Shotton spirit

Unite steel reps from Shotton rejoiced in the community spirit that’s kept the steel town optimistic, even as the local steelworks faces uncertainty in the shadow of crisis.

Schoolchildren from Connah’s Quay High School and Ysgol Wepre CP met with Unite steel reps yesterday (May 11) to show their support for steelworkers’ campaign to secure the future of the Shotton plant as Tata Steel seeks a buyer to save the wider UK steel industry.

The partnership between Connah’s Quay High School and the steelworks is long-standing, with many ex-students and current parents being employed at the plant.

There are also a number of school governors who are former steelworkers, including chair of governors, Cllr Ron Hill.

“We are pleased to be able to support Unite in this campaign,” said Cllr Hill. “Shotton steelworks continues to be a very important manufacturer in this area. It is an effective business, producing high quality steel products for many other industries.

“Not only that, it has been and continues to be a very important partner of Connah’s Quay High School,” he added.

The steelworks has supported the school through sponsorship of various activities, including the highly successful F1 in Schools teams which took pupils all the way to Abu Dhabi and the US.

In the last year, year 9 pupils at the high school were offered employability and problem solving skills workshops at the plant, and year 11 pupils took part in apprenticeship workshops.

“Our young people have gained a tremendous amount from our partnership with Shotton steel and I am very grateful for all the support we have had,” said head teacher Greg Dixon.

“All of us in Connah’s Quay High School hope that the steelworks comes through this period of uncertainty and that the future of the plant is secured for the benefit of all of us in this area,” he added.

Unite reps also met with Ysgol Wepre CP school council yesterday. “Meeting with pupils at both schools was fantastic at all levels,” said Unite SIMA branch Shotton works chair Anthony Simpson.

“Of course the older students from the high school had a greater understanding of the work we do, but it was especially inspiring to meet with children from the primary school, who are only between six and eleven years old.

“They asked very detailed and informed questions about the historic site which was opened by John Summers & Sons as Hawarden Bridge Steelworks in 1896 and is now the home of the world-class  Colorcoat Products and UK Building Systems.

“Unite Shotton and the workforce at Shotton steelworks are very grateful for the ongoing support being offered by the local community,” Simpson added. “It is fantastic to see that even the children in the local area understand the importance of the industry to our area.

Simpson emphasised that the Shotton works has a viable future within both the steel industry and as an integral part of the local community.

“In the last year we’ve returned a healthy profit ,” he said. “We’re a valued part of the local area and we remain positive that this strong community partnership will continue as we weather the steel crisis together.”