Heathrow signs landmark agreement backing Welsh steelmaking

• Heathrow and 7 Steel UK forge new partnership to power Heathrow expansion with Welsh steel
• Memorandum of Understanding signed today places 7 Steel UK at the heart of the airport's growth plans, providing confidence for future investment in Welsh steelmaking
• Heathrow setting the benchmark for use of UK steel in large infrastructure projects, which can help revitalise Welsh and wider UK steel sector
• Heathrow expansion set to be a nationwide project, creating jobs, opportunities and growth. The project will require up to 400,000 tonnes of steel during construction, supporting steelworkers and supply chains across the country

Heathrow has today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with 7 Steel UK at their cutting-edge facility in Cardiff, reinforcing its commitment to using UK-made steel as the airport expands, and delivering a significant boost for UK manufacturing. The agreement builds on Heathrow's wider support for the domestic steel industry, following its signing of the UK Steel Charter last year.

The MoU paves the way for a Framework Agreement and ultimately a long-term contract between Heathrow and 7 Steel UK, strengthening a relationship that spans more than two decades. Over that time, 7 Steel UK has supplied more than 150,000 tonnes of steel to Heathrow, including for the construction of Terminal 5, and is now well placed to support the airport's future growth plans. 7 Steel UK are the nation's leading producer of low-carbon, circular steel - currently operating the UK's largest Electric Arc Furnace - and this new agreement places 7 Steel UK in a strong position to support the sustainable delivery of Heathrow's infrastructure.

As one of the UK's largest privately funded infrastructure programmes, Heathrow expansion will drive significant demand for UK steel, in turn protecting highly skilled jobs, supporting the next generation of steelworkers and pumping hundreds of millions of pounds for domestic supply chains. 60% of the economic growth benefits from building a third runway at Heathrow are projected to be delivered to regions outside of London and the South East, with Wales set to benefit directly as a result of the MoU. Heathrow has strong, existing partnerships with its UK-wide supply chain, spending £2.3 billion across the nations and regions in 2025. Today's agreement puts private investment behind Welsh steelmaking and the skilled jobs that depend on it. Trade unions including Community, GMB, Unite and the TUC have been clear in their support for expansion and the role it will play in the UK's reindustrialisation efforts.

With the Government estimating the project could require up to 400,000 tonnes of steel, around a sixth of the UK's annual production, the agreement between Heathrow and 7 Steel UK sends a strong signal of support and should provide confidence for future investment in Welsh steelmaking. By backing Welsh steel, Heathrow hopes to set a precedent for other major projects and act as a catalyst for wider reindustrialisation efforts, demonstrating how large infrastructure projects can deliver growth and benefits across the country.

Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye said: "Expanding Heathrow would deliver real opportunities for people across the whole of the UK. This MoU is one such example. If expansion is approved, the MoU we signed today can help revitalise UK steelmaking and drive economic growth in South Wales. Our ambition to put Welsh-made steel at the heart of our expansion plans will create a pipeline of future orders for UK steel, and we hope that the scale of our project will lead the way for other large infrastructure projects to follow suit. We're proud to be strengthening our relationship with 7 Steel UK, with businesses across South Wales and to be helping to drive a new era of industrial growth."

Carles Rovira, CEO of 7 Steel UK, said: "This agreement with Heathrow is a landmark moment for UK steelmaking and a powerful vote of confidence in the future of our industry. Heathrow's commitment to using UK-made steel demonstrates how major infrastructure projects can support UK steel industry, domestic manufacturing, sustain highly skilled jobs and strengthen supply chains across the country.

From our Cardiff base we at 7 Steel are proud to be the UK's leading producer of low-carbon, circular steel from 100% UK scrap and to have supported Heathrow's development for more than twenty years, including the construction of Terminal 5. This new partnership creates a strong foundation for future investment, supporting the work that the 7 Steel team and the rest of the stakeholders are doing every day.

Expansion at Heathrow has the potential to be a catalyst for growth far beyond the airport itself. By placing UK steel at the heart of this nationally significant project, Heathrow is helping to demonstrate that reindustrialisation can be delivered through practical partnerships that create jobs, drive economic growth and support the transition to a more sustainable economy."

UK Steel Director-General Peter Brennan, said: "This is fantastic news for British steelmaking and a powerful example of how major infrastructure projects can support UK industry. Heathrow's commitment to 7 Steel demonstrates how backing domestic steelmakers can drive investment, support skilled jobs and strengthen our national supply chains. Heathrow has shown real leadership through its commitment to the UK Steel Charter, and this agreement is an important step towards turning that ambition into reality. We want to see other major infrastructure developers follow its lead, ensuring that more of the steel Britain needs is made here in Britain."

Community Union's National Secretary for Steel, Paul McKenna attended the signing of the MoU and said: "Community has long argued that public and private investment should be used to support our strategically important steel industry wherever possible. This agreement between Heathrow and 7 Steel is a welcome example of that approach in action. It is another clear commitment that the benefits of expansion will be felt across the country by supporting good, skilled jobs in communities outside of London and the South East. It is in the interests of our steelworkers that this project now moves ahead without delay and unlocks the opportunities it promises as soon as possible."