Is Your Business Prepared for BICS?
The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) is set to go live in April 2027, and many eligible businesses aren’t ready, putting them at risk of missing out on up to 25% off their energy bills.
The application window is set to open on the 1st October 2026, and you’ll need to ensure you have all the relevant documentation to prove your eligibility. From providing detailed energy consumption data to checking your Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code to confirm you fall into the designated sectors, you’ll need to ensure you can pass the government’s assessment to access the savings.
Working with Consultiv Utilities means you’ll benefit from our expert strategic guidance – helping you navigate complex eligibility criteria, ensuring you stay ahead of the curve when it comes to BICS compliance, while giving you peace of mind that you qualify for up to 25% off your energy costs.
Complimentary BICS eligibility assessment
If you’re considering whether your business could benefit from the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS), our complimentary eligibility assessment provides an informed starting point.
Our specialists will review your circumstances and advise whether progressing with a full application is likely to be worthwhile, helping you make an informed decision before committing valuable time and resources.
Our assessment includes:
- Review of your Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes
- Assessment of relevant Harmonised System (HS) commodity codes
- Initial evaluation of your energy consumption and operational profile
- Preliminary assessment of your potential eligibility
- Tailored recommendations on the most appropriate next steps
Following the assessment, you’ll have a clearer understanding of:
- Whether your organisation is likely to qualify for BICS
- The potential commercial benefits available
- The information and supporting evidence required for an application
- The anticipated level of complexity involved
- Whether proceeding with a full application represents a worthwhile opportunity
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What is the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme?
The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) has been introduced by the UK Government to support electricity-intensive manufacturing sectors that are critical to the UK economy and supply chain.
The scheme is expected to focus on:
- Manufacturing businesses operating within key growth and foundational sectors
- Organisations with high levels of electricity intensity
- Businesses that contribute to strategic UK industrial supply chains
- Companies facing international competitive pressures linked to energy costs
The initiative forms part of a wider industrial strategy designed to improve UK manufacturing competitiveness, encourage investment and support long-term economic growth.
The BICS Scheme: Key Information
Scope:
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Will support 10,000 eligible energy-intensive manufacturers.
Potential Savings:
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Electricity costs cut by up to £40/MWh.
Start Date:
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Scheduled to go live in April 2027. Application window opens on 1st October 2026.
How Will the BICS Scheme Benefit My Business?
BICS-eligible businesses will be exempt from paying the indirect costs of:
This will result in energy savings worth around £35 to £40 per MWh, cutting bills by up to 25%.
These reduced energy costs can help your business:
- Reinvest saved capital into clean energy initiatives or new technologies
- Protect jobs and create opportunities for expansion, recruitment and skills development
- Improve cash flow and reduce pressure from rising operational costs
- Stay competitive with European and global businesses
- Grow sustainably with more predictable energy pricing
Find out more about how your business can benefit from BICS.
Is My Business Eligible for the BICS Energy Scheme?
To qualify for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme, your business must:
- Operate in one of the government’s priority manufacturing “frontier” industries (within the Industrial Strategy’s growth sectors or ‘IS-8’), or operate in a foundational manufacturing industry that supplies them.
- Manufacture at least one eligible product, as defined by specific World Customs Organization Harmonized System (HS) codes.
- Consume more than 33 MWh of grid-supplied electricity per manufacturing site per year .
You need to meet all of these requirements to be eligible for BICS savings.
Unclear if your business is eligible? Book your free BICS consultation with Consultiv Utilities – our expert team will help you understand if you’re eligible.
You can download our BICS Explained Guide here
Key dates, information on who qualifies, and how to get started - all within this useful guide.
BICS Explained | Download
BICS Explained - Download
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To qualify for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme, your business must:
How Can I Ensure My Business is Prepared for BICS?
While applications for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme are not yet open, there are steps that your business should be taking today to help you access savings of up to £40/MWh.
- Check your current Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes and Harmonised System (HS) product codes against those outlined in the GOV.UK BICS Consultation.
- Gather comprehensive energy data to prove you meet the required thresholds.
- Review your current or future energy supply agreements to ensure there are no terms that might prevent you from claiming BICS savings.
- Speak with an experienced energy broker, such as Consultiv Utilities, to ensure you have all the relevant documentation to meet BICS requirements and model potential cost savings.
Confused about preparing for BICS? Don’t leave your business’s BICS eligibility to chance – speak to the Consultiv Utilities team today about getting prepared.
The application window will open on the 1st October 2026.
Still not sure if your business qualifies for the BICS scheme?
Book your free BICS consultation with Consultiv Utilities – our expert team will help you understand if you’re eligible.
Practical Support for Manufacturers Preparing for BICS
At Consultiv Utilities, we help manufacturers take a proactive approach to BICS by combining strategic consultancy, energy expertise and detailed operational insight. Our focus is on helping businesses position themselves effectively ahead of implementation, while ensuring BICS support forms part of a broader energy and cost-management strategy.
As government guidance continues to evolve, many manufacturers are unsure whether they may qualify under the scheme or what information they may need to provide.Our team works closely with organisations to assess operational and energy profiles against likely eligibility criteria, helping businesses gain early visibility of where they may stand.
This includes support with:
- Reviewing electricity usage
- Analysing manufacturing activity and sector alignment
- Assessing supply structures across single and multi-site operations
- Evaluating current non-commodity cost exposure
- Identifying potential qualifying areas within complex businesses
- Tracking ongoing policy developments and consultations
Rather than leaving businesses to interpret technical guidance alone, we provide clear, commercially focused advice designed to support informed decision-making. The first step is booking your free BICS consultation with a member of our experienced team.
How We Help Businesses Like Yours
Why Choose Consultiv Utilities?
Speak to Our Energy Consultancy Team and Get Prepared For BICS
If your organisation could be impacted by the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme, now is the time to start preparing. If you wait, you risk missing out on up to 25% in energy savings.
Contact Consultiv Utilities today to discuss how we can support your business through BICS – and beyond.
Get in touch
FAQs
How long does a BICS exemption last?
If your application for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) is successful, your exemption will normally remain valid for five years, subject to ongoing compliance requirements.
During this period, businesses must keep their eligibility information up to date. Annual declarations are required during years 1, 3 and 4, with a more detailed eligibility review taking place in year 2.
Businesses must also notify the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) of any material changes that could affect their eligibility for BICS.
What is the BICS year 2 review?
Businesses receiving BICS support will undergo a full eligibility review in their second year. This is designed to confirm that the business, site and manufacturing activities continue to meet the scheme’s eligibility requirements.
The review combines the annual declaration requirements with a more detailed reassessment of eligibility. Businesses may need to provide updated evidence relating to electricity consumption, eligible manufacturing activity, production levels, shared meter arrangements and any British Industry Supercharger support received.
Maintaining accurate energy and operational records throughout the BICS exemption period can therefore be important for demonstrating continued compliance.
Can a business receive both BICS and EII/British Industry Supercharger support?
Businesses already receiving support through the British Industry Supercharger (BIS), including Energy Intensive Industries (EII) exemptions, may also be eligible to apply for BICS where they meet the relevant criteria.
However, businesses cannot receive duplicate relief for the same electricity consumption or manufacturing activity under both schemes.
Where different activities or proportions of electricity consumption are eligible under the two schemes, BICS may potentially apply to the proportion that is not already receiving British Industry Supercharger relief.
What happens if my business changes after receiving a BICS exemption?
Businesses receiving BICS support have an ongoing responsibility to report material changes that could affect their eligibility.
This could include changes to company or site details, manufacturing activities, electricity meters or MPANs, electricity consumption, eligible production, meter-sharing arrangements or receipt of British Industry Supercharger support.
Depending on the change, additional evidence may be required to confirm that your business remains eligible for BICS.
Do I need to reapply for BICS every year?
No. Once approved, a BICS exemption is generally valid for five years, so businesses do not need to submit a completely new application every year.
However, continued support is conditional on meeting the scheme’s ongoing compliance requirements. This includes declarations during the exemption period, the year 2 eligibility review and notifying BIST of relevant material changes.
Businesses wishing to continue receiving BICS support after the five-year exemption period will need to submit a renewal application during their final year of eligibility.
What evidence should businesses retain for BICS compliance?
Businesses should maintain clear and accurate records that support their continued BICS eligibility. Depending on your circumstances, this may include evidence relating to grid electricity consumption, eligible manufacturing activity and production, MPANs, shared meter arrangements and existing British Industry Supercharger support.
Maintaining a robust evidence trail can make annual declarations and the year 2 review easier to manage and help demonstrate that the business continues to meet BICS requirements.
When do BICS exemptions start?
For businesses approved in the first year of the scheme, exemptions from the indirect costs of the Renewables Obligation (RO) and Feed-in Tariffs (FiT) are expected to begin in April 2027.
The exemption from Capacity Market (CM) costs is expected to begin in October 2027.
These dates apply to the first year of the scheme and businesses should check the latest government guidance for subsequent application and exemption periods.
What happens if I don't complete my BICS compliance requirements?
Ongoing compliance is a condition of receiving BICS support. Failure to complete the required declarations, reviews or provide accurate information could put your exemption at risk.
Government guidance states that an exemption may be revoked if an annual declaration is not completed or information is found to have been knowingly provided incorrectly.
Working proactively throughout the five-year exemption period can help ensure that records remain up to date and that future BICS compliance requirements can be completed efficiently.
