On 28 October 2026, Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey will deliver their first Autumn Budget. AMPS is hopeful it will reflect Burnham’s recent promise to “reindustrialise Britain”, which we agree is key to unlocking much-needed growth and economic prosperity.
But growth needs the right conditions, which Britain doesn’t have yet and won’t have without the right support from government. Below, we present the four areas the government needs to act on within the Budget to show that they’re serious about reindustrialisation.
AMPS’ four asks from government
1) An energy system ready for reindustrialisation
For there to be meaningful reindustrialisation, there first needs to be a solution to Britain’s energy challenges.
The grid is already struggling with today’s power demands. If we see significant growth in manufacturing, which is more energy-intensive than many other industries, reliable and affordable energy supplies will become even more important.
We can already see the impact of our current grid constraints, which hold up everything from housing developments to data centre construction. Some sites simply don’t have the necessary power connection. For example, there are housing estates in Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire that were approved back in 2020, but aren’t expected to be connected until 2028. Even the best planning system in the world wouldn’t solve these underlying capacity issues.
The basic structure of our national grid has changed very little in decades and redeveloping it to meet current and future demand could take 20 years. Yet the government appears keen to reshore some manufacturing before the next general election. To make that possible, along with Britain’s ambitious housing construction targets, it will need to support local on-site generation while the wider grid is reinforced.
We support the UK’s decarbonisation targets, but the current grid cannot support the transition to net zero alongside manufacturing growth and new housing within the government’s proposed timescales. Moving to net zero will not solve the capacity problem on its own. In fact, greater electrification will place even more demand on the grid.
Nor is this just about generating enough power. Reinforcing the grid must also make it more resilient, so factories and essential services can keep operating as demand grows. This transition needs the power generating systems industry to support the changeover. While the national grid is strengthened, local and distributed generation can provide additional capacity, while standby power can protect businesses and critical infrastructure when the grid fails.
Our members have the expertise and technology needed to support a more resilient energy system as Britain reindustrialises and can support government planning in these areas.
Our ask: Back on-site and local generation while the grid is reinforced, and set out a national energy plan, developed with industry, that increases capacity and builds resilience.
2) Backing for British power generating systems manufacturing
Improving the resilience of Britain’s grid presents major challenges, but there is also a huge opportunity to grow British manufacturing off the back of it.
AMPS members manufacture some of the best-quality backup power and resilience equipment in the world. Many manufacture in the UK but export the bulk of what they produce around the world. With the support of a growing UK market, these businesses could increase production and grow their exports. However, they need the right conditions to remain internationally competitive.
Demand for resilient power generating systems is only going to increase as more data centres are built and countries around the world strengthen their energy infrastructure. If the government is serious about reindustrialisation, the power generating systems industry is a British industry that should be supported and championed.
Our ask: Recognise the power generating systems industry within the government’s reindustrialisation plans, offering support that helps British manufacturers grow at home and remain internationally competitive.
3) More support for apprenticeships
Infrastructure projects are already being delayed because there aren’t enough skilled workers available. If manufacturing grows, those skills will be spread even more thinly across factories, installations and maintenance projects.
We cannot move towards more manufacturing or renewable energy without addressing Britain’s technical skills shortage. Although the government has acknowledged that apprenticeships are crucial to resolving the current shortage, our members feel they need additional funding and guidance to create more opportunities for young people. Doing so would also help the government tackle the number of young people not in education, employment or training.
Our industry offers fulfilling, well-paid careers with long-term prospects and many of the jobs cannot be replaced by AI or automation.
However, most young people don’t know what the power generating systems industry can offer. Traditionally, people have fallen into the sector from automotive engineering or construction equipment. We want future engineers and technicians to know about these careers before they enter the workplace, with a clear route into the industry and recognised qualifications once they arrive. Government support for professional standards would also help people build lasting careers and make the industry more attractive to new talent.
Our ask: Give employers more funding and guidance to take on apprentices, and back a nationally recognised qualification for generator engineers.
4) A national level playing field for regulation
We support giving regions more power where local decision-making can help energy projects move faster. Local generation may be an important part of addressing capacity constraints while the national grid is strengthened.
However, devolved decision-making must not lead to each region creating its own environmental and technical standards. That would cause confusion, delays, increase costs and create a postcode lottery for businesses operating across the country. We can already see this problem in Europe. In parts of Germany, individual cities and regions have introduced different emissions requirements for standby generators, creating a patchwork of standards.
AMPS welcomes appropriate regulation of standby generators, but the rules need to be consistent across the UK and aligned with European requirements. Otherwise, British manufacturers could face one set of rules at home and another when exporting their equipment.
Our ask: Commit to setting all future power generation equipment standards and regulations at UK level, aligned with emerging European standards, so British manufacturers work to one rulebook at home and abroad.
A Budget that makes reindustrialisation a shared goal
Commenting on AMPS’ four priorities for reindustrialising Britain, Neil Smith, Director General of AMPS, said:
“The government simply cannot achieve its ambitions for manufacturing and construction growth without improving energy capacity and bringing more skilled people into these industries. It needs to support the British businesses capable of providing the equipment and expertise required.
AMPS is already working with partners, including Make UK, to scrutinise and guide emerging policy so that our members’ expertise is reflected in the government’s welcome plans for reindustrialisation. That is ultimately what we need from the Autumn Budget: announcements backed by a willingness to work with the power generating systems industry on the long-term task of reindustrialising Britain.”
