Good growth in every postcode 28th 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 in 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 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:

• High-security robotic AI laboratory launches in Liverpool (L3)
• Leeds food ingredients university spinout grows (LS2)
• US bakery giant makes new Coventry investment (CV5)
• Newcastle brewery opens first pub (NE1)
• Rolls-Royce in Derby to supply engines for Philippine Airlines (DE24)
• Lincolnshire potato supplier to recruit 100 workers (LN4)
• Government invests £30m in SaxaVord Shetland launch capability as part of £60m programme (ZE2)
•  (ZE2)

Liverpool: High-security robotic AI laboratory launches in Liverpool (L3)

The Liverpool Accelerate Laboratory, a £20 million high-security robotic AI laboratory that aims to accelerate the discovery of drugs and vaccines for high-risk and deadly infectious diseases, has launched and is due to open fully in 2027. The new facility will be open to industry and academics to develop innovative new treatments using human organoids that provide a more accurate indication of the impact of new treatments than tests based on animals. It will provide a safe environment where partners can work with dangerous pathogens using cutting-edge automated technology.

The laboratory has been co-developed through the Infection Innovation Consortium and has been supported by £10 million from the Liverpool City Region Life Sciences Innovation Zone programme. The laboratory is a high-security, steel-clad facility that responds to forthcoming changes to the Terrorism Act – making it a key UK biosecurity asset.  It is forecast to generate £40 million of investment in the first three years. Liverpool City Region mayor Steve Rotheram said: “This is exactly the kind of investment our Life Sciences Innovation Zone was designed to deliver, creating good jobs, attracting further investment and cementing our position as a global leader in infection innovation.”

Leeds: Food ingredients university spinout grows (LS2)

MicroLub, a food technology company which supports healthier eating, is set to double its workforce over the next 18 months and expand into new international markets following a £7.5 million investment led by Northern Gritstone. Founded by Professor Anwesha Sarkar from the School of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Leeds, MicroLub is developing patented ingredient technology designed to reduce fat and calorie content in food while maintaining the “mouthfeel” that consumers expect. The investment will support the next stage of MicroLub’s growth, including accelerating its expansion into the US and Asian markets.

MicroLub’s technology uses protein and water to replicate the role that fat plays in food. In some applications, it can reduce fat and calorie content by up to 75 per cent, while also increasing protein levels and reducing the need for emulsifiers and thickeners.

Since its launch, MicroLub has progressed from pilot production to industrial-scale manufacturing and is now working with some of the world’s largest food and ingredient companies. Northern Gritstone is an investment company dedicated to supporting ambitious science and technology businesses in the North of England.

Coventry: US bakery giant makes new Coventry investment (CV5)

US food manufacturer C.H. Guenther & Son has opened a new Centre of Excellence at its Coventry bakery, designed to accelerate the development of premium bakery products across the UK and Europe. The new facility brings together a commercial-scale bakery, customer demonstration kitchen, sensory evaluation facilities and collaboration spaces in one location, allowing customers to work on-site alongside CHG’s commercial, culinary and technical experts to develop bespoke bakery products.

 It follows huge investment by CHG into its UK manufacturing, including the £38 million Coventry bakery, which opened in 2023, and which now produces around 72,000 buns an hour. New concepts can be developed, tested and validated on-site before progressing to full-scale manufacture.

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Newcastle: Brewery opens first pub (NE1)

Full Circle, a Newcastle brewery, is expanding its operations with the opening of its first permanent pub at Fenwick. Located on the first floor of Fenwick Newcastle, the pub will feature 12 taps and two cask lines, serving Full Circle’s own beers alongside a selection from independent breweries across the UK. Food will be served by Newcastle street food vendor Peckin’ Order.

Founded in 2019, the Full Circle independent brewery has grown from its base in Hoults Yard to sell beers across the UK and export to 12 countries. Its flagship Looper IPA has picked up a string of industry accolades, including gold in the keg IPA category at SIBA BeerX in 2022 and 2024.

Derby: Rolls-Royce to supply engines for a new fleet of aircraft for Philippine Airlines (DE24)

Rolls-Royce is to supply engines for a new fleet of Airbus A350-1000 aircraft for Philippine Airlines. The engineering group will provide 18 Trent XWB-97 engines to power nine aircraft, alongside a long-term maintenance agreement covering the engines throughout their operational lives. This latest order builds on Rolls-Royce’s existing relationship with Philippine Airlines, which previously selected the Trent XWB-97 to power nine Airbus A350-1000 aircraft ordered in 2023.

The Trent XWB-97 is manufactured by Rolls-Royce and is designed to operate with a sustainable aviation fuel blend of up to 50 percent. The company is also working towards compatibility with 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel. The wider Airbus programme supports UK aerospace manufacturing, with Airbus producing wings for its commercial aircraft at its Broughton facility in North Wales.

Lincolnshire: Potato supplier to recruit 100 workers (LN4)

Potato supplier Branston is looking to recruit nearly 100 workers at its Lincolnshire operations as it responds to growing customer demand. The company is seeking up to 45 permanent employees for its prepared foods and mash factories, including production and dispatch operatives. A further 40 seasonal workers are being recruited across the business as Branston prepares for increased demand for fresh potatoes in the run-up to Christmas.

The latest recruitment drive follows a campaign last year to bring additional workers into Branston’s mash factory. Branston has supported employees moving from entry-level positions into leadership roles and is looking to attract both experienced recruits and people starting their careers.

Shetland: Government invests £30m in SaxaVord launch capability as part of £60m programme (ZE2)

The government is investing £30m in SaxaVord Spaceport as part of a wider £60m public-private investment programme to accelerate the UK’s orbital launch capability.

The programme will support the completion of key infrastructure at SaxaVord as it moves towards regular commercial launch operations, specifically all three launchpads, mission management infrastructure and second integration hangar required by international launch companies keen to bring their business to the UK. 

The UK’s only licensed vertical launch spaceport, SaxaVord has regulatory approval for up to 30 launches a year and is being developed to accommodate multiple launch providers. Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) is working towards the first vertical orbital test flight from UK soil, while HyImpulse is preparing for a sub-orbital launch campaign. SaxaVord is also in discussions with further launch service providers. 

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