Teeside celebrates as SSI announces up to 1,000 jobs at Redcar

SSI is set to begin recruiting in early August less than six months after rescuing the mothballed site in a £291m deal. Michael Leahy, general secretary of Community, the largest union in the steel industry said: 'This is fantastic news for the people of Teesside and a tribute to all those who worked tirelessly to keep the plant open. Teesside has some of the best trained and highly skilled people in the industry and today's announcement creates a great platform for the future." Redcar MP Ian Swales urged SSI to make recuitment as open as possible. He said: "That way they will get the best team and local people will have a chance to work there no matter what they are doing now. It's well known that people in our area work hard and do a good job whenever they get the chance. I predict a bright future for SSI." Detailed listings of the job vacancies are expected to be announced on the SSI website in the coming weeks. SSI bought the Redcar plant from Tata steel this February.