Steel merger design threat

The merger of British Steel and Dutch group Hoogovens has cast doubt on job security among UK design suppliers.

The new enterprise, 62 per cent British Steel-owned, will be temporarily known as BSKH. The word “British” is likely to be dropped. No appointment to review the identity has been made, and the position of British Steel lead consultancy Design House remains unknown.

The merger could create duplicated functions, meaning a threat to British Steel’s existing design roster. Chris North, a director of Fishburn Hedges, which has designed the group’s annual reports for the past nine years, says “I would say there will be some form of review for someone to do the new identity.”

It is uncertain how the merger will affect Hoogovens.