On Friday 17 November, the Government announced £4.5 billion in funding for manufacturing to support private sector investment in eight strategic sectors across the UK. Together with our existing manufacturing support and plans for the net zero transition, the funding will level up communities across the country with higher-paid jobs and improve our energy security.
The funding will be available for high-quality proposals from 2025 for five years and therefore help unlock private investment by providing longer-term certainty. It is targeted at the UK’s strongest, world-leading sectors, and where the industry is undergoing fundamental changes as the world transitions to net zero.
Over £2 billion has been earmarked for the automotive industry, supporting the manufacturing and development of zero-emission vehicles, their batteries and supply chain.
The sum of £975 million has been earmarked for aerospace, supporting investment in energy-efficient and zero-carbon aircraft equipment.
Further, we have committed to £960 million for a green industries growth accelerator to support clean energy manufacturing, and £520 million for life sciences manufacturing to build resilience for future health emergencies and capitalise on the UK’s research and development strengths.
The green industries growth accelerator investment will support the expansion of strong, homegrown, clean energy supply chains across the UK, including: carbon capture, utilisation and storage; electricity networks; hydrogen; nuclear; and offshore wind. This will enable the UK to seize growth opportunities through the transition to net zero, building on our world-leading decarbonisation track record and strong deployment offer.
More information, including on the application processes, will be made available by the Government in due course.
The funding forms part of the Prime Minister’s pledge to grow the economy, and his focus on making decisions for the long term. It does not just focus on the most successful sectors today but looks ahead to how we keep pace internationally and build the UK’s expertise for the industries of the future. The funding will also help to ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of the global transition to net zero and can seize growth opportunities in the new green economy.
This approach is part of the UK’s wider offer for advanced manufacturing. The Government have also published Professor Dame Angela McLean’s pro- innovation regulation of technologies review on advanced manufacturing and the Government’s response[1], and announced commitments to extend the connected and automated mobility research and development programme and expand the Made Smarter adoption programme for manufacturing SMEs. The Government will shortly set out more on their actions to support investment and growth in the manufacturing sector with the publication of the advanced manufacturing plan and UK battery strategy.
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