The Samlesbury Innovation Hub is exactly the kind of investment Lancashire should be making.
But let’s not confuse innovation infrastructure with innovation itself.
A £13.2 million building won’t create a more innovative economy on its own. Neither will flexible workspace, meeting rooms or a great café. They matter—but they’re only part of the story.
We think that the real question should be:
Who is helping Lancashire’s businesses become better at innovating?
Because prosperous places don’t just come from buildings.
They’re built by businesses that know how to identify opportunities, solve meaningful problems, collaborate effectively and turn ideas into value.
Lancashire has world-class strengths in aerospace, cyber, advanced manufacturing and engineering. The new Hub can become an important focal point for those sectors—but only if we invest just as seriously in the people and businesses who will use it.
At Groundswell Innovation, we’ve spent years working with organisations across Lancashire and the North West. One thing is consistently true:
Innovation isn’t a place. It’s a capability.
That’s what creates lasting economic growth.
Image credit: Lancashire County Council / AEW Architects
