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Neath Port Talbot Council has played a central role in delivering the UK Government’s £80 million support programme established to address the widely-felt impact of the changes at Tata Steel UK.

The support includes:

• Employment & Skills Fund - Retraining and employment support for displaced Tata Steel and other workers in the supply chain across Wales affected by the transition.
• Supply Chain Transition Fund - Assistance for businesses across Wales heavily reliant on Tata Steel UK.
• Business Start-Up Fund - enables affected Tata Steel UK workers, their immediate families and individuals impacted in the supply chain to access dedicated support, guidance and grant funding to start a business or become self-employed.
• Business Resilience Fund - aims to strengthen business resilience and protect jobs by targeting businesses that are delivering local goods and services such as cafes, restaurants, retailers, etc., that have been impacted.
• Business Growth Fund - Capital and revenue grants to support diversification and expansion to help businesses, contractors and suppliers based in Neath Port Talbot.
• Mental Health & Wellbeing Services – Including counselling and school programmes.

Commenting on the difference the funding and support schemes have made, Council Leader Cllr Steve Hunt said: “The end of primary steelmaking in Port Talbot impacted many local people and businesses - not just in the steel industry. However, it has been inspiring to see how our communities have responded to the challenges this has brought.

“Many affected workers have used the Employment & Skills Fund to move forward with their careers, some into entirely new fields of work or even emerging industries such as AI. 

“Others in affected local households have used the dedicated Business Start-Up Fund to begin their own business; become self-employed; or help if they are already running a small/early-stage business.

“Likewise, there has been a good uptake of the Transition Board’s support for existing companies including the supply chain transition fund and business growth and resilience funds. Working alongside Business Wales, the council’s business team has supported many firms to innovate and to diversify their operations.”

A meeting of the Tata Steel / Port Talbot Transition Board on 4th September 2025 heard that as of June 2025:

• 37 supply chain businesses have received grants, which has protected nearly 200 jobs in the local area;
• 43 businesses in the local area have received growth and resilience grants;
• 22 new businesses have been created using grants for equipment and training;
• 3,667 training courses, and qualifications have been funded for individuals who have lost their jobs and are seeking new careers;
• 332 people have been directly supported into new jobs using Transition Board funded employability services at Neath Port Talbot Council;
• Nearly 600 Tata Steel UK employees initially at risk of compulsory redundancy have been offered alternative opportunities within the business; and
• Despite over 2,100 people losing their jobs from Tata Steel UK so far, and many more in the supply chain, there has not been a spike in local unemployment levels since September 2024.

Neath Port Talbot Council has also been working closely with local welfare teams and organisations such as NPT Mind to ensure accessible emotional and mental health support during this challenging transition.

Speaking on the future direction of the steel industry in Port Talbot, Cllr Hunt said: “Our planning department has worked hard on what was a very complex application, to enable Tata Steel to progress the construction of a state-of-the-art Electric Arc Furnace. Planning approval has also been granted for SWITCH, a specialist research facility at Port Talbot Harbourside to support the industry and its supply chain.

“These developments will see a new place for steelmaking which, alongside major projects such as the Celtic Freeport, give us cause for optimism as we adapt to what has been a seismic change for the whole area.

“However, whilst Tata Steel UK’s transition has of course impacted the Port Talbot area more than any other, it is vital to remember that support is there for affected people and businesses across Wales. I would urge them to visit our website, contact our teams or meet them in person to find out more.”
 
For more information on the support available for individuals and the funding schemes available for suppliers, start-ups, and growing enterprises visit: www.npt.gov.uk/tatatransition