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Tata’s £4 billion factory will create 4,000 new jobs

By Nithya Bose in Business News, posted February 29, 2024

Tata will build a £4 billion battery manufacturing facility in Bridgwater, Somerset, generating 4,000 jobs in the region.

The announcement comes after Tata's battery division, Agratas, acquired a plot at the Gravity Smart Campus just outside Bridgwater along the M5.

In July last year, Tata disclosed its plans to construct a gigafactory in the UK.

This is supported by £500 million in subsidies from the UK Government.

With its historical significance as a former military explosives manufacturing site closed in 2008, Bridgwater emerged as the chosen site.

Tom Flack, CEO of Agratas, said: “Our multi-billion-pound investment will bring state-of-the-art technology to Somerset, helping to supercharge Britain’s transition to electric mobility whilst creating thousands of jobs in the process.”

The community will soon receive detailed information about the project, with preliminary site work underway.

The construction of the factory's foundation is expected to commence this spring.

Battery production at the facility is slated to begin in 2026.

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This development is crucial for the UK and global automotive industries.

This is because they are transitioning from traditional petrol and diesel vehicles to electric models.

A report by the Business and Trade Committee in November highlighted the risk to 160,000 UK jobs if the demand for batteries is not met.

Despite Tata's gigafactory and other plans, a gap remains in meeting the anticipated 100 GWh production requirement by 2030.

Councillor Bill Revans, leader of Somerset Council, said: “This is momentous for the county, its economy and for future generations.

“It’s about seizing an incredible opportunity to be at the heart of the UK’s green energy industry that will create thousands of highly-skilled, well-paid, green jobs.”

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