Richard Lock, Chief Operating Officer of Holiferm
The Government has set out an ambitious vision to reindustrialise the UK, rebalance our economy and unlock the potential of regions like the North West. If we are serious about delivering that, we need to address one of the most fundamental constraints facing businesses that want to invest and grow: access to grid capacity. Unlocking grid capacity would help realise millions in potential revenue and thousands of high-quality manufacturing jobs in the region’s green industry, delivering vital support for UKPLC, employment, and economic growth in line with key ministerial priorities.
At Holiferm, we are seeing first-hand both the opportunity and the challenge. We plan to increase our production at our Wallasey factory, strengthening our manufacturing operation to meet rapidly growing demand. Our market has grown by 50% quarter-on-quarter for the past three quarters, reflecting a wider shift towards high-performing alternatives to petrochemical ingredients.
“This is precisely the kind of growth the UK should encourage. It creates thousands of high-quality green manufacturing jobs across the Wirral and the wider North West, strengthens regional supply chains, unlocks millions of pounds in potential revenue, and helps build globally competitive businesses. It directly advances ministerial priorities around regional growth, skilled employment, and long-term value for UKPLC, demonstrating that the transition to a sustainable economy can drive major economic renewal. But businesses cannot deliver this growth alone.
Grid capacity is not a minor infrastructure issue; it is a critical enabler of industrial investment. The Autumn Budget must prioritise electricity infrastructure and give growing manufacturers greater certainty over when the power they need will become available. The infrastructure requirements of tomorrow’s industries cannot always be met by systems designed for yesterday’s economy.
We should also think about what powers that new industrial capacity. Investment in renewable energy generation would be a powerful demonstration of the Government’s commitment to both reindustrialisation and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Greater access to renewable power would help businesses expand while creating a cleaner, more resilient and less fossil-dependent industrial base.
The North West has the businesses, talent and industrial heritage to lead the UK’s next generation of manufacturing. At Holiferm, we are ready to invest and grow. We want to increase production because our customers are demanding more, and because there is a growing global market for alternatives to fossil-based chemistry.
The Government now has an opportunity to ensure other businesses can do the same. Reindustrialising the North cannot simply be about announcing ambition; it must be about removing the practical barriers that prevent businesses from acting on it. We are asking the Government to make sure the grid is ready to grow with us, and that the energy powering our industrial future is increasingly renewable.