Business

Tata Steel calls for ‘level-playing field’ amid EU plans to slash imports

Published

4 months ago

October 11, 2025

TAT STEEL’S UK boss has warned of a “difficult” future ahead amid EU plans to slash steel quotas, prompting an urgent call for the UK to create a “level-playing field”.

Rajesh Nair, chief executive of Tata Steel UK, urged UK ministers to safeguard the domestic market after the EU announced plans to cut tariff-free steel import quotas by 47%.

Mr Nair called on the UK Government to design new quota systems in a similar way to the EU to safeguard steel by banishing imports, “to ensure we have a level-playing field”.

He said: “Yes, you could look at it as an existential crisis or you could look at it as an opportunity to make a difference and I think the conversations that are happening today are ‘how can we convert this into something that would work for the UK?’.”

Mr Nair warned trade wars and protectionism in steel have become the norm, “so we’ve got to find our own ways of managing the domestic market”.

He told Senedd Members: “The UK quotas are significantly disproportionate… these quotas were set up, particularly in flat steel – in which south Wales is really a significant player – in 2017/18 when the demand… was nearly 30% higher than what it is today.

“The demand has declined, the quotas have remained where they are. The quotas in general… are 70%… to up to 140% of the demand in some product categories.”

Mr Nair contrasted this with EU quotas of between 15% and 30% of demand before the latest announcement which will see levels reduce further.

He said: “The key thing is the trade situation is becoming more and more difficult, and things are moving pretty fast, so one of the expectations is that we need to bring pace into it….

“But I’m reasonably confident… that the government will also look to do things very similar to what the EU has done… on one hand to protect the UK domestic market and, on the other hand, to work with the EU to ensure we have the right trading interests between the two.”

Appearing before the Senedd’s economy committee on October 9, Mr Nair called for clarity on how the EU announcement will work and apply to different categories of products.

The chief executive said the first intent would be to work with the EU to secure preferential treatment and concessions as one of the bloc’s biggest long-time trading partners.

‘Great confidence’

Giving evidence just over a year on from the end of traditional steelmaking in Port Talbot, Mr Nair was pleased by progress on transitioning to an electric-arc furnace (EAF).

He said: “I would like to believe we’ve dealt with it in the best possible manner, in the most responsible manner and, one year down the line, I’m happy to see the progress being made, especially on the project in terms of bringing the EAF online by the end of 2027.”

Mr Nair said he had “great confidence” of hitting the 2027 target to start green steelmaking in south Wales after securing planning approval and breaking ground in July.

He told the committee that orders have been placed for about £400m worth of equipment but construction on the ground, which is due to begin in the next few months, will be the key test.

Chris Jaques, chief HR officer, said Tata Steel UK employs just under 5,900 people, down from about 8,150, confirming 2,255 staff have left the business since the announcement.

Chris Jaques, chief HR officer at Tata Steel UK

Mr Jaques told the committee compulsory job losses were minimised to about 120 and Tata Steel UK expects to employ about 5,300 people when the EAF is fully commissioned.

‘Very, very volatile’

Mr Nair was asked about the UK Government passing an emergency bill to protect steelmaking by keeping blast furnaces open in Scunthorpe – but not Port Talbot.

He said Tata Steel had a viable transition plan but Scunthorpe was a “different story”, confirming no talks took place on including Port Talbot in the rescue legislation.

As part of its inquiry on the future of steel, the committee also heard from trade unions which warned commitments on future investment have fallen by the wayside.

Alasdair McDiarmid, assistant general-secretary of the Community union, said: “We’re not where we wanted to be. All of the trade unions thought there was a possibility of a more gradual transition which would have protected jobs and primary steelmaking for longer.”

McDiarmid added: “But the reality is this is where we are: those blast furnaces are not coming back on – whatever some irresponsible politicians might want to suggest.”

Tom Hoyles, a senior organiser from the GMB union, told Senedd Members: “There’s obviously a lot of anger at what’s happened but, in one respect, that is done. However, the bigger questions around Port Talbot and British steelmaking remain.

“We’ve seen the announcement in the past few days – it is a very, very volatile sector.”

Business

Eight-year prison sentence after vehicle stop uncovers drugs worth over £150,000

Published

6 hours ago

January 29, 2026

Court Reporter

A ROUTINE vehicle stop by roads policing officers has led to an eight-year prison sentence after more than £150,000 worth of illegal drugs were discovered in a car in Pembrokeshire.

On Friday, January 2, officers from the Roads Policing Unit stopped a grey Seat Ateca on Hoyland Road, Pembroke. The vehicle was being driven by 43-year-old Dean Evans.

During the stop, Evans told officers they would find “stuff” in the car. He and the vehicle were subsequently searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

A search of the boot uncovered a cardboard box containing a one-kilogram block of cocaine and ten half-kilogram packages of herbal cannabis. The street value of the drugs was estimated to be well in excess of £150,000.

Evans was arrested at the scene on suspicion of possession with intent to supply controlled drugs. He was later charged with possession with intent to supply Class A and Class B drugs.

The 43-year-old pleaded guilty at Swansea Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, January 3.

On Thursday, January 28, Evans was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court to eight years’ imprisonment for possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis.

DC Jones, from Dyfed-Powys Police’s Serious Organised Crime Unit, said: “Tackling the supply of illegal drugs is a priority for Dyfed-Powys Police, and the misery that illegal drugs bring to local communities will not be tolerated.

“We welcome the sentence passed to Dean Evans, given the large quantity of harmful drugs he was caught trafficking into Pembrokeshire.

“This sentence should serve as a stark warning to anyone tempted to become involved in the illegal drugs trade in Dyfed and Powys.”

Business

Councillor condemns closure of Haverfordwest Santander branch

Published

11 hours ago

January 29, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A PEMBROKESHIRE councillor has spoken out after learning that the Santander branch in Haverfordwest is set to close later this year, warning the decision will have a serious impact on local residents, families and businesses.

The bank’s Bridge Street branch is due to close on Monday (May 5) as part of a wider UK restructuring programme.

Councillor Thomas Baden Tudor said he was “lost for words” and urged the bank to reconsider, describing the closure as devastating for customers who rely on face-to-face services.

Santander says the decision is driven by declining footfall, with more customers banking online, and that services will remain available via digital platforms and Post Office counters.

However, the announcement follows a steady erosion of high-street banking in Pembrokeshire. The Herald recently reported that Haverfordwest’s former Halifax branch is set to reopen as a nail salon.

In what appears to be a serious failure of planning, there is now not a single bank branch left anywhere in south Pembrokeshire. Towns including Tenby, Pembroke and Pembroke Dock are all without face-to-face banking facilities.

North Pembrokeshire has also been affected, with Fishguard and St Davids now lacking bank branches.

Pembrokeshire is understood to be left with just four bank branches in total — Nationwide in Milford Haven, and HSBC, NatWest and Lloyds Bank in Haverfordwest.

Business

Bluestone celebrates King’s Award for Enterprise at official ceremony

Published

1 day ago

January 28, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Pembrokeshire resort recognised as UK leader in sustainable tourism

BLUESTONE NATIONAL PARK RESORT has formally received The King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development, marking a major milestone for the Pembrokeshire-based resort.

The prestigious honour — the UK’s highest business award — was presented during an official ceremony at Bluestone’s Serendome by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Dyfed, Miss Sara Edwards. It recognises Bluestone as the first holiday resort in the country to receive the award for sustainable development.

During the visit, the Lord-Lieutenant met founder and chief executive William McNamara, director of sustainability Marten Lewis, staff members and invited guests, while also learning more about the resort’s long-term environmental strategy and its relationship with the local community.

The award follows an extensive assessment of Bluestone’s environmental, social and economic performance. Judges highlighted major progress in reducing carbon emissions, the resort’s move to a fossil-fuel-free operation for all purchased energy — a first for a UK holiday park — and its adoption of circular economy principles. Bluestone was also praised for its support for the local economy, its work to protect and enhance wildlife, and an internal culture where sustainability is shared across the organisation. Around thirty per cent of the business is staff-owned.

Speaking at the ceremony, Miss Edwards said: “It was a great pleasure to present Bluestone with The King’s Award for Enterprise and to see first-hand the work they are doing. The team’s passion for sustainability and their commitment to protecting the local area in Pembrokeshire shone through during my visit. Bluestone’s work is having a positive and lasting impact, and they should be extremely proud of what they have achieved.”

The recognition comes at a time when the tourism sector is under increasing pressure to balance growth with environmental protection, as travellers place greater emphasis on sustainable destinations.

Marten Lewis, who has led Bluestone’s sustainability strategy, has been central to developing what the resort describes as its “operational blueprint” — combining environmental protection, community partnerships and local economic support. He has also represented Bluestone nationally and was recently congratulated in person by King Charles III at a reception for King’s Award recipients.

Reflecting on the achievement, Mr Lewis said sustainability was fundamental to the way the resort operates. He added that the award recognised years of collective effort across the business and would act as a powerful incentive to continue pushing standards higher.

Chief executive William McNamara said the award reflected a long-standing commitment to responsible tourism. He said that as travel continues to evolve, businesses have a growing duty to protect the places people come to enjoy, adding that national recognition of Bluestone’s approach was a moment of pride for the entire team.

Formerly known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, the programme was renamed following the accession of King Charles III. Since its launch in 1965, more than 8,000 UK businesses have been recognised for outstanding achievement.