At the Good Growth Summit in Manchester, the vision of likely next Prime Minister Andy Burnham for 'good growth in every British postcode' dominated discussions, even though he was not present. The event, held at the Museum of Science and Industry on Wednesday, was planned for months but coincided perfectly with Burnham's Monday speech outlining his economic agenda.
Defining Good Growth
Organiser Paul Corcoran set the tone by stating that good growth means business "doesn't have to be a trade-off between profit and purpose. We can do both." He added, "Let's prove why good business is actually great business." Joking about Burnham's casual style, Corcoran noted, "All eyes are on Manchester at the moment. And I even came in my Andy Burnham getup. Though I did leave my Adidas Sambas at home."
Emma Degg, CEO of the North West Business Leadership Team, said hope was central to good growth. Referencing Burnham's speech, she stated, "Hope in every heart and growth in every postcode really is the essence of good growth." She emphasised that delivering good growth requires collective effort: "It's not for Andy Burnham or the cabinet or the 'Number 10 of the North' to make a difference ... it's for all of us."
Reindustrialisation and Place-Based Change
Juergen Maier, chair of Great British Energy and former CEO of Siemens UK, enthusiastically endorsed Burnham's vision. He said, "Genuinely I was celebrating the words 'good growth in every postcode' and even more, I was celebrating the word reindustrialisation." In his keynote, Chris Woodroffe, managing director of Manchester Airport, also referenced Burnham's fashion sense and policy focus. Joking about his attire, Woodroffe said, "I've turned up looking like Andy Burnham from London with my red tie and matching red socks." He described good growth as "the sort of growth that, rather than making the rich richer and the poor poorer, is the kind of growth that impacts everyone."
Woodroffe highlighted Burnham's emphasis on place-based change, saying, "Growth in a place rather than delivered from Whitehall to people to whom it doesn't quite work." He added, "That's what good growth is to me - place based work delivered by government with people like Tom Stannard ... and all the businesses you run coming together to deliver growth, to deliver good jobs, to deliver investment."
Manchester Airport's Growth Ambitions
Woodroffe detailed Manchester Airport's £1.5bn investment programme, noting it now handles 32 million passengers across 200 destinations, connecting to 72% of the world's GDP. He argued the airport could grow to 60 million passengers with proper government support, particularly for Northern Powerhouse Rail. He said, "There's actually an opportunity for Manchester to be a 60m (passenger) airport. But to do that someone needs to sort out the transport infrastructure and build the Northern Powerhouse Rail." He compared Manchester's slow links to Liverpool and Leeds with the Netherlands' fast connections to Schiphol. Achieving 60 million passengers would require a new terminal and additional investments, generating another £9bn for the local economy and 60,000 jobs. "It's jobs that really matter," Woodroffe said. "When we talk about good growth or growth in general what that translates to are jobs for real people who live in real places and would like to have some optimism for the future."
Skills, Diversity, and Inclusion
The first panel discussion focused on skills, talent, diversity, and opportunity. Lauren Rosegreen of JCI International highlighted the unique pressures on young leaders, noting, "We've never had a generation of emerging leaders that look like the one we have now" in terms of diversity. However, she expressed concern: "The new generation of leaders are scared. They are nervous.. it is a really scary world we are inheriting." Tom Stannard, chief executive of Manchester City Council, addressed concerns about those feeling "left behind" by city centre regeneration. He acknowledged ongoing deprivation and the high cost of living, advocating for lifelong learning. "It's not just about what occurs in the city, it's about what occurs in the towns and communities," he said.
Property and Future Prospects
Ciara Keeling, COO at Bruntwood Sci Tech, discussed her career and the company's work "breathing new life into assets that other businesses might think are time-expired" alongside developing new buildings. When asked by Corcoran if Number 10 North would feature a Bruntwood Sci Tech sign, she did not rule it out. The summit reinforced that 'good growth' will likely be a central theme of Burnham's government as it moves operations to the North.
