UK steel firm announces 172 new jobs in major expansion after 439 years
A UK steel firm which can trace its roots back 439 years has announced a huge expansion with 172 new jobs and 12 new buildings.
Independent Forgings and Alloys (IFA) is part of Sheffield's world renowned steel heritage, still based in the South Yorkshire city which gave the world stainless steel.
IFA has now submitted a planning application to Sheffield Council to develop its Livesey Street site for a 'significant expansion' of its facility to increase its processing and production capacity.
The proposals set out that IFA currently employs 293 full time jobs, which will increase to 465 once complete, or 172 new jobs.
As part of the planning application, IFA set out that it can trace its roots at the site all the way back to 1587, some 439 years ago.
It said: "The first known forging activity on the application site was in 1587. The company that would later become IFA Ltd - in 2001 - was first founded in 1778. Against this backdrop, this planning application represents the next stage of evolution for a business that is both embedded in the history of Sheffield and an important part of its cutting-edge future."
It added: "Currently IFA's operations on the application site support 293 FTE skilled jobs.
"In addition to expanding IFA's employment, the proposals are also an important factor in securing the long-term security and sustainability of the existing jobs supported on the site."
It added: "In sum, the investment represented by this application is a reflection of Sheffield's historic relationship with this fundamental industry and it is an opportunity that must be grasped with both hands and enabled to happen, with the support of the constructive and efficient consideration of this planning application."
Sheffield is known worldwide for its steel industry, having been the site of the invention of stainless steel in 1913. The word 'Sheffield' is also a protected word that cannot be used in a business' name without written permission from the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire.
Historically, this rule dates back to the 1800s to block forged steel and copycat products from bearing the trusted Sheffield name, but is still in place today.