The UK Government has announced an additional £22 million in support for businesses and workers affected by changes at Tata Steel’s Port Talbot site. Since July 2024, the Tata Steel / Port Talbot Transition Board, chaired by Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens, has allocated £80 million to support training for individuals and help nearly 200 businesses start, grow, invest in new equipment, and enter new markets.

The funding has helped prevent any increase in unemployment benefit claims in the Port Talbot area during Tata Steel’s shift to greener steelmaking. The new £22 million will allow more applications to the Supply Chain, Business Start-Up, Resilience, and Growth Funds in 2026.

Jo Stevens said the government has acted decisively to ensure support reaches local people and businesses and reaffirmed the commitment to backing workers affected by the transition. Companies such as JES Group have already accessed Transition Board funding for training and diversification, helping them adapt to the move toward electric arc furnace steelmaking.