Local partners mark construction milestone

5 min read

Local partners mark construction milestone

Published on

19 September 2025

Local partners mark construction milestone

Earlier this month, we welcomed local partners to our Bridgwater site to officially celebrate the installation of the first steel frames for Building One - the first phase of our new battery manufacturing facility.

Guests from organisations including Somerset Council, University Centre Somerset College Group, South West Business Council and the local Chambers of Commerce joined us in recognising the South West's strong heritage of manufacturing, industry and innovation, and how our battery manufacturing facility will contribute to its future.

At the event, we updated attendees on site progress to date, as well as sharing details of upcoming construction milestones. Guests also took part in a steel signing ceremony, adding their names to an integral steel beam used in the build process.

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We then presented the findings of new research into the site's potential impact on the Bridgwater community and local economy, in addition to the role it will play on growth and job creation across Somerset and the South West. The key findings of the analysis, produced by an independent economic consultancy for Agratas, show the scale of impact our facility will have at a regional level.

Tom Flack, CEO at Agratas, said:

"Our facility will be the biggest of its kind in the UK and will play a pivotal role in advancing clean technology and sustainable energy. But importantly for local people and communities, our project will create many positive opportunities and benefits for Somerset and the South West. We will create thousands of new jobs, provide access to exciting new careers in advanced manufacturing, reskill and upskill people, and contribute to local and regional economies and communities. This reflects our strong commitment to our community-first approach, which is rooted in the values of our parent company, Tata Sons."

Andy Berry CBE, Group CEO of University Centre Somerset College Group, said:

"Agratas offers a transformative opportunity for our students and wider Somerset community. By embedding innovative technologies into our curriculum and launching new training programmes, we are preparing people for high-value jobs of the future."

Councillor Bill Revans, Leader of Somerset Council, said:

"This investment represents a transformational opportunity for Somerset and its economy. We welcome Agratas' commitment to skills provision, engaging local supply chains, and delivering real benefits for communities across the country. With construction progressing at pace and the first steel frames now in place, Agratas' facility will power the UK's green energy future - while creating jobs, skills and opportunities right here in Somerset."

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As we continue to develop our facility, we want to thank the communities of Bridgwater, Puriton and Woolavington and our partners including Somerset Council, University Centre Somerset College Group, and the regional business community for their support. We look forward what's next, and with this continued support, we will build a world-class battery manufacturing facility - leaving a lasting legacy for Somerset, the South West, and the UK.

Our full report, Driving Growth in Somerset and the South West is available for download here