• Swindon & Wiltshire Eco
• Monday October 6 2025

Swindon named ‘clean energy hub’ in major new report

Swindon has been identified as a ‘clean energy hub’ in a major new report.

The latest mid-market Business Growth & Innovation Hotspots Report singles out Swindon for its “cluster of renewable energy and clean technology companies.”

The new index of the UK’s hotspots for business growth ranks the top 25 areas for mid-market activity in the UK.

The report puts Bristol in the Top 10 with Wiltshire at 17 and Reading in 22nd place.

The report places Swindon in second place for climate tech innovation – behind London, but ahead of Manchester, Edinburgh, and Leeds.

“Swindon’s exceptional showing reflects its cluster of renewable energy and clean technology firms – hydrogen is a focus for many – often linked to the presence of the National Environment Research Council and UK Space Agency in the area,” say the report’s authors.

“Swindon and its environs have also become a focal point for several large-scale energy projects, including battery storage and smart energy systems.”

The report was compiled on behalf of Natwest by Beauhurst, which identified 29,171 active mid-market companies in the UK with annual turnover between £25 million and £500 million.
From this cohort, they identified a subset of 2,874 innovative companies that meet at least one of our three innovation signals:

• Has spun out of an academic institution.
• Has received a large innovation grant.
• Has been granted a patent.

Andy Gray, managing director of commercial mid-market at NatWest, said: “The UK’s economic story is no longer written only in its biggest cities.

“Across the country, mid-sized businesses are scaling up, investing in people and creating high-quality jobs.

“These boom regions demonstrate that entrepreneurial energy and economic resilience can flourish anywhere.”

Louise Hellem, chief economist at the CBI, added: “This report underlines the vital role the mid-market sector plays in driving regional growth and strengthening our economy.

“These businesses are not just surviving, they’re expanding, innovating, and investing in their communities.

“To fully unlock the UK’s potential and develop high growth clusters, we should harness their strengths as part of regional growth plans, ensure they are engaged in shaping local skills plans and have greater access to finance to scale.”

Examples of green energy innovators in Swindon include Rivan Industries, which wants to set up the country’s first commercial-scale plant to produce methane gas on a greenfield site to the north of Blunsdon.