Tag: economy

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Combined Authority helps Whittlesey take traffic-beating plans forward

Plans to tackle transport issues and boost economic growth in the market town of Whittlesey have taken a step forward thanks to Combined Authority funding. Following the establishment of a Whittlesey Relief Road project board earlier this year, consultant Mott MacDonald has been appointed by Fenland District Council to lead the development of a Strategic […]

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New growth-focused business support to fuel the local economy

Growth Works launches a new season of strategic growth support and grant funding, starting this October. These expert masterclasses and courses are a direct response to research highlighting top challenges faced by growth-focused businesses across Cambridgeshire & Peterborough. Early diagnostic research based on high growth and growth ambitious businesses across more than 20 different sectors […]

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Recovery underway in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough economy, but impacts remain

A report has highlighted the impact of Covid-19 on the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough economy since the pandemic hit almost 18 months ago. It found that a recovery was underway in the region, aided by a rebound in manufacturing, retail and construction. However, at the end of 2020 the region’s economy was 7.6 per cent smaller […]

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East West Rail challenged on environment, economy, electrification and community impact in consultation reply

Electrification of the line from day one, more evidence on the preferred approach into Cambridge, more ambition on the environment, and minimising impacts on communities have formed part of the Combined Authority’s East West Rail (EWR) consultation response. The Combined Authority Board approved the response at its meeting on Wednesday (June 30). As part of […]

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Business Board Approve Updated Local Economic Recovery Strategy

The Business Board, the region’s Local Enterprise Partnership, have approved an updated version of the Local Economic Recovery Strategy (LERS) for Cambridgeshire & Peterborough. In early 2020 Government asked Combined Authorities to develop recovery strategies, The Economic Recovery Strategy Group (ERSG) was formed to respond to the Economic and Business Impacts of COVID-19 and to […]

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District Councils across Cambridgeshire & Peterborough are now accepting applications for additional business support grants

The six District Councils across Cambridgeshire & Peterborough are now accepting applications for their respective Additional Business Support Grant schemes. Resource has been made available from Central Government for District Councils across the region to help those businesses which are not eligible for the Local Restriction Support Grant but are still severely impacted by the […]

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Mayor and Business Board Chairman react to the Government’s Skills for Jobs White Paper

The Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough has welcomed the Government’s “bold and ambitious” Skills for Jobs White Paper and the Chairman of the Business Board has said he is delighted the paper puts “the needs of businesses at the heart of further education”. The Skills for Jobs White Paper sets out landmark reforms that will […]

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Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority and Photocentric to deliver Manufacturing and Materials Research and Development Centre

A £16.47m partnership between the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and Peterborough-based business Photocentric will link academia and industry to establish skills and learning in the second phase of the development of ARU Peterborough. Through a joint venture company, the Combined Authority and Photocentric will deliver an innovative Manufacturing and Materials Research & Development Centre […]

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Principal Appointed to Lead ARU Peterborough

Professor Ross Renton has been appointed as Principal of ARU Peterborough and will take up his new role on 15 February. Construction work on the new £30million university – a partnership between the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, Peterborough City Council and Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) – began at the Embankment site in December. ARU […]

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Mayoral statement on closure of Debenhams warehouse in Peterborough

Responding to the closure of the Debenhams warehouse Mayor James Palmer said: “I am working with local leaders to ensure that the Combined Authority and its partners delivers a strong and robust package of support for those affected by the closure of the Debenhams warehouse in Peterborough. “Through the Growth Hub, our skills service and in […]

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Business Bulletin: Issue Number 47

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Growth Hub have teamed up with YTKO to deliver a fully funded start-up course for people looking to launch, or have just launched their own business. We know how inspiring the idea of working for yourself can be, but also that managing your own business can sometimes be daunting […]

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Mayor’s statement on Covid vaccinations and the new national lockdown

“Despite news of the Covid vaccinations and increasing numbers of people being vaccinated,  the spread of the new variant Covid 19 has already led to rapidly escalating case numbers across our region and I recognise and  understand the Government’s concerns and the need for this inevitable nationwide lockdown. I am asking for a clear timetable […]

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Mayor Blog overview of the year 2020

Few will be sad to see the back of 2020, but I want to finish this year by highlighting those things of which I am so proud. Covid-19 has had a hideous impact on so many lives, but what the team at the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority has achieved this year has been incredible. […]

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Tier 4 support for businesses and self-employed people from the Growth Hub

The Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority Growth Hub has launched a comprehensive support offering for businesses affected by the introduction of tier 4 restrictions, including the recruitment of additional staff to provide phone-based, high-quality, un-biased business resilience advice to business owners having to close or substantially curtail, their operations. The additional staff will give the […]

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Mayor’s Tier 4 Statement

“This evening I spoke with Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick MP, following the Prime Minister’s statement moving Peterborough into Tier 4 from midnight tonight. I repeated my concern about the need for Government to support business, their staff and families affected by these new measures to avoid undue hardship. […]

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Free Wifi gives Huntingdonshire market towns a pre-Christmas boost

Supported with funding from the mayoral Combined Authority, free public access Wifi is now live in Huntingdonshire market towns, bringing a welcome pre-Christmas boost for local businesses and residents. The CambWifi network has been extended by Cambridgeshire County Council’s Connecting Cambridgeshire programme, with the support of Huntingdonshire District Council, and additional funding for market towns […]

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Mayor joins workforce on site of Soham’s new station

Mayor James Palmer this week visited the site of the new railway station at Soham which is being funded with £18.6m from the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority which he leads. Network Rail staff and construction workers from the contractor J Murphy and Sons showed Mayor Palmer around the site where early construction work is […]

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March station to be revamped for passengers, thanks to Combined Authority funding

March rail station is to be remodelled, following public consultation, and with continued funding support for the scheme from Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority. The work will see Greater Anglia create an open-plan ticket hall and waiting area, accessible modern toilet facilities, retail outlets, and an upgraded and extended car park at the station. The […]

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Mayor’s statement on Peterborough moving to Tier 3 restrictions

I have been urging Government to fully consider the full impact on families and businesses before altering tiers in this region, and I am pleased that Government has listened to our case. That being said, I am deeply disappointed for the businesses and residents of Peterborough.  Moving into Tier 3 will mean much stricter restrictions […]

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Mayor James Palmer welcomes 400 free courses for adult leaders

James Palmer, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, has welcomed an announcement from the Department for Education confirming that tens of thousands of adults will be able to benefit from almost 400 free courses next year. The fully-funded courses are the first major development in the Lifetime Skills Guarantee, which was first announced by Central Government […]

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AgriGrub’s sustainable solution to food waste backed by the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority

A Soham-based business that is pioneering a sustainable solution to food waste in the UK has been backed by a £62,000 grant from the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority’s Eastern Agri-Tech Growth Initiative. AgriGrub uses waste fruit and vegetables from AMFresh which can’t be eaten by people or fed to livestock and feeds them to Black […]

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Groundbreaking ceremony marks start of ARU Peterborough construction work

A ceremonial spade in the ground event has marked the start of construction of ARU Peterborough, the city’s new £30 million university. The project is being driven by the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, in collaboration with Peterborough City Council and Anglia Ruskin University (ARU). The ambition for ARU Peterborough is to launch a job […]

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District Councils open additional restrictions support grant schemes

The six District Councils across Cambridgeshire & Peterborough are now accepting applications for their respective Additional Restrictions Support Grant schemes. Resource has been made available from Central Government for District Councils across the region to help those businesses which are not eligible for the Local Restriction Support Grant but are still severely impacted by the […]

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Combined Authority invest £710,000 to support the recovery of Cambridge city centre

The Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority have awarded a £710,000 Local Growth Fund grant to a partnership led by Cambridge City Council to support the recovery of Cambridge city centre from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The partnership bid involving the city council, Cambridge Business Improvement District, Fitzwilliam Museum (Enterprises) Ltd and Cambridgeshire County […]

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Business Board Chairman Reacts to Spending Review

Reacting to the Spending Review held on Wednesday, November 25th Austen Adams the Chairman of the Business Board said: “The Chancellor made some very exciting announcements in the spending review, which will help to accelerate and strength our recovery from COVID-19 across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. “It has been a tough year for business leaders, workers […]

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Five Non-Executive Directors to bring wealth of leadership experience to CAM delivery company

Five candidates with a combined wealth of experience delivering major projects, managing big budgets and with a record of exceptional leadership across business and the public sector, have been appointed as Non-Executive Directors of the Cambridgeshire Autonomous Metro (CAM) delivery company. Their appointment was confirmed at the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority Board on Wednesday […]

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Fenland and East Cambridgeshire proposals win market town funding

The Combined Authority Board has today approved Combined Authority funding for a raft of imaginative projects for market towns in Fenland and East Cambridgeshire. On the table was some £1.5 million for Chatteris, Ely, Soham and Whittlesey, all seeking to increase their pull for residents, visitors, and businesses. Future-proofing and history featured high on the […]

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Fenland regeneration gathers pace in Manea and March with start on site and delivery date

In a major milestone to upgrade transport choice across Fenland, the Combined Authority Board has agreed funds to start construction at Manea and March railway stations and has set the end date for delivery. To accelerate this key Fenland Regeneration priority, Mayor James Palmer had asked the Board to sign off the outline business case […]

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Mayor backs Fenland and East Cambridgeshire proposals for market town funding

Mayor James Palmer will this week ask the Combined Authority Board to approve Combined Authority funding for a raft of imaginative projects for market towns in Fenland and East Cambridgeshire. On the table, some £1.5 million for Chatteris, Ely, Soham and Whittlesey, all seeking to increase their pull for residents, visitors, and businesses. Future-proofing and […]

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Five Non-Executive Directors for CAM delivery company recommended for appointment to drive forward pioneering transport scheme

The appointment of the first five Non-Executive Directors of the dedicated delivery company for the Cambridgeshire Autonomous Metro (CAM) will be recommended to the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority Board next week. A detailed search has been undertaken to find outstanding candidates with a breadth of skills and experience to join the One CAM Limited […]

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Combined Authority progress report reaffirms commitment to economic recovery

In a confident report on the progress into its Devolution Deal with government, the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority provides strong evidence to the November Board that it is delivering on its twenty five year mission to double to region’s economy and is working for economic recovery following the Covid pandemic.  The report, requested by the Combined Authority leaders back in October, provides an assessment on the 2017 Devolution Deal with the government. It shows significant progress on its ambitious long-term plans to deliver growth and public […]

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Strong market response to CAM design challenge as innovative process moves to next phase

A challenge to the market to provide bold and innovative concept design solutions which could be instrumental to the future delivery of the Cambridgeshire Autonomous Metro (CAM) has passed to its next stage after receiving an encouraging first phase response. The challenge was launched by the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority to test the market […]

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Planning permission granted for new ARU Peterborough development

Peterborough City Council has approved plans for a new state-of-the-art building which will be the home of ARU Peterborough, the city’s new £30 million university.   The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, Peterborough City Council and Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) have all welcomed the decision to approve the proposals submitted by Mace Limited, supported by the planning consultants […]

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Mill SciTech Park pre-planning application submitted

A pre-planning application for the development of the Mill SciTech Park, on the Hauxton Mill site in South Cambridgeshire has been submitted by o2h Group. The Cambridge-based business behind the project believes this marks an important step in the delivery of their exciting proposals which would see the creation of a state-of-the-art office and laboratory […]

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European Union Exit Webinars for Businesses

The UK left the EU on 31 January 2020 and businesses are being urged to prepare for the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020. To help your business prepare for the UK’s exit from the EU, The Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority are pleased to offer the free webinar events listed below. […]

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Fieldwork Robotics Awarded £50,000 to Further Develop Fruit Picking Robot

Fieldwork Robotics have been awarded a grant of more than £50,000 towards a £100,000 project to further develop its autonomous robot. The Histon-based business has been supported with a grant from the Eastern Agri-Tech Growth Initiative, an initiative run by the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority. Fieldwork Robotics have already developed an autonomous robot that […]

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Metalcraft secures funds for new training school

Stainless Metalcraft (Metalcraft) has appointed Ashe Construction as the main contractor for its new vocational training school, following a competitive public tender. The new training school will be located on Metalcraft’s Chatteris site and is funded through a £3.16 million Local Growth Fund grant from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. It will provide training […]

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Free CambWifi going live in Huntingdonshire market towns

Free public access Wifi is going live in market towns across Huntingdonshire to help residents keep connected and bolster local businesses through the dark days of Covid. CambWifi has just gone live in St Neots and will be available in St Ives, Ramsey and Huntingdon town centres this autumn, bringing users safe internet access when they […]

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Cambridge Business Awarded £40,000 Grant Towards Developing Agricultural Robots

A Cambridge-based business has been awarded over £40,000 from the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority’s Eastern Agri-Tech Growth Initiative to develop two mobile agriculture robot prototypes. Antobot Ltd is a robotics technology company, focused on the control hardware and software development for intelligent mobile robots, tailored for the application in the agriculture industry. With the […]

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Café culture dreams for Peterborough receive an £800,000 boost thanks to Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority

Plans for a European café culture in Peterborough have received a welcome boost, after a successful application to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.   A grant for £800,000 has now been approved as part of the Growth Deal funding (Local Growth Fund, LGF) which is provided by Government to local areas to invest in projects […]

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Report reveals the impacts of Covid-19 on business and employment across the region

A report commissioned by the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority has highlighted the impacts of Covid-19 on business and employment across the region. The report was commissioned jointly by the Combined Authority Board and the Business Board and is based on analysis conducted in August 2020. The report aims to provide an up to date […]

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Kickstart Scheme opens for applications

The Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority Growth Hub is helping to support local businesses to access the Government’s landmark Kickstart Scheme. The Growth Hub team are asking small and medium sized businesses interested in registering for the scheme to register their details with us by completing this expression of interest form. We will then help […]

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Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority #RescuetoRecovery Retraining Scheme prioritises retraining and getting people back to work

At a time when economic recovery is more important than ever, the Cambridgeshire &Peterborough Combined Authority prioritises individuals by supporting them to retrain into new jobs. According to the ONS figures to the end of July, the number of people on payrolls in the UK has decreased by 730,000 since March. Meanwhile, in July 26,630 […]

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Mayor’s Blog: The Urban Spaceman

After months being cooped up and locked down, it was wonderful to be walking through the fresh air of Cambridge market this week, meeting traders, city ambassadors, and shoppers face-to-face – well, space-to-space –  to ask how they’re doing, what they want, and what we can all do to help them. Up close(ish) and personal. […]

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Mayor’s Blog: A Tale of Two Cities – and Eleven Market Towns.

We could all do with a pandemic pick-me-up and June hit the ground running with terrific news from the Combined Authority Board. More than a pick-me-up, it’s a big step forward.  Board members gave unanimous and very enthusiastic approval for our region’s market towns to apply for a share of a whopping £13.1 million to […]

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Micro Grants boosting Cambridgeshire and Peterborough’s smallest businesses during coronavirus

104 of the smallest businesses in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have been awarded grant funding to help them adapt to the economic shock of coronavirus via a new scheme launched in response to the pandemic. The Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority’s Micro Grant Scheme is for businesses with five employees or fewer. It was launched quickly […]

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Mayor James Palmer hails rapid impact of Combined Authority’s coronavirus business grant scheme

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority’s rapid response to the coronavirus has so far seen £4.48 million in cash grants awarded to support local businesses. The newly created Covid-19 Capital Grant Scheme has now awarded money to 106 businesses across the region to fund investments which are forecast to protect 479 jobs and create a […]

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Joint-statement from the Government regarding economic recovery

The Prime Minister, Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick and Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government Simon Clarke today spoke with the M9 group of Mayors and leader of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to update them on the current situation and to discuss their role in the response to coronavirus. “The Prime Minister agreed […]

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Mayor sets up Covid-19 ‘think-tank’ for Cambridgeshire business resilience

Meeting for the first time today, a new Covid-19 leadership group set up by Mayor James Palmer laid out a hard-hitting agenda to help the region keep its businesses going until the emergency is passed. The Mayor’s aim in establishing the Mayor’s Forum – a single voice for business in Cambridgeshire – is to foster […]

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Mayor launches £2.3 million war chest

Mayor James Palmer today launches a region-wide campaign urging companies caught in the grip of the pandemic to apply for Covid-19 grants to help them ‘build muscle’ for better times. The Mayoral Combined Authority through its Business Board – which acts as Cambridgeshire & Peterborough’s Local Enterprise Partnership – is urging small and medium sized […]

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World-leading consultants appointed in key step forward for University of Peterborough’s delivery

A big step forward for a new university for Peterborough has been taken with the appointment of a world-leading project management consultancy to support the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority in its delivery. Globally-renowned consultants Mace have been selected to deliver on the Combined Authority’s Action Plan for the new university. Their work will begin […]

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Key study into Cambridgeshire Metro finds ‘compelling case’ to move forward with transformational scheme

A detailed report examining the feasibility of a metro system for Greater Cambridge and the wider region has found a ‘compelling case’ for the scheme.   The Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC), published this week, found the Cambridgeshire Autonomous Metro (CAM) would unlock significant growth, offers high value for money and would provide the transformational […]

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Combined Authority reveals plan for the year ahead

An important milestone has been reached as the 12 key projects that will be the focus of activity throughout 2019/20 at the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority were agreed. The new Business Plan was approved at the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority Board Meeting this week (30th January 2019). It sets out the 12 key […]

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A vision for Business – Mayor and Business Board Chair discuss new opportunities for the region

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mayor, James Palmer, met this week with the new Chair of the Combined Authority Business Board, Professor Aamir Khalid at TWI’s Granta Park headquarters. The leaders opened up talks on future strategy for the region’s multi varied businesses, discussing regional development opportunities and the need for significant infrastructure investment in support of […]

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Business Board begins work as the new Local Enterprise Partnership

The Business Board has officially been constituted to begin work as the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) for our region. The first meeting of the Board made up of seven local industry leaders and two public servants took place on September 24 (2018). The Mayor and the Deputy Mayor are the public servants and have no […]

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Mayor James Palmer makes case to Business Secretary Greg Clark for backing Cambridgeshire and Peterborough at official launch of key economic report

Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough James Palmer has urged the Government’s Business Secretary Greg Clark to match his ambition for growth in the area, following the official launch of an in-depth report into its economic future. The final report of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Independent Economic Review (CPIER), an independent study led by leading economists, […]

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