As we reported in December last year, the Government is running its consultation: British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme: Consultation on Scheme Eligibility and Approach.

This consultation seeks views on the proposed approach and eligibility criteria for the new British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS).

The scheme aims to reduce electricity costs for manufacturers in key industries (defence, life sciences, advanced manufacturing) as well as for those who supply them (such as the steel sector). To be eligible, businesses will need to meet a certain threshold of electricity intensity.

Eligibility for the scheme will depend on responses to this consultation. At present, metal recyclers are ineligible for the scheme due to a proposed requirement that businesses must ‘manufacture’ -which, in the Government’s view, metal recyclers do not. We therefore urge businesses to respond, citing why metal recyclers should be eligible and the positive impact that reduced electricity costs would have on the industry and the wider economy.

Eligible businesses will be exempt from paying the indirect costs of various policy charges on electricity bills, including the Renewables Obligation (RO), Feed-in Tariffs (FIT), and the Capacity Market (CM).

The Government expects this exemption to reduce costs for eligible businesses by between £35 per MWh and £40 per MWh.

We strongly encourage you respond to this consultation. BMRA will also be submitting a separate response. If you have any supporting information to inform BMRA’s response, please get in touch via E: [email protected] or T: 07487 545037.

The consultation will close next week, on 19 January 2026.

You can access the consultation here.