{"id":6722,"date":"2026-08-18T13:02:43","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T12:02:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thebusinessdesk.com\/scotland\/news\/6722-could-your-business-qualify-for-bics-a-new-tool-is-helping-manufacturers-find-out"},"modified":"2026-08-19T08:03:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T07:03:33","slug":"could-your-business-qualify-for-bics-a-new-tool-is-helping-manufacturers-find-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thebusinessdesk.com\/scotland\/news\/6722-could-your-business-qualify-for-bics-a-new-tool-is-helping-manufacturers-find-out","title":{"rendered":"Could your business qualify for BICS? A new tool is helping manufacturers find out"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Viewpoint by Liam Conway from Greenfields Energy Group\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) could deliver significant electricity cost savings for eligible manufacturers, but establishing whether a business could qualify is not always straightforward.<\/p>\n

Eligibility depends on a number of factors, including SIC codes, HS6 product codes and the activities carried out by the business. For manufacturers trying to understand what the scheme could mean for them, working through the criteria can take time.<\/p>\n

To help manufacturers start the process with clarity, we\u2019ve developed a free BICS Eligibility Checker to simplify that first stage and give manufacturers an initial indication of whether the scheme could be relevant to their business. As well as providing an initial indication of whether a manufacturer could qualify, the tool estimates the potential financial benefit, including the value of any retrospective payment and ongoing electricity cost savings.<\/p>\n

A quicker way to assess the opportunity<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our online checker has been developed specifically for manufacturers and takes just a few minutes to complete. Businesses can search for their company and answer a few questions, with the tool cross-referencing publicly available company information against the latest BICS eligibility criteria. The result provides an initial indication of whether there could be an opportunity worth exploring further and estimates the potential financial benefit, including the value of any retrospective payment and ongoing electricity cost savings.<\/p>\n

It is not intended to replace a detailed eligibility assessment. Instead, it gives manufacturers a practical starting point before committing time and resource to a full review.<\/p>\n

Eligibility isn’t always obvious<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the challenges with BICS is that manufacturers should not rely on their SIC code alone when considering whether they could qualify. HS6 product codes and the activities undertaken by the business can also be relevant, which means two seemingly similar manufacturers could have different eligibility positions.<\/p>\n

This makes it important for businesses to look at their own circumstances rather than assuming they will, or will not, qualify. Our Eligibility Checker has been developed to make that initial assessment easier.<\/p>\n

It is free to use, quick to complete and built around the latest BICS guidance, giving manufacturers a simple way to establish whether a more detailed review could be worthwhile.<\/p>\n

Preparing for BICS<\/strong><\/p>\n

If an initial result indicates a potential opportunity, the next stage is to look at eligibility in more detail. This can include reviewing SIC and HS codes, energy consumption and the supporting evidence that may be required as part of an application.<\/p>\n

At Greenfields Energy Group, we work with manufacturers throughout this process, from detailed eligibility reviews and evidence gathering through to submission management and ongoing support.<\/p>\n

With the BICS application window running from 1 October to 30 November 2026, manufacturers don\u2019t have long to apply. If you think your business could qualify, you should use the coming weeks to understand your position and prepare the information you may need.<\/p>\n

Find out what BICS could mean for your business<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re unsure whether your business could qualify for BICS, our free BICS Eligibility Checker<\/a> is a good place to start. It takes just a few minutes to complete and provides an initial indication of your likely eligibility and an estimate of the potential financial benefit to your business, including any retrospective payment and ongoing electricity cost savings.<\/p>\n

For more information on the scheme, visit our BICS Resource Hub<\/a>, where you\u2019ll find our Guide to BICS, on-demand webinar, latest updates and practical resources to help manufacturers understand the scheme and prepare for the application process.<\/p>\n

If you need further support, our manufacturing energy specialists can review your position in more detail and support you through the application process. Book a free 15-minute BICS Eligibility Review<\/a> with one of our specialists.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Viewpoint by Liam Conway from Greenfields Energy Group\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":266702,"featured_media":6723,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[78],"coauthors":[127717],"class_list":["post-6722","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sponsored","tag-featured-story"],"yoast_head":"\nCould your business qualify for BICS? 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