The UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC), the national battery manufacturing scale-up facility, has appointed Jonathan Smith to the post of External Affairs Director.

Jonathan previously headed up the press teams for FTSE100 Severn Trent Water, E.ON UK and Alstom. During a career spanning more than 20 years, he has led or worked on a wide range of activities and initiatives, including public relations campaigns, internal communications, investor relations, mergers and acquisitions, joint venture communications, and events.

Highlights include leading internal and external communications around half and full year reporting to the City, creating programmes and campaigns to support the rollout of new trams and tramlines in Nottingham, leading the issues response during plans to build a new power station in Kent, and being part of a joint venture communications team which helped to build what was then, the world's largest offshore wind farm (the London Array).

Jonathan will be responsible at UKBIC for government relations, stakeholder management, communications, public relations, social media, website, marketing and events, and will also work as part of UKBIC’s Executive Team.

Jonathan added: “I’m delighted to be joining UKBIC at a time when the battery industry in the UK is growing in importance. There’s a huge amount to be done and I’m really looking forward to finding out all about the facility, our customers, and the wider industry.”

Sean Gilgunn, UKBIC’s Managing Director, added: “I’m excited to be welcoming Jonathan to the post of External Affairs Director. Jonathan’s wealth of experience will be hugely important as UKBIC develops its capabilities in what is a fast growing battery sector.”

Coventry-based UKBIC is a key part of the Faraday Battery Challenge, a UK Government programme to fast track the development of cost-effective, high-performance, durable, safe, low-weight and recyclable batteries.