British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS)

The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) is a UK Government scheme designed to reduce electricity costs for eligible manufacturing businesses in Great Britain. The scheme forms part of the Industrial Strategy and aims to support business growth, competitiveness and skilled jobs.  

From April 2027, eligible businesses can receive exemptions from certain costs included within electricity bills, with potential savings of up to £40 per MWh. Eligible businesses will also receive an additional payment in 2027 reflecting support that would have been available if the scheme had started earlier.  

Applications open here on 1 October 2026 and close on 30 November 2026. Read on for more information about eligibility, support details and key dates, or visit the government’s eligibility checker here.  

The BICS scheme exempts eligible businesses from the indirect costs of: 

• Renewables Obligation (RO) 
• Feed-in Tariffs (FiT) 
• Capacity Market (CM) 

These exemptions are expected to reduce electricity costs for qualifying businesses from April 2027 onwards. Capacity Market exemptions are expected to commence from October 2027. 

An additional payment will also be made to eligible businesses in 2027, reflecting support these organisations would have received had the scheme started earlier.  

BICS is aimed at manufacturers operating within Industrial Strategy growth sectors and the industries that support them. To qualify, businesses must meet all relevant eligibility criteria, including: 

• Being registered with Companies House 
• Operating within an eligible sector 
• Manufacturing eligible products 
• Using at least 33 MWh of grid-supplied electricity annually at the site being assessed 

Eligible sectors may include: 

• Advanced manufacturing 
• Clean energy 
• Defence 
• Digital and technologies 
• Life sciences 
• Chemicals 
• Composites 
• Critical minerals 
• Materials 
• Steel 
• Electricity networks 

Eligibility is assessed on a site-by-site basis. Final eligibility decisions are made by the Government and not by energy suppliers. You can check your eligibility via the BICS eligibility checker here.   

Applications are to be made directly through the Government's BICS application process here, between 1 October 2026 and 30 November 2026.