Event

Location: Online

Host: Westminster Business Forum

Tuesday, 8^th December 2026

This conference will examine next steps for the UK battery sector. Discussion will focus on priorities for manufacturing and investment, moving innovation into commercial production, developing resilient supply chains and building markets for UK battery technologies across automotive, energy storage and other industrial applications.

It will bring together stakeholders and policymakers to consider the next phase of UK policy and industry development. This includes implementation of DRIVE35 to support zero emission vehicle manufacturing and supply chains, the Battery Innovation Programme and its focus on commercialisation across sectors, and the UK Gigafactory Commission’s proposals for securing further manufacturing investment. Delegates will also consider lessons from the Agratas gigafactory development in Somerset and priorities for further investment and manufacturing capacity.

The agenda will examine demand for UK-made batteries and implications for investment decisions. Areas for discussion include the current review of the ZEV Mandate, covering annual targets, existing flexibilities and the pathway to the 2030 phase-out of new cars powered solely by petrol or diesel, as well as tighter UK-EU rules of origin from 2027. We expect sessions to bring out latest thinking on routes to growth in stationary storage, defence, aerospace, maritime and rail, including the different requirements for commercialisation, procurement and scale-up in these markets.

The agenda will consider where further progress is needed on the cost and practical requirements for manufacturing in the UK, including industrial electricity prices, finance, site readiness and infrastructure. Areas for discussion include priorities for domestic active material and critical mineral capacity, resilient international supply, recycling and material recovery, and the skills needed as production expands. Further sessions look at how research and next-generation battery technologies can be taken through demonstration and scale-up, and where policy, investment and industry coordination can most effectively support that progression.

Gigafactory development, investment & infrastructure

Delegates will assess practical requirements for gigafactory development and related manufacturing investment, and what will be needed from planning and infrastructure reform to support delivery at pace.

Areas for discussion include:

• project delivery: progress at the Agratas site – construction, infrastructure readiness and timetables – planned supply to Jaguar Land Rover supply and implications for wider automotive assembly
• site readiness: availability of investor-ready and manufacturing-ready sites – grid connections, water and transport infrastructure – planning and permitting requirements
• coordination: working arrangements between government, investors, manufacturers, local authorities and delivery partners
• accountability: response to the Commission’s recommendations and monitoring progress
• investment: incentives and the competitiveness of the UK offer against competing international locations – securing long-term customer commitments and demand certainty for future projects

Manufacturing costs, demand & competitiveness

Sessions will examine the changing cost and financing environment for UK battery manufacturing, and implications for investment in gigafactories, supply chains and scale-ups. Delegates will also consider issues around demand for domestic cell production and the impact of evolving automotive and trade arrangements.

Areas for discussion include:

• electricity costs:
  • competitiveness of UK industrial prices – the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme and the British Industry Supercharger
  • implications for energy-intensive manufacturing and carbon footprint – extension of Climate Change Agreements to automotive-grade battery cell production from January 2027
• finance: grants, the National Wealth Fund, UK Export Finance and private capital – access to finance for supply chain firms and scale-ups
• ZEV mandate:
  • annual targets, flexibilities and treatment of plug-in hybrids – implications for committed investment in cells, chargepoints and recycling
  • options arising from the current review – implications for demand certainty, manufacturer compliance and investment decisions
• consumer demand: purchase incentives and the Electric Car Grant – charging provision and running costs – business and fleet purchasing – pressures facing vehicle manufacturers
• trade:
  • rules-of-origin thresholds from 2027 – tariff exposure on EV trade
  • implications of cathode active material sourcing and domestic capacity – UK-EU trade arrangements as supply chains develop

Materials, supply chains & circularity

With the Vision 2035: Critical Minerals Strategy published in November 2025 setting targets for 10% of critical-mineral demand to be met by domestic production and 20% by recycling by 2035, delegates will examine requirements for domestic materials capability, resilient international supply arrangements and the development of UK recycling capability.

Discussion will consider:

• active materials: developing domestic cathode and anode production – current dependence on overseas supply – relationship with rules-of-origin requirements
• critical minerals: scaling UK lithium and other battery material projects – extraction, refining and midstream processing – commercial viability, planning, infrastructure and access to finance
• international supply: balance between domestic capability and access to global supply chains – source diversification – traceability from raw material through to cell
• recycling and reuse: domestic black-mass processing and advanced material recovery – economics of collection and recovery – second-life applications – feedstock availability

Research, skills & emerging markets

Further sessions will consider how UK battery research can move from demonstration and commercialisation into manufacturing, looking at priorities for developing the skills and workforce capacity required as the sector expands, and routes to market across automotive, energy storage and other industrial applications.

Areas for discussion include:

• innovation and scale-up: the Battery Innovation Programme to 2030 – coordination between research, business-led development and practical application – support for start-ups and scale-ups
• next-generation chemistries: solid-state, lithium-sulphur and sodium-ion – manufacturability, cost reduction and routes to market
• workforce requirements:
  • priorities and skills needs across cell manufacturing, engineering, materials science and recycling – sector-specific apprenticeships and regional training provision
  • transition from established automotive and manufacturing roles – curriculum reform and employer-led training
• markets and applications:
  • UK-made batteries for energy storage, defence, drones, aerospace, maritime, rail and heavy transport
  • performance, safety and certification requirements – procurement pathways and the role of public-sector purchasing

Booking arrangements:To secure your place, please use our online booking form