Good growth in every postcode 16th September 2026

Andy Burnham’s pledge to the country is “good growth in every postcode and hope in every heart”. What would this look like in practice? The answer lies in the economic success stories of British companies – small, medium and large – across the UK and in building on these successes across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Each week during recess, Paul Dimoldenberg looks at economic news from across the country to identify what “good growth” looks like in a diverse set of local communities to deliver the much-needed economic growth to power the economy and deliver new jobs, increased wealth and additional tax revenues to pay for improved public services. This week we feature:

• Steam turbine components manufacture will support more than 550 Newcastle jobs (NE6)
• Navy support ship programme invests in Belfast and Appledore shipyards (BT3 and EX39)
• Plans unveiled for Keele ceramics manufacturing centre (ST5)
• Cornish Lithium project secures £7.2m government grant (TR4)
• University of Nottingham launches six spinouts (NG7)
• Work underway on South Yorkshire solar park (S25)
• Preston brewer buys city centre premises (PR1)

Newcastle: Steam turbine components manufacture will support more than 550 jobs (NE6)

Key steam turbine components for Rolls-Royce’s first three small modular reactors at the Gwyndod project, on Anglesey, will be manufactured at Siemens Energy’s Newcastle site, supporting more than 550 good jobs. The components include high-press turbines and valve casings and mark the first time such components will be produced for a small modular reactor anywhere in Europe. It is also planned for the Newcastle facility to become the service hub for Siemens Energy’s key components for the Rolls-Royce SMR UK fleet. 

Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, secretary of state for energy security and net zero, said: “”When the Prime Minister promised growth in every postcode, this is what he meant: skilled jobs in Newcastle, stronger British manufacturing and a more secure energy future. Producing these components here in the UK will help strengthen our energy security, reduce our exposure to volatile international gas markets, create new export opportunities for British industry, and reindustrialise the UK.”

Belfast and Appledore: Navy support ship programme invests in Belfast and Appledore shipyards (BT3 and EX39)

The Royal Navy’s future solid support ship fleet is investing approximately £100m into Navantia UK’s shipyards in Belfast and Appledore, creating 1,200 jobs. The ships will deliver munitions, spares, food and other essential supplies to Royal Navy vessels at sea, allowing the fleet to remain deployed for longer, including in support of carrier strike group operations. 

Construction of ship modules is now taking place at Navantia UK’s Appledore yard in Devon, along with its Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast and Navantia’s yards in Spain. Final assembly, integration and trials of the ships will take place at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast. Defence minister Luke Pollard MP said: “The Royal Fleet Auxiliary is the backbone of our Royal Navy and these new ships will keep our navy ready to operate at range for longer. This investment is helping bolster UK shipbuilding, backing thousands of skilled jobs and apprenticeships in Appledore, Belfast and beyond.”

Staffordshire: Plans unveiled for Keele ceramics manufacturing centre (ST5)

Lucideon has unveiled plans for a ceramic matrix composites manufacturing centre based at Keele University Science Park, Staffordshire. The manufacturing process involves embedding fibres into ceramic material before firing it at very high temperatures, producing a material capable of withstanding extreme heat and pressure, suitable for use in aviation, nuclear plants and rocket launchers. Two new companies, Oxide Ceramic Systems and Non-Oxide Ceramic Systems, have been incorporated to take the plans forward.

Costs are estimated at more than £500m over seven to ten years, covering equipment, people, research, technology development and buildings. The government is being asked to contribute around £200m towards the total, alongside private investment. The plans build on the AMRICC Centre, the UK’s Centre for Advanced Ceramics, also based in Stone, established through an £18.27m grant from UKRI’s Strength in Places Fund in 2021.

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Cornwall: Cornish Lithium project secures £7.2m government grant (TR4)

Cornish Lithium has secured £7.2m in Government funding to advance its Cross Lanes Geothermal Lithium Project near Chacewater. The grant will part-fund a £14.5m programme of drilling and testing to assess the viability of commercial lithium production at the site. The funding, matched pound-for-pound by Cornish Lithium, will enable the company to drill two 2,000-metre production wells and operate a Direct Lithium Extraction demonstration plant at Cross Lanes.

Successful exploration drilling and testing in 2023 established the presence of lithium-enriched geothermal waters circulating naturally through underlying rock formations at Cross Lanes. Cornish Lithium secured planning consent for the site in 2025, including further phases of testing and evaluation. Data gathered from the wells will inform the project’s final investment decision and support the company’s wider ambition to develop a network of modular geothermal lithium production facilities across Cornwall.

Nottingham: University of Nottingham launches six spinouts (NG7)

The University of Nottingham has launched six new spin-out businesses during the 2025/26 financial year, with new ventures emerging from research spanning engineering, health sciences, science and Nottingham University Business School, with applications ranging from healthcare diagnostics and data management to electrification, quantum technology and artificial intelligence. These latest additions take the university’s active spin-out portfolio to 44 companies.

Two of the new businesses have been developed from the university’s engineering research. One is commercialising megawatt-scale cryogenic electrical machines and drive systems for sustainable aviation, including potential applications in hydrogen-powered regional and narrow-body aircraft. The second is focused on high-performance actuation and motor-drive systems, combining electrical and electro-mechanical engineering expertise with aerospace certification experience and UK manufacturing capability.

South Yorkshire: Work underway on South Yorkshire solar park (S25)

A renewable energy project in South Yorkshire is taking shape as construction work gets underway. Sunderland-based OnPath Energy is developing Common Farm Solar Park near Todwick Road Industrial Estate in Dinnington, combining solar generation with battery storage technology. Once operational in mid-2027, the scheme is expected to generate enough green electricity to meet the average annual needs of up to 18,800 family homes.

Common Farm is OnPath Energy’s first project to combine solar and battery technologies at the same location. Plans also include environmental improvements, with species-rich grassland planted across the 116-hectare site to create a new wildflower meadow and deliver a biodiversity net gain. Consultation is continuing over how approximately £2 million will be spent over the project’s lifetime to support local community and environmental priorities.

Preston: Preston brewer buys city centre premises (PR1)

A Preston brewery founder who started brewing beer in his garage aged 18 has purchased the city centre premises where his business is based, with support from Allica Bank. Ryan Hayes, founder of Chain House Brewing, began brewing small 20-litre batches for friends and family nearly two decades ago while working full time as an electrician. Today, the business supplies pubs and bars across the region and operates a city centre venue on Market Street that has become a hub for the local community.

Ryan was introduced to a local property owner looking to create a brewery and bar in Preston city centre. Together, they transformed the premises into a destination where customers can enjoy a pint while seeing the brewing process in action. This allowed Chain House Brewing to increase production and open a taproom, which now accounts for around half of sales, and attracts visitors from across Lancashire and beyond. The venue hosts live music, open mic nights, brewery tours and community events, while also serving as the home of the Lancashire Home Brew Club. The latest milestone comes after the building’s owner offered Ryan first refusal on the property.

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