Inward Investment

Looking for the right place to grow in the UK? 

Home to one of Europe’s most powerful innovation economies, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough provides world-leading research, specialist talent, innovation campuses, investors and high-growth sector networks. 

Our inward investment and economic growth team helps ambitious organisations cut through the complexity, find the right partners and move faster towards confident investment decisions. 

Speak to our Inward Investment team: invest@cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk

The UK’s Economic Powerhouse

In Cambridgeshire and Peterborough you will find: 

• 28% of GVA driven by innovation sectors 
• 2.87% Average growth rate since 1981 
• 79.4% employment rate – one of the highest in the country 
• Global tech centre employing over 250,000 people 
• 28 Unicorn Spinouts 
• Over 38,000 active businesses  
• Over 5,000 knowledge-intensive firms across the region 

Get the insight, introductions and support you need to grow 

• Understand the opportunity with sector insight, market intelligence and regional data. 
• Find the right connections across universities, investors, innovation campuses, commercial partners and public sector networks. 
• Build a stronger investment case with support around talent, property, infrastructure, funding and sector growth. 
• Identify the right location for R&D, lab, office, manufacturing or logistics needs. 
• Access specialist expertise across life sciences, digital technologies, advanced manufacturing, agrifood, defence and clean technology. 
• Keep growing locally through ongoing relationship management, networks and aftercare support. 

Find your way into the right networks

When you are exploring a new location, the strength of the ecosystem matters. So does knowing how to access it.  

Using our strong regional and personal networks, we’ll help you understand where your opportunity fits, who you need to speak to and how to move forward with confidence. 

From local knowledge, global network opportunities await. 

Find the funding connections to support your growth

Whether you are scaling innovation, expanding operations or building a stronger investment case, we can help you identify relevant funding routes, investor networks and specialist partners. 

Use our regional knowledge to explore funding opportunities, strengthen your proposition and connect with the finance and growth networks that can support your next move. 

Meet the Team

Ann Wardle

Agrifood, Technologies and Production

Ann Wardle

Agrifood, Technologies and Production

Ann specialises in inward investment, account management and strategic partnership development, with deep experience supporting businesses across agrifood, technology and production sectors.  

 Her career began in microelectronics before moving into foreign direct investment across Europe, North America and the East of England. 

 She has worked with major international businesses across technology and food production, including companies in electronics, food manufacturing, farming, logistics, robotics, research and agronomy.  

 Over the last decade, Ann has focused on inward investment and business engagement in Peterborough and Fenland, supporting organisations across the agrifood value chain. 

Paul Gibbons

Advanced Materials, Manufacturing & Defence

Paul Gibbons

Advanced Materials, Manufacturing & Defence

Paul brings more than 25 years’ experience across large corporates, non-profits, the public sector and business ownership. As Economic Growth Champion for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing, he combines hands-on commercial experience with strategic economic development insight. 

Paul has worked closely with SMEs, business leaders, founders and regional stakeholders throughout his career. His background includes senior business engagement through Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce and economic development work at Huntingdonshire District Council, where he contributed to major local growth and place strategies. His focus is on helping manufacturing and innovation-led businesses connect into the region’s opportunities, networks and long-term growth potential.

Nykki Rogers

International Trade, Investment & Innovation

Nykki Rogers

International Trade, Investment & Innovation

Speak to Nykki about international investment, life sciences, innovation ecosystems, commercial real estate and strategic growth opportunities. 

 Nykki brings more than 30 years’ experience across the private and public sectors, with expertise in inward investment, inclusive economic growth, placemaking and the commercialisation of early-stage technology businesses. 

She leads CPCA Invest’s international investment, trade and innovation activity, and the team of Sector Economic Growth Champions.

Her commercial background spans life sciences, advanced electric mobility and digital commerce. She has led inward investment strategy and delivery regionally for the East of England  and nationally for  the Department for Business and Trade. She has supported hundreds of businesses developing strategies for entering the UK market.

 

 

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