Welcoming the Next Generation at LIBERTY Steel UK

A new cohort of apprentices joined the LIBERTY Steel UK team in early September. Over the next few years, they will undertake Mechanical, Electrical, Process Control, Welding, IT, and Technical Degree apprenticeships across our Stocksbridge and Rotherham sites.

Mick Hood, LIBERTY Steel UK HR Director, gave a warm welcome to the new recruits and expressed his hope that they would make the most of their learning journey with us.

“Across the UK and Europe, there are fewer and fewer technical skills available for employers. Therefore, it’s important to invest in people, apprentices, and help them become job-ready and master the essential, quite specific skills we need to maintain, improve, and develop this business. We’ve recruited another 17 apprentices, mainly in engineering and materials science, and they are the lifeblood of this business. If we don’t have this talent pipeline running into our business, then the business cannot operate.”

Another key aspect is that many of these people, myself included since 1979, are also future leaders. It’s a vital programme that we invest in and is absolutely necessary to keep the business running as it needs to.

However, apprenticeships are not just about technical skills. They also allow people to mature, grow, and learn how to communicate and engage with anyone, regardless of age, sex, or ethnicity. In this business, people develop in such a way that their ability to communicate is key and important. So while we focus on the technical skills, which are crucial, we’re also nurturing individuals into mature, well-rounded professionals.”

We warmly welcome our new apprentices aboard and wish them all the best!

Watch our video to hear more from our new joiners about their expectations for their apprenticeship here.