Each day The Manufacturer compiles the top manufacturing news stories from around the web. To make your life a little easier, we trawl through all the major trade publications, broadsheets and business magazines to find you the most important manufacturing news each morning. Don't forget to bookmark this page and check back daily.
British Steel to consult on proposed closure of Scunthorpe blast furnaces
British Steel is launching a consultation that could see the closure of its two blast furnaces at Scunthorpe, putting up to 2,700 jobs at risk out of a workforce of 3,500. Since 2020 the shareholder of British Steel, Jingye, has invested more than £1.2bn to maintain operations amid ongoing production instability and significant financial losses of around £700k a day. The situation has not been helped by the recent announcement from the Trump administration of the 25% levy imposed on all steel imports to the US. More via The Manufacturer
Sheffield Forgemasters launches 2025 apprentices recruitment
Sheffield Forgemasters is looking to recruit 21 apprentices for 2025, as the company build its employment base at its advanced manufacturing facility. The recruitment is the first of two tranches to be announced for 2025, with details of more places due to be released in the coming weeks as the company drive forward a £900m investment to build a new 13,000 tonne Forging Line and a 30,000m2, state-of-the-art machining facility. More via The Manufacturer
Babcock awarded five-year British Army strategic support partner contract
Babcock has secured a five-year contract extension worth around £1bn with the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD). As a strategic partner to the UK MOD, this contract award further underpins Babcock’s commitment and long-term relationship with the British Army. More via The Manufacturer
FDF launches plan to tackle decline in confidence among food and drink manufacturers
Confidence among the UK’s 12,500 food and drink manufacturers is in sharp decline, as businesses are faced with a range of rising costs in 2025, according to fresh data from the Food and Drink Federation. Its latest State of Industry report found that business confidence plummeted to -47% at the end of 2024, compared to -6% the previous quarter, as manufacturers respond to measures announced in the 2024 Autumn Budget and turbulence in global markets. More via The Manufacturer
Local MP visits Archwood Group to discuss challenges and future plans
North Wales-based manufacturer Archwood Group welcomed local MP Steve Witherden to its headquarters on 21st March 2025. The visit provided an opportunity to discuss the company’s ambitious sustainability goals, industry challenges, and how government support can foster further innovation and growth. More via The Manufacturer
