Good growth in every postcode 14th October 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 building on these successes across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Each week, 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 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:

• Airbus to create 480 new jobs in Flintshire (CH4)
• Nearly 1,000 jobs set for Plymouth in defence growth (PL1)
• Work underway on enterprise campus in West Cumbria (CA25)
• South Shields factory expansion at Barbour (NE34)
• Birmingham independent food hall Society grows in its first year (B4)
• Masdar’s energy storage plant starts operations in Rochdale (OL11) 
• Barnsley College to lead £400,000 programme to help build AI skills (S70)

Flintshire: Airbus to create 480 new jobs (CH4)

Airbus is to create 480 new jobs at its Broughton site as part of a £150 million investment in its production line, converting its former A380 wing production facility into an A321 line. It comes after the company announced a major investment in its Belfast operation earlier this year. The new roles at Broughton will include 250 jobs in the refurbished factory, joining the 6,000 employees currently based there.

The project, which is set to complete by the end of 2026, is designed to feed the backlog of A320 aircraft. Once completed, Airbus will host six wing production jigs, an equipping line and paint shops.

Plymouth: Nearly 1,000 jobs set for Plymouth in defence growth (PL1)

Nearly 1,000 jobs will be created in Plymouth as part of an £84 million funding to boost the city’s defence growth plans with the release of £50m Government funding through the Defence Growth Deal, unlocking a potential further £34m from industry and local partners. The investment will enable Plymouth’s National Centre for Marine Autonomy to create 120 jobs and attract more than 30 businesses.

The newly confirmed £1.5 million ‘Get Plymouth Working’ scheme will help 500 people into jobs in defence, advanced manufacturing, engineering and construction. There will be a focus on veterans and young people aged 18 to 25. About 750 people will gain new technical skills and qualifications, while more than 7,000 young people will benefit from STEM training. More than 400 UK businesses are expected to benefit from the wider programme. This includes support for firms working in robotics, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems.

Cumberland: Work underway on enterprise campus in West Cumbria (CA25)

Construction is underway on an enterprise campus based in West Cumbria by the Industrial Solutions Hub (iSH) at Leconfield Industrial Estate in Cleator Moor. The development forms part of a wider regeneration programme across the region by iSH which is focused on delivering economic growth opportunities around robotics, manufacturing and digital. The new units are expected to be available from late 2027.

The iSH Enterprise Campus is an economic regeneration initiative led by Labour’s Cumberland Council with funding and support from Government through Town Deal and Levelling Up programmes, and other strategic partners including the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Sellafield Ltd. iSH delivers programmes that build on the region’s nuclear heritage to showcase its capacity for industrial innovation and technical capability.

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South Shields: South Shields factory expansion at Barbour (NE34)

Barbour is to expand its factory at Simonside, South Shields due to unprecedented global demand. The number of production lines at the factory, where the company makes its iconic Bedale wax jackets, will be increased, leading to new employment opportunities with the recruitment of approximately 40 machinists.

To support this recruitment drive, Barbour has launched an onsite training facility, the Barbour Academy. Every new machinist will undertake a training programme run by experienced in-house trainers. Recruitment for machinists is underway with the first five machinists already beginning their training at the Academy. Potential recruits are being introduced through employment agencies, a partnership with the charities Smart Works North East and Suitability who support women and men back into employment and through referrals from existing employees, family members and friends. All machinist training is expected to be completed by mid-February 2027.

Birmingham: Independent food hall Society grows in its first year (B4)

Independent food and drink destination Society has recorded month-on-month growth in customer footfall and has created 50 jobs in its first year in Birmingham. Since opening in September 2025, it has welcomed thousands of visitors and served more than 150,000 pints. As well as creating 50 jobs, the destination has created a permanent home for five independent street food businesses, including Birmingham icon Asha’s, which has established its first street food concept at the site. Society also works with a network of Midlands suppliers.

The venue has a rotation of 30 different brews, alongside a selection of cocktails, wine and alcohol-free options. This is supported by a programme of live music, quizzes and community events. The business is set to expand its events programme with brewery tap takeovers, beer tastings, live music, collaborations with local artists including Tat Vision, and a major Oktoberfest celebration. 

Rochdale: Masdar’s energy storage plant starts operations in Rochdale (OL11) 

Masdar, the Abu Dhabi state-owned clean energy company, has started operating a 35-megawatt (MW)/70-megawatt-hours (MWh) battery energy storage system (BESS) in Rochdale, providing clean power for 35,000 homes per day. Rochdale is the company’s second battery storage project in the UK following the opening of its first facility in Stockport last year.

Masdar is to invest £1 billion to develop a 3GWh pipeline of storage projects in the UK. The plants can respond to changes in electricity demand in milliseconds, helping to maintain grid stability, and will provide balancing services to grid operators.

Masdar’s investment is aligned with the UK government’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, which aims to build up to 27GW of battery storage by the end of this decade. BESS solutions are critical to integrating renewables into modern electricity networks, providing flexible energy to the grid by storing energy during periods of low demand and releasing it at peak times.

Barnsley: Barnsley College to lead £400,000 programme to help build AI skills (S70)

Barnsley College is to lead a new £400,000 programme to help people in the region to develop practical AI skills and prepare for future careers. The AI Career Launchpad will offer people six months of flexible training linked to a Level 4 apprenticeship, alongside paid placements with local employers. Students will also receive £10,902.50 over six monthly payments – equivalent to the living wage – to support them in their studies.

The programme is open to students aged 18 and above with a Level 3 qualification and is designed to prepare them for a wide range of roles in areas such as HR, operations, marketing and finance. They will work on real-world problems that Barnsley companies are encountering through the implementation of AI, digital systems, or data-based technology. The initiative builds on Barnsley’s Tech Town partnership between government, industry and local organisations, supported by companies including Cisco, Microsoft, Google and Adobe. 

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