Andy Burnham’s pledge to the country is “good growth in every postcode and hope in every heart”. What does 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 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:
- Plans for £120 million aviation campus at Duxford (CB22)
- Swindon defence tech boom to create 1,000 jobs (SN3 and SN5)
- North Somerset med-tech campus building opportunities (BS41)
- Sheffield microchip start-up raises £5 million (S1)
- New Rhondda business park set for launch (CF39)
- Joint venture to bring forward Derby advanced technology park (DE24)
- Middlesbrough College expands with £1.5 million centre upgrade (TS2)
Duxford: Plans for £120 million aviation campus (CB22)
Updated plans have been unveiled for a £120 million sustainable aviation technology campus expected to create 1,200 jobs and contribute £64 million a year to the economy, ahead of a planning application to South Cambridgeshire District Council.
Known as Duxford AvTech, the proposed campus would provide around 435,000 sq ft of high-specification research, development and manufacturing space for growing aviation and engineering businesses. The campus would focus on the development of low- and zero-carbon aircraft technology, advanced materials and digital systems, helping support efforts to make aviation cleaner, quieter and more efficient.
Located alongside IWM Duxford’s historic airfield and close to the University of Cambridge’s Whittle Laboratory, the development aims to bring together academia and industry while creating around 1,200 full-time jobs in research, engineering and operations. Plans are also being developed for a new energy-efficient IWM Lab, which would house and conserve some of the largest objects in the museum’s collection.
The facility would support specialist conservation work, training and apprenticeships, while guided tours and open days would offer visitors an insight into how historic aircraft and other artefacts are preserved.
Swindon: Swindon defence tech boom to create 1,000 jobs (SN3 and SN5)
More than 1,000 highly skilled jobs are set to be created in Swindon over the coming years, following major defence and autonomous systems investments in the town.
Swindon was highlighted as a key national hub in the Government’s Defence Industrial Strategy in 2025. Since then, two flagship investments have been secured: the Ministry of Defence Uncrewed Testing Centre at Panattoni Park and TEKEVER’s Advanced Drone Hub at the Spectrum Building.
The MoD centre at Panattoni Park covers over 500,000 sq ft at the former Honda manufacturing site, is four times larger than NATO’s tactical drone centre in Latvia and is expected to create hundreds of highly skilled technical roles.
TEKEVER, which produces the British-made StormShroud drone, selected the Spectrum Building for its next-generation engineering and production operations.
Five additional firms specialising in unmanned aircraft manufacturing have also either set up or announced plans to bring jobs and investment to the borough: ICOMAT, Shadowlink, Xtend, MyDefence and STARK Defence.
North Somerset: Med-tech campus building opportunities (BS41)
Building firms in North Somerset are being encouraged to register their interest to work on the office campus development now under construction on the edge of Bristol for US med-tech company Epic Systems. The 90-acre site at Long Ashton will house the healthcare software group’s European headquarters and technology development operations, along with a separate 3,000-seat lecture theatre and auditorium. It is expected to create around 2,150 highly skilled, high-salaried positions in the life sciences and healthcare IT.
The work packages being brought to market through the Somerset Supply Chain initiative include scaffolding (£500,000), brickwork (£700,000 to £800,000), drylining (£2m), electrical contracting (£1–3 million), and pipework and ventilation (£2–5 million).
Further packages include soft flooring, painting and decorating, doors and joinery, fitted furniture, tiling, signage, and builders’ merchants and materials supply.
Sheffield: Sheffield microchip start-up raises £5 million (S1)
SCI Semiconductor (SCI), a Sheffield company, which has developed the world’s first memory-safe computer chip, has raised £5 million to accelerate production after experiencing strong demand. SCI has already fabricated its first devices and has secured orders to the value of over £2 million. It has also won government contracts totalling £7.7 million and agreed partnerships with Google Research and Microsoft. SCI Semiconductor was founded in 2022, currently employs 35 staff at its headquarters in Sheffield and its office in Cambridge and plans to create another 15 jobs in the next year.
Memory safety is a key factor in around 70 per cent of cyber attacks. Traditional software allows memory to be freely accessed, providing flexibility for developers but creating vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers. It also means coding flaws can bring down an entire system. SCI’s chip embeds security into the computer architecture. It divides memory into trusted compartments and tightly controls how it is accessed.
Rhondda: New business park set for launch (CF39)
A new business park in Rhondda Cynon Taf is set to launch in November after an £8.2 million investment from Ty Rhosyn Developments, a local property developer. Parc Eirin, in Tonyrefail, will provide around 50,000 sq ft of flexible business and industrial space across 34 self-contained units, each ranging from 1,292 sq ft to 1,550 sq ft.
Parc Eirin will be capable of supporting up to 150 jobs in Rhondda Cynon Taf. The first 17 units will be ready for occupation in November. The second set is expected to be brought forward during the second half of 2027. The area has plenty of large industrial units, but few options designed for smaller, flexible uses, and that type of space is in high demand.
Derby: Joint venture to bring forward advanced technology park (DE24)
A joint venture will drive forward the development of the INFINITY project, a £400 million advanced technology park in Derby, which is forecast to create thousands of jobs. The INFINITY joint venture comprises Infinity Technology Group Ltd, University of Derby, Manufacturing Technology Centre, and Loughborough University. INFINITY will create specialised capabilities for the research, development and manufacture of essential parts at a 200-acre site at Infinity Park, Derby.
Situated within the East Midlands Investment Zone, planned infrastructure links will service the site. Situated close to the existing Nuclear Skills Academy, the project is expected to support more than 2,500 skilled jobs and 15,000 indirect jobs as well as over 1,500 trainees per year. It is also linked to wider development of more than 4,000 homes, a new school and an improved A50 junction. The aim is to start development in 2027, with the site being fully operational in the 2030s.
Middlesbrough: College expands with £1.5 million centre upgrade (TS2)
Middlesbrough College has expanded its engineering and advanced manufacturing training space at its TTE Centre and has added six classrooms on a new mezzanine level, allowing the organisation to enrol up to 1,000 learners across the centre.
Middlesbrough College’s campus supports more than 12,000 students, including 2,200 apprentices.