{"id":14635,"date":"2026-10-16T17:28:18","date_gmt":"2026-10-16T15:28:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leyton.com\/uk\/?post_type=article&p=14635"},"modified":"2026-10-16T17:28:20","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T15:28:20","slug":"everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-british-industrial-competitiveness-scheme-bics-deadline","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/leyton.com\/uk\/insights\/articles\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-british-industrial-competitiveness-scheme-bics-deadline\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything you need to know about the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) deadline"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
The deadline to apply for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS)<\/a> is fast approaching. Applications for BICS close at 11:59pm on 30 November 2026 so, assuming that you’re an eligible manufacturer, now is the time to start preparing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you miss the deadline, unfortunately that’s it. You’ll have lost your chance to reduce your electricity costs for 2027. If that sounds harsh, there’s also no flexibility if you make a mistake on your application. Once it’s submitted, you can’t go back and amend it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This means you don’t just want to avoid missing the deadline; you also want to get the application right the first time, with every detail perfect. With such a short application window, that’s a tough ask for many businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BICS stands for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme. It’s designed to reduce eligible manufacturers’ electricity costs by up to \u00a340 per megawatt-hour through exemptions from the Renewables Obligation (RO), Feed-in Tariffs (FIT) and Capacity Market (CM).<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s part of the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy<\/a>, a 10-year plan to increase business investment and drive economic growth in eight priority sectors, known as the ‘IS-8’. The scheme covers manufacturers in eligible ‘frontier’ industries within these eight sectors. It also covers eligible ‘foundational’ manufacturers that supply key inputs to these industries and meet the required electricity-intensity threshold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses will find out in early 2027 if they’re eligible, and for successful applicants the RO and FIT exemptions will kick in in April 2027, with the CM exemptions coming in October 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade has published the evidence requirements for BICS<\/a>, which we have summarised below. To apply, you’ll need to submit information and evidence covering:<\/p>\n\n\n\n What you’ll need:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What you’ll need:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What you’ll need:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What you’ll need:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n At least one of the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n What you’ll need:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What you’ll need:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What you’ll need:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n One or more of the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n What you’ll need:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What you’ll need:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What you’ll need:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What you’ll need:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Additional information if your company is dormant or subject to insolvency or restructuring procedures, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you can see from the list above, there’s a lot to prepare before the November deadline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You need to make sure that you give yourself enough time to gather the evidence and submit a complete and accurate application. You don’t want to rush your application, because if your evidence has gaps or errors, or doesn’t show you’re eligible for the exemption you’re claiming, your application could be turned down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We strongly recommend that you start preparing your information as soon as possible. The sooner you start collecting, the more time you’ll have to check everything and sort out any gaps before you submit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And don’t wait to check your eligibility. Many manufacturers delay because they’re not sure they qualify. Don’t rule your business out just because you can’t find your product listed in the eligible HS codes; it may fall under a broader six-digit category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re worried you won’t have enough time to prepare your BICS application before the deadline, we recommend speaking with one of our energy tax relief consultants<\/a> as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re short on time, we can take the application off your hands. Our consultants will work with you from now until you submit, and we’ll manage the whole process. We’ll review what you manufacture at each site and help you gather the evidence, including how to show your electricity use for your eligible activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We’ll then check the application for accuracy before it goes in, which really matters when you only get one chance to submit. Once you’re approved, we’ll liaise with your energy supplier to make sure that the exemptions reach your bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Find out more about how we can help with the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS).<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also watch the replay of our helpful webinar: Preparing for BICS: What businesses need to know before applications open<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you enjoyed this article, you might also like:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Applications for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) close on 30 November 2026. Find out what BICS is, what evidence you need to apply and why you should start preparing your application now.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":105,"featured_media":14640,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[115,116,133],"tags":[690,733,734,732],"expertise":[469],"class_list":["post-14635","article","type-article","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-energy","category-energy-tax-relief","category-manufacturing","tag-bics-en","tag-british-industrial-competitiveness-scheme","tag-electricity-costs","tag-industrial-strategy","expertise-energy-tax-exemptions"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat is BICS?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When will successful applicants receive support?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What do we need to apply for BICS?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Your business identity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Your applicant details<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Your manufacturing site(s)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Any shared meter or third-party arrangements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Your electricity consumption\/grid arrangements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Any private wire arrangements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Your eligible manufacturing activity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Your pro-rating tier<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Any existing British Industry Supercharger exemption<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Your applicant declaration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Any special Companies House status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Why should you prepare your BICS application now?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How Leyton can help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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