The pillars of net zero, tackling regional imbalances through "levelling up" and unlocking higher levels of sustainable jobs rest at the heart of the government's stated ambitions for the economy's future; the challenge now is to deliver them.

At the nexus of these stated goals sits green steel which — if provided a level playing field, the right level of investment, and an ambitious industrial strategy — can deliver highly skilled sustainable jobs, green a key industrial sector, steward industries and infrastructures of the future, scale exports, and stimulate investment in industrial heartlands. Without urgent intervention, however, the industry faces a difficult period ahead.

Common Wealth and Community union hosted a webinar, bringing together a panel of experts from industry, trade unions and think tanks to discuss the future of UK green steel.

• Alasdair McDiarmid: Alasdair works as Operations Director at Community, the leading trade union for steelworkers, providing services for all those working in the industry, including blue and white collar roles. Having worked at Community for many years, Alasdair is a steel expert.
• Roz Bulleid: Roz is deputy policy director at Green Alliance, an independent think tank focussed on ambitious leadership for the environment, including through work on green steel. Prior to Green Alliance, Roz worked at Make UK, the manufacturers’ organisation.
• Chris McDonald: Chris is the Chief Executive Officer of the Materials Processing Institute, which carries out industrial research and innovation in advanced materials, industrial decarbonisation and the circular economy and has been supporting the materials, processing and energy sectors for over 75 years.
• Miriam Brett (Chair): Miriam is the now-former director of research and advocacy at Common Wealth.

Listen below: