Innovate UK has launched a new £3.7 million funding competition aimed at strengthening the UK’s battery manufacturing skills base, as demand grows for specialist expertise across the energy storage and electrification sectors.
Delivered through the Battery Innovation Programme and funded by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the initiative is designed to help develop the workforce needed to support the UK’s rapidly expanding battery and energy storage ecosystem.
The programme highlights the growing importance of battery technologies within the wider energy transition, particularly as organisations invest in renewable integration, onsite storage, EV infrastructure and grid resilience strategies.
The competition will fund projects that either establish new regional training initiatives or scale existing battery skills programmes. The focus spans qualifications from Levels 2 to 5, with an emphasis on nationally accredited, commercially sustainable provision aligned to industry demand.
Funding is available through two strands: “Establish”, supporting new programmes focused on Levels 2 to 3, and “Scale”, aimed at expanding existing higher-level provision. Individual projects can apply for between £440,000 and £1.2 million over one to three years.
The initiative reflects mounting concerns around skills shortages across the battery value chain, including energy storage, advanced manufacturing and low-carbon infrastructure deployment.
Access to skilled technical talent is becoming increasingly important as battery systems play a larger role in balancing energy demand, integrating renewables and supporting operational resilience.
Battery storage is also emerging as a critical technology for commercial estates and industrial energy strategies, helping organisations manage peak demand, improve flexibility and reduce exposure to energy price volatility.
Industry leaders say the UK’s ability to attract investment in battery manufacturing and related technologies will depend heavily on workforce capability.
Innovate UK’s Dr Valentina Gentili said the programme aims to address specialist skills gaps that continue to slow sector growth, while supporting collaboration between education providers, research organisations and industry.
The competition is open to academic institutions, research and technology organisations, charities, not-for-profits and public sector organisations leading collaborative projects.
Applications close on 18 June 2026, with the programme expected to support regional skills development across sectors including energy storage, automotive, aerospace, maritime and off-highway transport.
