership allows us to support the chamber, the business community and the local economy too. We're looking forward to building an even stronger relationship with the chamber - and our fellow business partners - over the coming year. Standing together has never been more important.
Simon Boyd, managing director of REIDsteel, said: “What next - nationalisation, investment and an end to the mad race for net zero? “Now that the raw materials are in place and the blast furnaces can continue to operate, the government must take the next step to take British Steel into full public ownership. “That is the only way that the company is going to get the investment it needs to make long term gains for the industry, economy and country, and attract appropriate future private investment. “Our government must learn the lessons of the past; when putting a core industry into public-private ownership it must as a minimum hold a golden share. “I fully support the new management team that have been put in place at British Steel as they are fundamental to its future success. “Government must now fully support the company to produce an achievable and costed investment programme that will deliver for the British people over the long term. “Let’s remember that governments have provided billions to support the financial sector. “According to the House of Commons Library, during the 2007 to 2009 banking crisis the government injected £137bn of public money in loans and capital to stabilise the financial system, costing the public £23bn overall. “In addition, the government provided £1 trillion of guarantees to restore confidence in the banks. The ask for British Steel will be high, but it will be a fraction of the level provided for banks. “The government must also adopt a more strategic approach and ensure that British Steel is not excluded by specifiers in the UK. “Those who currently specify Low Carbon Targets in construction, including devolved nations like Wales, automatically exclude British Steel as a supplier because we do not have the capability to produce low carbon steel. It will take at least five years to get Electric Arc Furnaces (EAFs) up and running. “That means getting to grips with the nonsensical, unrealistic and damaging race to net zero targets which are pushing up energy costs and forcing specifiers to choose steel with a lower carbon content in projects. “Businesses, the public sector and other specifiers must be able to procure virgin British Steel, so government must act immediately to remove any barrier to using British Steel. Indeed, government should make it a mandatory requirement wherever it is appropriate. “Notwithstanding the above, we must not restrict our options to EAFs and to existing blast furnace methods. We must take this opportunity to invest in the latest steelmaking technologies for both virgin and recycled steel. “In doing this, we will ensure we have the capabilities to make all the grades of steel we require while being the cleanest producers of the best quality steel in the world. “I’m in favour of reducing the UK’s carbon footprint but a continued insistence on short-term net zero targets is not only damaging to UK manufacturing but risks choking off the rebirth of British Steel.”
The managing director of a UK firm which uses British Steel products to build structures worldwide has written to every MP calling for the company to be nationalised. Simon Boyd, of structural steel firm REIDsteel, says action must be taken urgently to bring the business into public ownership. He has written to all 650 members of parliament – including Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. His call comes after British Steel opened a consultation on the closure of the country’s remaining two blast furnaces in Scunthorpe. Simon writes: “Action must be taken urgently to save British Steel - and that means taking the company into public ownership, where it belongs.” He adds: “High grade steel made in blast furnaces is critical for use in our defence, aerospace and other industries as well as for our national infrastructure and economy. “There is no time to lose. The blast furnaces will close as soon as June this year, if the reports are true that the Chinese owners have stopped the forward order of raw materials; making the closure a fait accompli. “If British Steel closes its blast furnaces, the UK will be forced to rely on imported steel. Steelmaking in the UK is essential to our manufacturing base, our security and infrastructure.” The UK steel industry contributes £4.2bn to the UK economy and supports 75,000 jobs. Simon has written to the MPs as part of his Save British Steel campaign. He writes: “We must retain and then replace our blast furnaces with new modern blast furnaces and production technology and further invest in Electric Arc Furnaces for the future.” British Steel has launched a consultation on the proposed closure of its two blast furnaces at Scunthorpe, putting up to 2,700 jobs at risk. Options include ending operations by early June, in September, or at a later date. Dorset-based REIDsteel uses British Steel in its design, manufacture and erection of steel structures, including bridges, aircraft hangars and airports, around the world. It used British Steel in a dual-cantilever hangar at Biggin Hill Airport – the largest to be built for more than 50 years - which won a Structural Steel Design Award in 2022. The company was the first steelwork contractor to sign the UK Steel Charter and make British Steel its primary supplier.
