Workers likely to be made redundant by the Corus steel making group are being targetted by a telecoms company as potential employees.

EXi Telecoms is targetting Corus employees, and other manufacturing workers, as part of a move to build up its infrastructure in the telecoms industry over the next few years.

The news has been welcomed by steel union leaders who are fighting to get Corus to review their intended redundancy programme which will particularly hit workers in Wales and the North-East of England.

The ISTC’s proposals to Curus include plans for the re-training of workers affected by the closure programme whilst they are still employed by Corus.

EXi currently employs around 1,700 staff, but it is believed that their recruitment plans could mean an extra 4,000 jobs. The loss of jobs at Corus is expected to affect 6,000 posts.