Royal honour for Rotherham steel chief

THE boss of Rotherham’s Liberty UK steelworks has been appointed as a royal ambassador for his work in fueling a new generation of metalworkers.
Prince Charles pays tribute Sanjeev Gupta during the prince's visit to Liberty UK's Rotherham steelworks in February.Prince Charles pays tribute Sanjeev Gupta during the prince's visit to Liberty UK's Rotherham steelworks in February.
Prince Charles pays tribute Sanjeev Gupta during the prince's visit to Liberty UK's Rotherham steelworks in February.

Sanjeev Gupta, who is also executive chairman of metals, industrials and energy group, the GFG Alliance, has been invited by the Prince of Wales to help nurture a new generation of skilled manufacturing workers.

He has been appointed as an official HRH Ambassador for Industrial Cadets, the flagship programme designed to give children and young people direct structured experience of industry while still at school or college.

The programme which currently involves more than 15,000 youngsters across the UK, was set up at the behest of the prince seven years ago after he visited steel plants and heard how the manufacturing and engineering sectors were struggling to recruit young people to their ranks.

Industrial Cadets provides young students with high-quality accredited work experience during their years of education in order to give them a real exposure and understanding of industry, with the aim of encouraging them to choose careers in this field.

GFG Alliance companies including Liberty House and SIMEC, will be supporting up to 5,000 cadets from schools across the UK over the coming year, including three schools in Rotherham.

Mr Gupta's appointment as an official ambassador for the programme was announced during the Industrial Cadets annual awards event in central London earlier this month, during which high-performing participants in the programme were personally congratulated by Prince Charles.

Mr Gupta said: “It’s a great honour to be invited by His Royal Highness to contribute to one of the most important tasks facing modern society — the task of ensuring our next generation has the motivation and skills to enable us to remain competitive and successful on the world stage in manufacturing.

“That was the fundamental reason why my wife Nicola and I set up the GFG Foundation and why GFG Alliance businesses are so actively involved in supporting the scheme.”

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