Secretary of State visits our Somerset site

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Secretary of State visits our Somerset site

AGRATAS SOMERSET UK 9TH APRIL 2026 GOVERNMENT VISIT PHOTOGRAPHY 16

Published on

09 April 2026

Secretary of State visits our Somerset site

On 9 April, we welcomed the Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, to our Somerset site for a tour of the steel framework that forms the backbone of our new battery manufacturing facility.

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Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP

During the visit, the Business Secretary announced significant UK Government investment into the advanced manufacturing sector, reinforcing the Government’s commitment to supporting high-value, high-skilled industries across the country.

More than 4,000 jobs have already been secured through over £700 million of UK Government investment. Of this, we have secured £380 million in funding, supporting the construction of the Somerset facility and the procurement of manufacturing equipment for battery cell production.

Construction at the site continues to progress at pace. The steel framework for Building One, made using 100% British steel, has now been completed, with cladding currently being installed to form the building shell. Once fully operational, the Somerset facility is expected to generate approximately £43 billion in economic value over a 25 year period.

In addition to creating over 4,000 direct jobs, the facility will support thousands more roles across the supply chain. We are also establishing 300 apprenticeships, backed by a dedicated battery manufacturing training unit, to develop the specialist skills required for both the site and the wider UK battery sector.

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Earl Wiggins, Vice President for Manufacturing Operations at Agratas UK, said:

“We welcome the UK Government’s investment as we build a battery manufacturing facility that will play a vital role in delivering net zero and strengthening the UK’s position as a global leader in battery manufacturing. This funding will support the development of our Somerset facility, enabling us to produce battery cells for our anchor customer, JLR (Jaguar Land Rover). Over the next year we will have over 2,200 people working on the site, and that growth will continue over the coming years." 

Business Secretary Peter Kyle said:

“This government is backing the industries of the future by investing in auto firms, SMEs and battery manufacturers across the country – helping to boost economic growth and our resilience, secure jobs and put more money in people's pockets. In an unstable world, our Modern Industrial Strategy is providing investors the stability and confidence they need to plan not just for the next year, but for the next 10 years and beyond. That is what sets us apart from the rest, and will help ensure advanced manufacturing remains a thriving sector in the UK for decades to come.”