UK Government has opened a new rapid consultation on reducing electricity costs for energy intensive industries:- British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme: consultation on scheme eligibility and approach – GOV.UK – 24 November 2025.
The proposed British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) is aimed at reducing the high electricity prices experience by energy intensive UK manufacturers. Qualification will depend on the industry you are in, the products you make and the energy intensity of your business (energy costs as % of GVA or total inputs). This will be a triple lock qualification:- your business must be registered in the right SIC code AND produce products in the right HS codes AND use enough power.
The proposed qualifying SIC and HS codes are based on the ‘frontier’ and ‘foundational’ sectors identified in the 2025 industrial strategy (IS) despite the IS noting the challenges of classification e.g. “The semiconductor frontier industry/ quantum technologies frontier cannot be easily reflected using the SIC system”. The prosed included codes have been published: Annex B: indicative list of HS6 codes. Many of the SIC codes relevant to photonics are included e.g. 2612 and 2319 but others not. Some of the relevant HS codes as in e.g. 853670 (fibre couplers) 854159 (other semiconductors) others not e.g. 900110 (optical fibre), 900290 (lenses).
Given a triple-lock qualification is proposed, if you are a high energy user where power costs make a material impact on your business we would suggest you check your registered business SC codes and product HS codes are included and respond to the consultation by 19 January 2026. Online submissions are promised but don’t yet appear available, email submissions to bics.correspondence@businessandtrade.gov.uk . The consultations questions specifically ask for input from businesses who believe they are in frontier or foundational industries but not included in the draft SIC and HS code list, the proposed pro-rated scheme where one manufacture a mix of products etc.
