A STEEL mill which helped build the new World Trade Centre in New York is celebrating its 60th birthday by taking on almost a dozen new apprentices.

The investment in the future will see British Steel’s Teesside Beam Mill hand permanent contracts to a group who’ve completed manufacturing apprenticeships with British Steel and Middlesbrough College.

The mill based at Lackenby, which makes large steel sections for the construction industry, has helped transform the world’s skyline by providing steel for scores of landmark buildings, including London's Shard skyscraper.

Plant manager, Andy Williams, is also its longest serving employee, having joined the Business as a Technical Apprentice in 1976 and first worked at the mill in 1984 in the technical function.

He said: “It’s great to celebrate our 60th anniversary by welcoming 11 new people into the business. They’ve all got fantastic career prospects and I’ve every confidence they’ll build bright futures for themselves, their colleagues and British Steel.”

One of the new employees, Shane Ankers, said: “I really enjoyed my apprenticeship and it’s fantastic to have joined British Steel on a permanent basis. I’m excited about what the future holds for myself and the business.”

“While our heritage is a source of great pride among our employees – past and present, our eyes are firmly focussed on the future.

“The skill and dedication shown by generations of Teesside steelworkers helped put this area on the map. Businesses across the world knew that if they were getting steel made in this area they were getting the best steel money could buy and that’s still the case today.

“There was once a time when if you didn’t work in the steel industry you knew someone who did. So, over the years, it’s been upsetting to see the number of mill closures and job losses throughout the area.

“It makes our 60th anniversary even more poignant, and makes us doubly determined to continue building a brighter future for our employees. I’m really excited about our future and am confident we’ll write many more new chapters in Teesside’s history of making steel.”