Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone

Investment Zones are areas across the UK where central and local government work with business and local partners to create the conditions for investment and innovation.

As announced in the Chancellors Autumn Budget statement in November 2025, the Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone is a partnership between UK Government, Welsh Government, North Wales Corporate Joint Committee (CJC), Flintshire County Council and Wrexham County Borough Council.

What will the Investment Zone provide in Flintshire?

The initial 10-year Investment Zone programme will secure:

£160 million of revenue and capital funding to help create 6,000 new jobs
£1 billion of private sector investment in the advanced manufacturing sector across Flintshire and Wrexham

The Investment Zone will drive business growth through a combination of investment in key themes detailed below and the long-term support to incubate and accelerate the commercialisation of ideas. It will build upon our nationally important cluster of advanced manufacturing; growing and transforming the sector to meet the needs of the future and increasing its economic benefits to the UK; increasing employment and driving up productivity and pay.

The development of the Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone is expected to:

Boost productivity
Raise real wages
Increase international competitiveness; and
Develop globally sought-after technologies and supply-chain capabilities

The investment zone will support the key priorities below until March 2035:

Skills

Increasing learning to help workers meet rapidly accelerating technical skills requirements at all levels
Improving links with children and young people by building innovative career pathways into the sector

Business support

Business match funded grants to boost productivity, grow workforces effectively and develop green sustainable manufacturing processes to meet wider Welsh and UK Government policy.
Dedicated service to help businesses navigate regulatory systems and increase supply-chain opportunities.
Engaging with start-ups and scale-up businesses to help them grow

Research and development

Research support through key stakeholders, to develop innovative solutions to help meet the sector opportunities of the future.
Developing incubator workspaces to help new businesses scale-up their product lines

Infrastructure

Developing next generation specialist learning facilities to help up-skill the advanced manufacturing workforce.
Reshaping transport infrastructure to make it easier for people to travel to work at key industrial sites (including people living in areas with high deprivation).
Accelerating the development of high-quality sites and premises ready for business investment.

Tax Reliefs

Tax reliefs will incentivise and support eligible private sector advanced manufacturing companies who occupy the Investment Zone Tax Sites.

You can find maps of the tax sites via the UK Government website:

The tax reliefs are:

Up to 100% Non-Domestic Rate (NDR) relief for qualifying businesses for the first 5 years of occupancy
Enhanced Capital Allowances, to support investment in qualifying plant and machinery investment
Structures and Buildings Allowances, to support the investment of new premises within the Investment Zone tax sites
Employers National Insurance Relief, 100% relief for 3 years on employers national insurance up to £25,000 salary (£9,000 of value per employee)
Land Transaction Tax Relief, designed to support the development of new property where the property is required to be purchased

If you have a general query about the Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone; please contact: investmentzone@flintshire.gov.uk

Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME) Manufacturing Grants

As part of the launch of the Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone, both councils will be releasing their SME Manufacturing Grants in January.

Grants are available between £5,000 to £100,000 (30% match funded) to eligible companies who:

Employ fewer than 250 employees
Evidence less than or equal to £44 million in annual turnover, or a balance sheet total of less than or equal to £38 million

Projects must clearly demonstrate how they meet the criteria of growth, job creation and innovation.

Flintshire-based manufacturing businesses with at least 12 months’ trading history are eligible to apply for the following grant opportunities:

Capital equipment for the purchase of equipment to support or enhance the manufacturing capability of an SME.
Accreditation and certification for the purchase of training and/or consultancy support for an SME to achieve an accreditation or certification in order to enhance access to new supply chain opportunities with larger manufacturers and enhance business turnover and growth.
Property adaptation and decarbonisation for the purchase of services and building modifications for an SME to transition to more sustainable operations.

Submitting an application

The first step is to contact investmentzone@flintshire.gov.uk to request an Expression of Interest (EOI) form and the appropriate Guidance Notes which will give more information on the scheme and the application submission deadline dates.

Once the completed EOI is returned, you’ll be introduced to the FCC Business Development team. They will discuss your project with you, offer verbal guidance on whether it is likely to be eligible, and provide the “Full application” form.

Please note: Your project will not be funded if it has commenced before your grant application has been approved by the grants panel and you have received a formal confirmation letter.