3 min read - 9 Sep, 2025
Schneider Electric opens new £42m manufacturing site
Schneider Electric, a digital automation and energy management specialist, has opened its new £42m smart manufacturing plant in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, with full site commissioning targeted by year end.
With Britain’s electricity needs expected to increase up to 40% by 2035, the plant is designed for long-term growth, producing the critical electrical equipment needed as the UK moves to cleaner energy.
By manufacturing in the UK for UK organisations, Schneider Electric says it is building resilience into the nation’s electrical infrastructure, reducing exposure to global supply chain shocks and cutting both costs and carbon emissions through shorter, optimised transport and logistics routes.
The new 16,500 sq m facility will also significantly boost the EV charging network in and around Scarborough. An additional 30 EV chargers will be hosted on site, increasing local EV charging infrastructure by more than 110% and accelerating the transition to electric fleets.
Production has begun at Schneider Electric’s £42m smart manufacturing site in North Yorkshire / Picture: Caddick
UK production means faster, more flexible delivery of bespoke engineering solutions, tailored to the unique needs of UK projects. Customers can visit the Scarborough site, collaborate directly with product designers and engineers, and ensure products fully meet their needs before moving into production. The UK site will produce equipment to meet British standards, meaning they are export-ready for Commonwealth markets.
The factory will also serve as a global blueprint for sustainable design and operations in manufacturing. Net-zero in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, the plant uses modern technology to reduce energy waste and maximise the use of renewable energy, 30% of which will come from its own advanced solar energy system.
Kelly Becker, president at Schneider Electric, UK & Ireland, Belgium & Netherlands, said: “UK manufacturing is the backbone of the nation’s infrastructure drive. With electricity demand set to hit new heights, our Scarborough site – rooted in Yorkshire expertise – gives us the scale and agility to respond quickly to market changes and support the UK’s energy transition and beyond. By expanding our local footprint, we’re working even closer with customers to deliver a decarbonised, resilient energy system for the future.”
Schneider Electric said the new facility would create 200 new jobs / Picture: Caddick
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, added: “Schneider Electric is backing our vision for a greener York and North Yorkshire with this £42 million investment in its Scarborough base. The opportunities afforded by this larger site will help keep more of our talented young people and skilled workers on the coast. This is a moment I’ve been looking forward to, having followed this project from its early stages to its official opening today. It shows the confidence businesses have about our commitment to clean energy. This new state-of-the-art facility will produce the electrical equipment we need, putting our region at the heart of the UK’s transition to cleaner energy.”
Schneider Electric’s manufacturing roots in Scarborough stem from the 1930s, with this history resulting in a considerable amount of product development and manufacturing knowledge being captured in the local workforce. Customers will now benefit from a combination of this knowledge and skills, and the latest manufacturing processes and technology.
This latest investment in Scarborough is in addition to a £7.2m facility upgrade to Schneider Electric’s site in Leeds, announced in October 2023.
