Invest 2035: What the UK’s New Industrial Strategy Means for Overseas Businesses

What’s this all about?
Invest 2035 is the UK government’s 10‑year plan to kickstart economic growth in key industries and regions. Its aim to give businesses, especially those from overseas, long‑term certainty, clear support, and a stable environment so they can invest, hire, and grow in the UK.

🚀 Eight High-Potential Sectors (“IS‑8”)
The strategy zooms in on eight growth-driving sectors:

1. Advanced manufacturing
2. Clean energy
3. Creative industries (film, media, games)
4. Defence
5. Digital & tech (AI, quantum, cybersecurity, semiconductors)
6. Financial services
7. Life sciences
8. Professional & business services

Each sector will get custom plans (even for niche tech like hydrogen or gigafactories), co-designed with business feedback.

🏗 What’s in this for overseas businesses?

1. Easier setup & lower costs
   • Cheaper electricity from 2027 for ~7,000 energy‑intensive firms: up to a 25 % cut via the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme.
   • Faster grid access, speeding up capacity for data centres, renewables, EV production, etc.
2. More money & easier funding
   • Up to £2.8 bn R&D boost for advanced manufacturing and £30 bn/year in clean energy by 2035.
   • £150 million creative industries fund & £600 million for life sciences health-data platform.
   • British Business Bank to back high-growth firms; National Wealth Fund opens routes for private capital.
3. Talent & visas
   • Skills programmes (apprenticeships, tech training) are ramping up.
   • Plans include visa support and a Global Talent Network and Entrepreneurs Programme to bring in top international experts.
4. Smoother rules & regulation
   • Red tape cut with faster approvals, streamlined permitting and regulatory innovation .
   • A new Industrial Strategy Council will lock in long‑term stability.
5. Trade & market access
   • Push for trade deals (US, India, EU) and stronger export support to secure supply chains.

🌍 Why is this good news for overseas companies?

• Lower operational costs – significant energy savings and faster utility setup.
• Better financing – from R&D grants to private sector investment channels.
• Talent pipeline – clear paths to hire skilled staff from abroad.
• Regulatory clarity – faster decisions, fewer delays.
• Stable policy – backed by long‑term oversight via the Strategy Council.

📝 What overseas investors should do now

1. Join the consultation – this is your chance to shape rules that affect your sector.
2. Pick your cluster – research regions like Midlands (manufacturing), Cheshire (life sciences), or NE Scotland (energy).
3. Understand financing – explore British Business Bank support, National Wealth Fund, and export finance.
4. Plan talent strategy – align with upcoming visa routes and training programmes.
5. Stay ahead on regulation – monitor fast‑track zones and approval reforms.

💡 Final take

Invest 2035 is a fresh, ambitious roadmap for 10 years of UK growth, with a big focus on making it easier and more predictable for foreign businesses to invest, set up, and scale here.

If you work in any of the eight growth sectors, this new industrial strategy is your signal to start planning now: find the right region, tap into fast-track schemes, and use support to power your expansion.

You can read more on this on the gov.uk website here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/invest-2035-the-uks-modern-industrial-strategy/invest-2035-the-uks-modern-industrial-strategy

If you are interested in scaling your business to the UK, please get in touch: hello@goodwille.com