Eastern Promise - The Podcast
‘Eastern Promise‘ explores the full potential of the East of England. We talk to experts, innovators, entrepreneurs, disrupters and more, finding out why the Eastern region is the best place in the UK to start, run and grow a business. From architecture to zoology, every business has a place here, with Mike Rigby as your guide on this audio journey, celebrating and promoting our region. Eastern Promise also features the Plug Board; where a panel of three get to plug their own business, event or project in exchange for giving a plug to someone else in return. And there‘s also a bit of lighthearted audience participation in ‘CrowdSourcery’, where folk from across the East of England - and even beyond! - choose their favourite things on a given theme to share and celebrate! You can contact Mike at podcast@easternpromise.org.uk.
Episodes

Thursday Jul 24, 2025
Episode 140: Well:O - a new approach to dental wellness!
Thursday Jul 24, 2025
Thursday Jul 24, 2025
This Week: We pay a visit to the Cambridge Independent Business Awards' Start-Up of the Year 2024 - oral wellbeing experts Well:O!
We sent our own Mike Rigby to meet co-founder Felix von Nathusius and Clinical Director Shelley Belgrove to chat about the Well:O story, the beautiful and decidedly non-clinical feel of their studio and how their model could do great things for a service economy such as the UK's where retail is disappearing from the high street.
PLUS! Before we press pause for our Summer break, we give you a quick tease of a small sliver of the goodness yet to come!
For more information about Well:O, visit: https://wellohello.co.uk/
To listen to the Eastern Promise back catalogue, and to contact us here on the podcast, visit our website here.
Eastern Promise is proud to be sponsored by Mills & Reeve.

Thursday Jul 17, 2025
Thursday Jul 17, 2025
This Week: Dr Laura Reeves of the University of Suffolk takes us through her research on hybrid (AKA agile) working and its emphasis on belonging. Laura takes us through her findings and conclusions of the research, before asking 'what next'?
But that's not all by ANY means!
Still on the hybrid working trail, Mary-Jo Hill tells us all about YakBit app, which helps managers analyse online meetings to see where they can get more from their team.
You can find out more about Laura's research here: https://www.bam.ac.uk/grants/project-repository/funded-transitions-1-projects/2023-laura-reeves.html and here: https://www.uos.ac.uk/about/news/opinion-will-hybrid-remain-the-future-of-work/.
You can find out more about YakBit here: https://yakbit.ai/
And, of course, you can find the Eastern Promise podcast back catalogue and a contact form at: https://easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is proud to be sponsored by Mills & Reeve.

Wednesday Jul 09, 2025
Episode 138: Cambridge Wireless CEO Michaela Eschbach
Wednesday Jul 09, 2025
Wednesday Jul 09, 2025
This Week: We chat to Cambridge Wireless CEO Michaela Eschbach about her career path to the top of this global connections community.
We ask her what exactly IS Cambridge Wireless - aka CW - and how does it leverage the world-famous name in its title?
We'll also look at what's to come during Cambridge Tech Week 2025, which kicks off on 15th September.
For more information on all of the above, visit Cambridge Wireless here or...
Click here to find out more about Cambridge Tech Week 2025.
To contact the Eastern Promise podcast or to listen to our entire back catalogue, visit us here.
Eastern promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.

Wednesday Jul 02, 2025
Episode 137: The Royal Norfolk Show 2025
Wednesday Jul 02, 2025
Wednesday Jul 02, 2025
This week: It's the Royal Norfolk Show 2025! What more needs be said?
Only that regular host Mike Rigby is again joined by show co-host Dr Penny Hundleby of the John Innes Centre to tour the avenues and boulevards and winkle out the best bits for our Eastern Promise podcast audience! Thank you Penny and everyone who gave a clip for this show.
We'll talk education, tech, business, food, renewable energy, agri-tech, science, TOOTH FARIES and at least one bishop, (who of course left the podcast diagonally...)
Check out the chapter markers and be guided to your content of choice!
For the entire back catalogue of the Eastern Promise podcast, and to contact us directly, visit our website here.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.

Friday Jun 20, 2025
Episode 136: King's Lynn Festival & On Set with 'Chicken Town'
Friday Jun 20, 2025
Friday Jun 20, 2025
This Week: It's arts and culture a-go-go, as first we travel to King's Lynn to chat with Anna Pool, Festival Manager for the King's Lynn Festival, about the exciting programme of classical music concerts, talks and tours!
Then, we go behind the camera and 'on set' of the new Norfolk-set comedy crime caper 'Chicken Town' with Producer Tom Wood and Director Richard Bracewell!
The East of England is a cultural juggernaut and this proves it!
To find out more about the King's Lynn Festival and to book tickets, click here.
For more details about chicken Town, click here (NUA)
To listen to the FULL Eastern Promise back catalog, or to contact the show, click here.
Eastern Promise is proud to be sponsored by Mills & Reeve.
![Episode 135: 'Choose Your Own [Cambridge] Adventure' - CWOW 2025](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog12817790/Episode_1359cl2z_300x300.png)
Friday Jun 20, 2025
Episode 135: 'Choose Your Own [Cambridge] Adventure' - CWOW 2025
Friday Jun 20, 2025
Friday Jun 20, 2025
This Week: You can now hear Mike Rigby's unabridged, unedited and unplugged talk at Cambridge Wide Open Week, delivered beside the beautiful River Cam at Cambridge Wide Open Week!
For more on Cambridge Wide Open Week click here.
To listen to the FULL Eastern Promise back catalog, or to contact the show, click here.
Eastern Promise is proud to be sponsored by Mills & Reeve.

Friday Jun 13, 2025
Episode 134: Cambridge Innovation Capital
Friday Jun 13, 2025
Friday Jun 13, 2025
This Week: Does the investor make the ecosystem, or does the ecosystem shape the investor? That's the question our expert guests will be answering, amongst others, as we dive headlong into the swirling waters of venture capital,with two of our region's foremost experts as our guides!
Cambridge Innovation Capital is a trusted brand; the University of Cambridge's preferred partner when it comes to investment and your host, Mike Rigby, sat down with CIC Managing Partner, Andrew Williamson and fellow partner - and returning guest - Michael Anstey to find out more.
For more information on Cambridge Innovation Capital, click here.
For the FULL Eastern Promise back catalog, and to send us a message through our contact form, visit the Eastern Promise website here.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.

Thursday Jun 05, 2025
Episode 133: Norwich BID's City Centre Manifesto
Thursday Jun 05, 2025
Thursday Jun 05, 2025
This Week: We talk to Executive Director of the Norwich Business Improvement District (BID), Stefan Gurney, and Norwich BID board member, Joe Faulkner, about the BID's City Centre Manifesto for the ancient and venerable city of Norwich.
We'll learn what prompted this document; what is its intent, and how it seeks to marry the desirable with the achievable.
Norwich is unlike any city in the UK; to use a cliché, it's small but punching well above its weight. No wonder the Norwich BID are seeking to declare the City of Stories the Capital of the East!
And if other cities in our region may wish to debate that claim, a good-humoured discussion laced with friendly rivalry about why our places are awesome can be A. Good. Thing.
Read the Norwich City Centre manifesto here.
You can listen to our podcast back catalog, as well as contacting Eastern Promise, here.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.

Wednesday May 28, 2025
Episode 132: UKREiiF Day 2 Highlights
Wednesday May 28, 2025
Wednesday May 28, 2025
This week: It's our second slice of UKREiiF 2025 and this time, we've got AN HOUR of highlights from Team Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, from the Oxford-Cambridge Supercluster pavilion, the Invest Suffolk stand and an exclusive chat with newly elected Mayor of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, Paul Bristow.
This show has everything: Cross-country coll.aboration between Cambridge & Manchester! Trains, planes and automobiles! Unicorns! And did I say UNICORNS!?!
If you're wondering why it's so long, then I have good news; You're lucky it's as short as it is! What a way to celebrate the East of England's barnstorming turn at the UK's most important property. investment and infrastructure show.
My thanks in particular to the Suffolk Economy team, Dr Andy Williams, Norfolk & Suffolk Unlimited, Team Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, Team BA and Infrastructure Matters for making the Eastern Promise trip to Leeds so memorable and worthwhile. Normal service resumes next week!
For more information, including our back catalog and contact form, visit the Eastern Promise website. Alternatively, drop us a line at podcast@easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve. 1

Wednesday May 21, 2025
Episode 131: Yesterday@UKREiiF 2025(Day 1)
Wednesday May 21, 2025
Wednesday May 21, 2025
Today: Mike Rigby brings you the happenings and highlights from the East of England's events at the UK Real Estate, Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) recorded at the Royal Arnouries and put together overnight to make sure YOU can find out what's occuring. Mike talks to Rebecca Britton of Urban & Civic, Beth Dugdale of the Cambridge Growth Company, Steve Beel of Freeport East, Eman Martin-Vingerte of Bosch UK, and Judith Baker of the Cambs and Peterborough Combined Authority.
PLUS! Hear Suffolk Business Board Chair Mark Pendlington, Chair of the Cambridge Growth Company Peter Freeman, Jo Cassidy from Arup, and Rob Carter of R G Carter speaking in their various events, captured thanks to some really nice AV guys! Join me tomorrow for my final day in Leeds...
Eastern Promise is proud to be sponsored by Mills & Reeve.

Welcome to Eastern Promise
Eastern Promise is the podcast that explores the full potential of the East of England. We showcase that potential, celebrate it and share it with you, our listener.
From architecture to zoology, your host Mike Rigby takes you on a tour of the region, finding out things you din't know you didn't know and surprising you as to the scale of fantastic stuff that's happening under our noses.
Photo, left: Mike and Engineer 49 record a Plug Board episode at the boardroom at the EpiCentre in Haverhill, Suffolk.