A Welsh steel construction company has won a £1.1 million international contract to support Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction, providing a major boost to the UK’s export manufacturing sector.
Pontypool-based Pro Steel Engineering has been awarded a contract by construction giant ONUR Group to produce 200 tonnes of steel beams for a bridge near Kiev that was destroyed in the war with Russia. Production will take place in South Wales and the beams will be transported to Ukraine for installation in the new year.
The contract follows a 2.5-year tender process and marks the company’s first major project supported by UK Export Finance (UKEF). This is expected to create two new jobs and strengthen the company’s reputation for compliance with complex international engineering standards, including strict Ukrainian welding requirements.
Richard Selby (pictured above with Carmel Gahan from Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme), managing director of Pro Steel Engineering, said the project was of great emotional and strategic importance: “Winning this contract brings great pride to our entire team. Knowing that our work will contribute to rebuilding critical infrastructure in Ukraine and helping communities reconnect is of great importance to all of us.”
He praised the support of the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Program (AGP), which has helped the company expand since it was founded in 2012. The company currently employs 35 people and has an annual turnover of around £17 million.
AGP operations manager Lucy Jones said the deal demonstrated the competitiveness of Welsh engineering on the world stage.
“Pro Steel’s success highlights the strength and innovation of Welsh manufacturing. Their ability to meet demanding international standards and secure this contract through UK Export Finance demonstrates the quality of the companies we have here in Wales.”
The project is symbolic of the UK’s wider commitment to supporting Ukraine’s recovery efforts, as UK companies increasingly become involved in post-conflict recovery work across transport, infrastructure and energy networks.
For Pro Steel, the contract marks a new phase of international growth, leveraging expertise in heavy steel structures for bridges, stadiums and industrial projects.
Once completed, the bridge project will help restore vital transport links for Ukrainian communities and serve as a high-profile case study for Welsh and British manufacturing expertise in rebuilding global infrastructure.
With work starting immediately and deliveries scheduled for early 2026, the deal highlights how regional UK engineering firms are contributing to both the humanitarian recovery and industrial competitiveness abroad.
