As a resident of Port Talbot, I know that my community will put its money where its mouth is

Steel might be struggling in South Wales right now, but another business is booming in a way not seen for some time: solidarity.

Since news of job cuts and a proposed sale of Tata Steel made headlines earlier this year, my hometown of Port Talbot has ignored the old idea that there’s no such thing as society. You can’t get far in the town these days without seeing the words ‘Save Our Steel’ in shops or on badges on people of all different ages, creeds and colours. Even old footballing foes Cardiff and Swansea finally managed to agree on something after they both recently backed the campaign at home matches.

Recent news of a proposed management takeover of the site is welcome, but must be greeted with a level of scepticism. In a week where Scunthorpe steelworkers have accepted a pay cut in order to keep their livelihoods intact, there is a natural nervousness with any proposition regarding the plant, and any caveats that may come with it.

The details of Stuart Wilkie’s Management buyout are still up in the air as rumours circulate about how the money might be raised. One such rumour is investment from the workers of the plant themselves, with prices as high as £10,000 per employee being touted. This a huge chunk of most employees’ annual salaries that would likely necessitate many them borrowing against mortgages or from loved ones, putting a squeeze on everyday life if it were to happen.

Wilkie and the Tata management can’t expect a blank cheque from workers. However, with an honest and ambitious plan, locals and workers alike will pull together to offer their support.

Now is the time for the government to put words into action and help make a takeover a reality. A financial investment like Sajid Javid has discussed would be welcome, but this must be matched by taking steel production off of life support and backing the social case for it.

The fact is that Britain needs steel now more than ever. We need to increase the amount of transport infrastructure and will always need more schools and hospitals to keep our society running. Investing in UK steel is not only the answer to help one industry; it could tackle some of the key problems affecting Britain today.

The challenge Tata Steel has presented is much bigger than the cost of the steelworks itself. It is also the problem of finding a plan that can make British steel viable in a time of global over-production. If the former needs cash, there are many who would step-up to see livelihoods saved and stop our collective heritage from being destroyed. I have no doubt that people would dig deep and buy community shares as a token of solidarity.

However, the government must also put its money where its mouth is, both literally and metaphorically, and match Port Talbot’s solidarity in order to stop the industry sinking under the weight of a short-term crisis.