Leaders from across the UK metals industry gathered at the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday 20th May to formally launch the Back British Metals Parliamentary Pledge, hosted by Chris McDonald MP in the Jubilee Room. The event brought together over 30 senior representatives from aluminium, copper, cobalt, platinum group metals (PGMs), steel and cast metals – signalling a powerful cross-sector call for smarter, joined-up industrial policy.
The Pledge, signed by all MPs in attendance including Sarah Coombes MP (West Bromwich) and Gurinder Singh CBE MP (Smethwick), recognises the UK metals sector as vital to clean energy, defence, manufacturing, and economic resilience.
The event featured representatives from across the full value chain including: The Copper Mark, Bridgnorth Aluminium, Novelis UK Inc, Amari Metals Ltd, Arconic, Unimetals Recycling UK, BACALL, and Drakewood Capital Management – alongside industry groups and Trade Associations.
What is Back British Metals?
Back British Metals is a cross-sector coalition created to champion the UK’s metals industries as critical enablers of the nation’s future prosperity. The campaign is led by six founding organisations:
• Aluminium Federation (ALFED)
• International Wrought Copper Council (IWCC)
• Cobalt Institute
• Cast Metals Federation (CMF)
• Johnson Matthey Plc (representing PGMs)
• CONETZ (Connecting for Net Zero)
Together, they are calling on Government to ensure that the UK’s Industrial Strategy and Critical Minerals Strategy reflect the full value of metals to the UK economy – from mining and primary production to downstream processing and recycling.
The campaign is built around three policy asks:
1. Recognise metals and foundation industries as enablers of all eight growth sectors in the Industrial Strategy.
2. Support a full value chain approach across both Industrial and Critical Minerals strategies – from mining and processing to manufacturing and recycling. 3. Ensure the Critical Minerals Strategy recognises key materials like aluminium, copper, steel, PGMs and cobalt – not just rare earths.
“You can’t build the future without metals”
In his opening remarks, Chris McDonald MP praised the coalition for bringing together a sector too often overlooked:
“An industrial strategy that leaves out metals is nonsensical. From infrastructure to electrification, metals are the foundation of every modern economy. You can take metals out of the strategy, but you can’t take the strategy out of metals.”
Mike Smith, campaign co-founder explained the broader ambition behind the initiative:
“Back British Metals is not just about one material – it’s about a national opportunity. This sector spans every region, every supply chain, and every future technology. The UK must recognise its metals capability as strategic, investable, and world-class.”
He added:
“We’re not here to talk about decline. We’re here to talk about growth and to give policymakers a practical route to back British industry with confidence.”
Voices from Parliament and Industry
Sarah Coombes MP reinforced the message that metals remain vital to regional prosperity:
“Thousands of jobs in West Bromwich depend on these industries and on the government having a serious plan to support them. We have the skills, the technology, and the ambition. We now need the strategic backing.”
Reflecting on the launch, Nadine Bloxsome, CEO of ALFED, said:
“This was a landmark moment for the UK metals industry. What stood out was the unity across aluminium, copper, PGMs, castings, and beyond – all speaking with one voice. This isn’t just about individual materials. It’s about recognising that without a strong domestic metals sector, we cannot deliver on net zero, defence, or industrial growth.”
“We’re proud to be part of this campaign. It’s time for Government to act and Back British Metals.”
For more information please contact:
www.backbritishmetals.org
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