It’s looking increasingly likely that Andy Burnham could be the next Prime Minister following Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation.

While nothing will be confirmed for a couple of weeks yet, it raises the question: what would it mean for SMEs if his approach in Greater Manchester were applied nationally?

Burnham’s record as Mayor has focused heavily on regional growth, skills and public investment, alongside efforts to strengthen Manchester’s position as a UK tech and innovation hub.

For small businesses, the relevance is less about political direction and more about how that approach translates into the operating environment.

A focus on regional growth

One of the most consistent features of Burnham’s approach has been an emphasis on reducing the imbalance between London and the regions.

In Greater Manchester, this has included support for major developments such as Atom Valley, alongside investment in innovation infrastructure and sector-led growth strategies.

For SMEs, a continuation of this approach at national level could mean more focus on regional economies, rather than concentrating investment and opportunity in a small number of established hubs.

Skills and workforce development

Burnham has also prioritised technical education and skills development through initiatives such as the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate and the Greater Manchester Institute of Technology.

These programmes are designed to align education more closely with employer needs in sectors such as digital, engineering and advanced manufacturing.

For SMEs, access to skilled labour remains one of the most common constraints on growth. A stronger national focus on employer-led training and technical pathways could help address long-standing recruitment challenges.

Business infrastructure and place-based growth

Alongside skills, Burnham’s strategy has placed importance on wider infrastructure, including transport connectivity, digital access and regeneration projects.

This reflects a broader view that business growth is influenced not just by tax or regulation, but by the strength of local infrastructure and economic ecosystems.

If applied nationally, this approach would likely place greater emphasis on building regional business environments that support long-term growth.

Support for innovation and tech

Manchester’s tech sector has expanded significantly over the past decade, supported by investment in digital infrastructure and partnerships with major employers including Microsoft and Siemens.

While this growth predates Burnham’s mayoralty, his administration has supported initiatives aimed at strengthening digital skills, reducing digital exclusion, and encouraging investment in emerging sectors such as AI and cybersecurity.

For SMEs in tech and innovation-led sectors, this type of ecosystem development could be relevant if replicated at scale.

Implications for SMEs

At this stage, any national policy implications are only speculative.

But Burnham’s approach suggests a stronger emphasis on regional economic development, skills alignment and infrastructure-led growth.

For SMEs, this would shift focus away from centralised growth models and towards more distributed economic opportunity across the UK.

Tax and regulation remain uncertain, but the broader direction of travel in his regional policy has focused more on long-term capacity building than short-term intervention.

The bigger picture

The discussion around potential leadership change is ultimately also a discussion about how economic growth is structured.

Burnham’s record in Greater Manchester reflects a model built around place, skills and infrastructure as foundations for business growth.

If that approach were extended nationally, it would likely reshape where and how small businesses access talent, investment and opportunity.

For SMEs, the key question is not political.

It is whether the conditions for growth become more evenly distributed across the country over the next decade.