Britishvolt has announced that the company has joined the manufacturers’ organisation Make UK.
As we reported, Britishvolt has said that its £2.6 billion gigaplant will be built in Northumberland and will be one of the largest battery manufacturing plants in Europe. The facility aims to produce enough cells for round 300,000 lithium-ion battery packs each year when fully operational in 2027.
The facility will be key to maintaining the success of the UK automotive sector and will employ 3,000 highly skilled employees directly, while supporting another 5,000 jobs in the supply chain.
Make UK represents 20,000 companies across engineering, manufacturing, technology, and the wider industrial sector. Through its policy work, the organisation shares the ambition of Britishvolt to deliver sustainable transport, advanced manufacturing and renewable energy based in the UK.
Britishvolt aims with its gigaplant to make the country a future major hub of the all-electric revolution and that it is why it has decided to join Make UK, according to Peter Rolton, Britishvolt Chairman.
“We are looking forward to being an active member of Make UK, working alongside the manufacturing industry to help futureproof the UK economy,“ he said. “The country needs a gigaplant as a matter of strategic importance to help protect the UK workforce and create a new industry that will serve future generations. Electrification of mobility will play a key part in shaping the evolution of employment in the UK.”
We have also reported that Britshvolt headquarters will be in the West Midlands as the new 5,000 square metre facility, set to be fully operational by 2022, will be sited at the MIRA Technology Park Campus near Coventry.
The move by Britishvolt is seen as an important testament to the future ambitions of the country, according to Stephen Phipson, Make UK Chief Executive.
“Such an endorsement of UK manufacturing’s capability is critical to the future of the sector, in particular securing the jewel in the crown of our domestic automotive sector,” he said. “I look forward to working with Britishvolt to promote our shared objectives.”