Mr Poynton was speaking following a visit to the Livingston-based battery technology firm CellMine.
Gregor Poynton MP was speaking following a visit to the Livingston-based battery technology firm CellMine.(Image: WSH)
Livingston MP Gregor Poynton has welcomed new UK Government investment in advanced manufacturing as a boost for West Lothian.
The UK Business Secretary, Peter Kyle, recently confirmed more than £700 million of investment across the UK’s advanced manufacturing sector , supporting around 4,200 jobs and strengthening Britain’s position in industries of the future.
Mr Poynton was speaking following a visit to the Livingston-based battery technology firm CellMine.
The company has secured £877,266 through the UK Government’s DRIVE35 programme to support its work developing cutting-edge battery recycling technology.
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Mr Poynton visited CellMine’s site at the Impact Technology Centre in Kirkton Campus to meet staff, tour the lab and see first-hand how the company is recovering critical materials like lithium from used batteries, a key part of building a secure domestic supply chain for electric vehicles.
He said: “Right here in the Livingston constituency, we’ve got a company working at the cutting edge of battery technology and helping shape the future of advanced manufacturing in the UK.
“The UK Labour government are relentlessly working to provide backing for British industry to help secure and deliver more high-skilled jobs, innovation, and businesses that can grow and scale here at home.
“My visit to CellMine was a chance to see that in action and to hear directly about what more is needed to help firms like this expand.
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“Investment like this from the UK Labour Government is making a real difference in places like West Lothian.
“If we want secure jobs and long-term growth, we need to back companies that are developing the technologies of the future and make sure they’re rooted right here in communities like ours.”
The UK Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy is focused on strengthening domestic supply chains, supporting battery innovation and ensuring companies can scale up in Britain rather than moving overseas.
CellMine’s work in recycling lithium-ion batteries supports that ambition by reducing reliance on imported materials and helping build a more resilient, sustainable manufacturing base.
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Simon Rathbone, CEO of CellMine said: “Building a sustainable battery supply chain in the UK is a major industrial opportunity, and Scotland is at the heart of that.
“At CellMine, we’re developing advanced recycling technology that can turn battery waste into high-value materials for reuse in new batteries.
“Government support is essential to help companies like ours scale quickly, attract investment, and ensure the UK remains competitive in this rapidly growing global market.”
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