UK’s new modern Industrial Strategy confirms Cornwall’s central role in Green Industrial Growth

This week, the UK Government unveiled its new Modern Industrial Strategy, setting out a bold plan for national growth and resilience—underpinned by sustainable energy and critical minerals. The strategy gives strong and specific recognition to Cornwall, positioning the region as a vital hub in the UK’s transition to net zero and industrial independence.

Cornwall’s Critical Role

The strategy identifies Cornwall as a key emerging cluster for critical minerals, with particular reference to lithium, tin, and tungsten. As part of the strategy, the region is set to benefit from targeted investment via the National Wealth Fund and British Business Bank, supporting the development of domestic supply chains and creating green jobs across the sector.

Major Initiatives and Investment

Projects already underway in Cornwall are directly aligned with national objectives, including:

• UK-first zero-carbon lithium pilot: Backed by a £4 million investment from the Getting Building Fund, the project led by Cornish Lithium is a major milestone in sustainable resource development.
• Hard-rock lithium extraction at St Austell: British Lithium has received Innovate UK grants to advance its R&D, further anchoring Cornwall’s position in the UK’s battery metals future.

Developing Skills and the Future Workforce

The strategy also highlights the importance of building a skilled, future-ready workforce to support industrial growth. For Cornwall, this means capitalising on local institutions—such as Camborne School of Mines and Truro & Penwith College—to deliver high-quality technical training and applied learning.

Workforce development was a key theme at CMGA’s recent Business Breakfast, where industry leaders and educators came together to discuss how to:

• Bridge current skills gaps in mining, geoscience, and processing
• Build awareness and interest in careers across the critical minerals sector
• Collaborate on apprenticeships, graduate pathways, and lifelong learning

Creating these talent pipelines will be crucial to meeting the demands of a growing sector and ensuring that opportunities generated by investment in Cornwall translate into lasting local benefit.

Policy Alignment and Local Representation

To ensure Cornwall’s voice is heard at the highest level, the government’s newly formed Critical Minerals Expert Committee includes Jeremy Wrathall, CEO of Cornish Lithium. His appointment ensures direct input from the region into national decision-making.

Infrastructure and Supply Chain Resilience

A critical theme in the strategy is the need to address grid capacity constraints in Cornwall. Unlocking the region’s renewable energy and extraction potential depends on improved infrastructure—something now firmly on the national agenda. This is key to delivering both the local economic opportunity and national supply chain resilience that the strategy aims to achieve.

CMGA’s View

As the Cornwall Mining & Geo-resources Alliance (CMGA), we welcome this strong recognition of Cornwall’s strategic importance. The focus on skills, infrastructure, investment, and environmental responsibility reflects the very challenges and opportunities raised in our recent CMGA Business Breakfast.

This is a pivotal moment. With policy now aligned to regional strengths, we have the platform to collaborate, innovate, and lead in developing a secure, sustainable and socially responsible UK supply chain for critical minerals.