Find out whether your automotive manufacturing business is eligible for government support to reduce electricity costs through the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS).
Manufacturers facing high electricity costs may be eligible for government support through the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS).
BICS is a government scheme designed to reduce electricity costs for eligible manufacturers in Great Britain. Qualifying businesses will be exempt from the indirect costs associated with the Renewables Obligation, Feed-in Tariffs and Capacity Market. The government says the scheme could reduce electricity costs by up to £40 per MWh.
Applications for the first year of the scheme are open from 1 October to 30 November 2026.
Who can apply for BICS?
To be eligible, a business must:
- be registered with Companies House
- operate in an eligible manufacturing sector, determined by SIC codes
- manufacture an eligible product, determined by HS codes
- meet the scheme’s minimum electricity usage requirement.
Government guidance confirms that BICS applies to eligible manufacturing businesses in England, Scotland and Wales.
Businesses should use the government’s eligibility checker before applying.
Apply for BICS
Applications close on 30 November 2026, so eligible manufacturers should prepare their application and supporting evidence as soon as possible.
The application requires information including manufacturing-site details, MPAN details and six months of evidence covering eligible manufacturing activity and electricity consumption.
Support for SMMT members: SMMT members can book a free consultation with Envantage’s specialist consultant, Jessica Harris, to discuss their potential eligibility for BICS. Contact [email protected].
Further energy and sustainability support
Visit the SMMT Sustainability Hub for more information on SMMT support for members on energy, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Contact SMMT: For questions about BICS or energy policy, contact the SMMT Economics team at [email protected].
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