UK steel firms push for domestic contracts in £19bn Great Grid upgrade
British steel makers are urging the government and National Grid to reserve pylons and other components for UK suppliers as the Great Grid Upgrade proceeds.
UK Steel’s director-general Gareth Stace warned that British manufacturers risk being shut out of the £19 billion Great Grid Upgrade, a massive overhaul intended to power AI data centres and offshore wind farms. The plan calls for 600 miles of new transmission lines and thousands of pylons, yet National Grid, the FTSE-100 owner of England and Wales’ network, is not bound by public-procurement rules to source British steel.
Steel firms have issued a “Buy British” call, citing a lack of access to National Grid’s procurement wishlist. The government, under Prime Minister Andy Burnham, is promoting domestic content in critical infrastructure, while Labour MP Clive Betts urged a formal requirement for British steel. Parallel concerns arise over other defence and nuclear contracts where foreign firms are being considered, prompting calls for greater support of UK industry.
Why it matters
The outcome will affect thousands of jobs in the UK steel sector and the cost and speed of a key national energy project.
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