TUC praises Forgemasters employment approach

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady visited Sheffield Forgemasters and praised its approach to employment.

Frances visited Sheffield Forgemasters and toured the site, highlighting it as a model example of employment and apprenticeships which should be replicated across the country.

She also spoke at the Sheffield Political Research Institute and called for the Government to back manufacturers in their quest for investment and provision of rewarding long term careers.

She said: “Britain needs to back more companies like Sheffield Forgemasters. World-leading manufacturing is crucial for creating the quality jobs we need. We can’t build a lasting recovery on the back of zero-hours contracts and low-paid self-employment.

“The success of Sheffield Forgemasters in winning contracts and attracting investment shows what can be achieved when forward-looking employers work closely with unions to improve skills, boost productivity and create decent jobs.

“But the government should be doing far more to help manufacturers in Yorkshire and across the UK. At a time when our competitor nations are spending heavily on supporting their energy-intensive industries to become greener the failure to act is a false economy. Unless we increase investment in low-carbon technologies now we will not be able to compete in the future.

“In places like Germany, for example, there is far more state aid to help companies cut their energy costs so they can grow and become more efficient.

“If we don’t follow suit quickly our economy will continue to rely excessively on financial services in London and the South East.”

Graham Honeyman, chief executive of Sheffield Forgemasters, said: "We firmly believe in providing rewarding careers at Sheffield Forgemasters with fair levels of pay. Many of our shop floor staff are also shareholders in the business and collectively, we work towards a strong future for the company and its employees."