25.06.2025

The Government’s Industrial Strategy reflects years of consistent campaigning by Make UK and our members, partners and supporters.

From tackling high energy costs to major investment in skills, access to finance and defence, we’ve helped ensure manufacturers' voices are heard - and acted on. Explore the 28 wins we’ve secured below.

Make UK members can read our exclusive analysis of the Strategy here.

  • A new British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme to reduce electricity costs by up to 25% - or c.£35-40/MWh - for key manufacturing industries, from 2027.
  • Boost to the British Industry Supercharger – with Network Charging Compensation (NCC) rising from 60% to 90% for the most energy-intensive industries.
  • Faster grid connections for major projects via a new Connections Accelerator Service, launching late 2025.
  • Skills England to review apprenticeship funding bands.
  • Potential sector-wide Skills Passport & other initiatives proposed by Make UK’s Skills Commission.
  • Growth and Skills Levy to fund short courses for Advanced Manufacturing from April 2026.
  • £100m investment in engineering skills over the next three years.
  • Government backs a Make UK-led Equality Charter, driving inclusivity across industry.
  • Key engineering roles exempted from Skilled Worker visa threshold rise to protect industrial strategy delivery.
  • Up to £4.3bn in funding for the Advanced Manufacturing sector, including up to £2.8 billion in R&D funding.
  • More support for scale-ups, with £4bn of additional capital funding for the British Business Bank.
  • The creation of a permanent Industrial Strategy Council and accompanying success metrics to oversee the Industrial Strategy. 
  • Government commitment to work closely with Make UK and other key partners to make the Strategy a success.  
  • Clear backing for UK businesses via a new SME Support Centre.
  • £2.5bn boost to SME spending by 2028, including a 50% rise in direct spending.
  • New Defence Technical Colleges and funding to tackle the defence skills gap.
  • All six Harrington Review recommendations on FDI to be implemented.
  • Stronger UK-EU ties, including plans to link UK and EU Emissions Trading Schemes.
  • New Security and Defence Partnership, plus progress on reducing GB–NI Sanitary & Phytosanitary (SPS) trade barriers.
  • Government to ease short-term mobility for UK professionals working abroad.
  • New legislation coming to expand UK Export Finance’s lending capacity.
  • The full expensing capital allowance to remain in place in the long-term.
  • A “root-and-branch reform” of the regulatory system, aiming to reduce administrative costs of regulation by 25% by the end of the Parliament. 
  • More support and funding for the devolved nations and English mayoral areas, including a new local growth fund and a strategic sites accelerator. 
  • A review of grant award programmes to consider barriers to business.  
  • The integration of the Industrial Strategy into Local Growth Plans. 
  • Expansion of the Made Smarter Adoption programme for SMEs and initial funding of £40m for a new network for Robotics Adoption Hubs across the UK. 
  • £24bn investment to fix potholes on motorways and £15.6bn investments in local transport projects (to boost East-West connections).