The UK Gigafactory Commission’s report, “Britain’s Battery Future,” underscores the nation’s pivotal moment in automotive and battery manufacturing. In response, the Birmingham Battery Manufacturing Skills Pathway (B-MSP) is marking a significant advancement in the UK’s battery production goals. In December, University College Birmingham (UCB) hosted the Advanced High Voltage (HV) Battery Assembly and Gigafactory Operations course, the first fully accredited programme of its kind in the UK. Graduates included professionals from Jaguar Land Rover, Atlas Copco, and Autocraft.
This course provides hands-on training that reflects industry needs, including end-to-end “Powder to Pack” processes, safe working systems, and essential behaviours for battery production. Applications are now open for future courses, scheduled from February to April 2026.
Launched in March 2025, B-MSP is a collaborative effort with key industry players like Jaguar Land Rover, Microsoft, and Atlas Copco. Professor Rosa Wells, Dean for STEM at UCB, highlights the mutual benefits for employers and employees, emphasising reduced onboarding time and the acquisition of practical skills aligned with industry requirements. The programme awards nationally recognised City & Guilds qualifications, enhancing employee confidence and capability from the outset.
The training is vital for battery technicians, assembly operatives, and manufacturing engineers, offering the tools to future-proof the UK’s battery supply chain. James McAllister, General Manager at Atlas Copco UK, affirms the course’s alignment with their strategic goals of fostering a skilled workforce to support sustainable energy solutions.
The demand for electric vehicles is set to rise, with The Faraday Institution projecting a need for 1.4 million EVs by 2040, alongside 70,000 new jobs. The UK government’s Department for Energy Security & Net Zero has identified the necessity for rapid reskilling, with significant job growth expected in the low-carbon energy and transport sectors.
B-MSP courses provide scalable, employer-focused training solutions, reducing onboarding time and equipping workers with specialised skills for battery assembly and advanced manufacturing. Graduates report increased confidence and industry insights, reinforcing the programme’s value in driving innovation and operational excellence. Applications for upcoming courses are now open, offering opportunities to enhance workforce capabilities in the evolving battery sector.
