Mayor Visits Paragraf, a World-Leading Advanced Manufacturing Company Driving Local and National Growth 

Mayor Visits Paragraf, a World-Leading Advanced Manufacturing Company Driving Local and National Growth 

As part of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority’s mission to build a strong, sustainable economy, Dr Nik Johnson, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough visited Paragraf in Huntingdonshire today. Paragraf is the first company in the world to mass-produce graphene-based electronic devices, contributing strongly to the local economy and providing highly skilled and high value employment to the area.

The advanced manufacturing sector adds £8.5billion annually to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough economy, playing a vital role in driving both regional and national growth.

Founded as a spin-out from Cambridge University’s Centre for Gallium Nitride, Paragraf launched its first site in Somersham in 2018. Since then, it has expanded rapidly, growing from 3 employees to over 110 within six years. In February 2023, Paragraf expanded with a brand new manufacturing facility, in Huntingdon, positioning the company for further accelerated growth and innovation.

 Dr Nik Johnson, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said:

“It’s always a pleasure to see leading-edge homegrown companies like Paragraf in action, and hugely encouraging to know that our advanced-manufacturing sector continues to go from strength to strength, not least in the creation of good quality jobs, and high-value technologies.”

The manufacturing sector plays a critical role in driving growth and prosperity here in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Advanced manufacturing alone accounts for 28% of knowledge-intensive businesses across the region, and the sector has grown by 35% over the last seven years.

Manufacturing also provides approximately 15.8% of jobs in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, nearly double the national average of 8.1%. These figures reflect the importance of fostering a thriving, high-value manufacturing industry that delivers tangible benefits to local communities and creates opportunities for future generations.

During his visit, Mayor Dr Nik Johnson toured Paragraf’s new facility and received an update on the company’s latest advancements. He also met with CEO Simon Thomas to discuss future growth plans, workforce development, and the company’s contributions to the region’s economy.

 Paragraf CEO Simon Thomas, said:  

“We are excited about the benefits improved transportation around Huntingdon will bring to our staff and new manufacturing site. Establishing better connections to our R&D and prototyping centre in Somersham and surrounding areas would further enhance our operations. It’s an honour to welcome the Mayor of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority to witness our work mass producing graphene-based electronic devices at the heart of the UK. We hope his team can apply the same innovative spirit seen in projects like the Tiger on-demand bus service to other infrastructure and services, enabling the rapid growth of a world-leading hub for advanced semiconductor development,”

For more information about the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority’s economic initiatives, please visit here.