On a wet Wednesday morning in April, Ashley Holroyd had a steady but slow stream of customers into his coffee shop in Barrow-in-Furness, an industrial town in northwest England. The cafe, Coffee D’Ash, had been open for only about six months, and it barely filled the cavernous space. Despite the empty storefronts on the same street, Mr. Holroyd is certain he has a prime location. BAE Systems, Britain’s largest defense company, is planning to open a training facility for hundreds of workers right next door. Like many other defense companies, BAE is in the midst of a rapid expansion because of an increase in military spending in Britain.

Source: The Times May 12, 2025 10:02 UTC