Eastern Promise - The Podcast

Episode 126: Prashant Shah (O2H Group & Cambridge Wide Open Week)

This Week: Mike Rigby chats with Prashant Shah, co-founder of both the O2H Group, which seeds new ideas in science, technology and green innovation, and the amazing extrava-palooza that is Cambridge Wide Open Week! (do peruse the links below for more info).  
Prashant tells us about his introduction to the Cambridge ecosystem through his father, what makes him such a strong advocate for the city and its entrepreneurs, the story behind the iconic Hauxton Mill, where O2H Group has its UK headquarters and the venue for the unique house-party that draws the Cambridge Wide Open festivities to a close.  It was a pleasure to chat with him.
For more information on O2H Group and Cambridge Wide Open Week, click on the relevant link.
Find out more about Eastern Promise, listen top our back catalogue and contact us, visit: https://easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.

Episode 125: Helping SMEs in the East of England win Govt. contracts

This Week: Eastern Promise has assembled a mighty armada of experts to weigh in on the not-so-small matter of how the East of England's SMEs can WIN more business from across the public sector!  
Coming to you from the Norwich offices of The Crown Commercial Service, the CCS' Deputy Director of Cloud Neal Smith joins our own Mike Rigby, along with Tim Robinson of Tech East, Jack Weaver of the Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, Candy Richards of the Federation of Small Businesses and Greg Gibson of our very good friends (and sponsors!) Mills & Reeve.  We discuss the opportunities to be had, the role tech firms in particular can play, and some of the ways SMEs can outmanoeuvre the big boys & girls!
Click here for more information on the Central Digital Platform and the Crown Commercial Service.
You can also click on the links for the following Chambers of Commerce:  
Chambers East
Bedfordshire
Cambridgeshire
Essex
Hertfordshire
Norfolk
Suffolk
You can also find out more at:
The Federation of Small Businesses
Tech East
To find out more about Eastern Promise, listen to our back catalog, or to contact us, visit: https://easternpromise.org.uk. 
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.

Episode 124: Peter Freeman (Chair, Homes England & Cambridge Delivery Group)

This Week: It's a long-awaited interview for Eastern Promise, as we sit down with Chair of the Cambridge Delivery Group and former Chair of Homes England, Peter Freeman.
Mike Rigby chats with Peter his background, how he approached his role, his philosophy of development, new towns vs. urban extensions and get his tips on how your favourite East of England-focused podcast can help.  We're truly grateful to Peter for his time. 
You can find out more about Homes England and the Cambridge Delivery Group here.  You can also read The Case for Cambridge document produced by the previous Government.
You can contact Eastern Promise by emailing podcast@easternpromise.org.uk or by visiting https://easternpromise.org.uk and clicking on the contact link.  
Eastern Promise is truly proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve. 

Episode 123: Microencapsulation Collaboration! Xampla & The Quadram Institute

This Week: We delve into the microencapsulation collaboration between Cambridge-based materials innovator Xampla and Norwich Research Park's titan of digestive health, The Quadram Institute!
These two centres of excellence have come together to ensure that the probiotics we take for better digestive health can actually be packed, shipped to your local supermarket, stored at home and then consumed with minimal loss in quality - always tricky when you're dealing with live cultures!  Until now, what a probiotic says 'on the tin' may not match what ends up in your gut.  
Xampla nutritionist Hannah Pearse, Quadram Institute group leader, Prof. Arjan Narbad and QIB Head of External Relations Andrew Stronach are on hand to tell us more.  You'll never look at yoghurt health drinks, dishwasher tablets, or takeout pizzas in the same way again!
To find out more about Xampla and The Quadram Institute, click the relevant links, and here are links to BBSRC and Innovate UK for good measure!
To listen to more episodes from the Eastern Promise podcast's back catalog, to contact the show, or to find out more about what we do, click here.  Or, you can contact us at podcast@easternpromise.org.uk.  
The Eastern Promise Podcast is produced in The Podding Shed for the Eastern Promise Community Interest Company, in proud association with Mills & Reeve.    
 

Episode 122: Innovate Cambridge w. Kathryn Chapman & Michael Anstey

This Week: Eastern Promise takes a look at the exciting, inclusive and growing dynamo that is Innovate Cambridge!
Recorded at their HQ, The Glasshouse, in Botanic House on Hills Road in the city, Dr Kathryn Chapman, Executive Director, and Board Member Michael Anstey, chat with host of the Eastern Promise podcast, Mike Rigby, about the progress Innovate Cambridge has made thus far, the vision behind the initiative and more, including the Cambridge X Manchester partnership (of particular interest to our Mancunian Exec Producer!)  
But that's not all!  We take a meander around The Glasshouse with Innovate Cambridge's Ana Lucia Buckman, taking in the decor and finding out the thinking and feel behind the warm, welcoming design of this facility.
You can find out more about becoming a member of Innovate Cambridge by clicking here.
You can contact Eastern Promise at: podcast@easternpromise.org.uk or by visiting easternpromise.org.uk, where you can also hear previous episodes of the podcast...
Eastern Promise is proud to be sponsored by Mills & Reeve. 

CROWDSOURCERY! Hopes for 2025 & Your Questions Answered!

This Week: Yes! Deferred is not denied and postponed is not prevented, 'coz CrowdSourcery is back to work its magic once again! 
This time, we're looking at your hopes and dreams for 2025, with health, wealth and happiness featuring on your lists, in no particular order.  
BUT THAT'S NOT ALL...By no means, for CEO of Eastern Promise and Executive Producer of this Podcast answers YOUR questions, including: funniest guest, most moving story, impediments to progress, getting the East of England noticed!  His favourite coffee shops!  Mike answers them all... Thank you to everyone who sent in a question(s)!
To contact CrowdSourcery and/or Eastern Promise, you can email: crowdsourcery@easternpromise.org.uk or podcast@easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve. 

Episode 121: ARU Peterborough

This Week: ARU Peterborough is the East of England's newest higher education provider, created for a specific set of socio-economic purposes by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, Peterborough City Council and Anglia Ruskin University.
ARU Peterborough is addressing the skills shortage that threatens an otherwise strongly performing economy, limiting local firms and giving incoming businesses pause.  
Host and Executive Producer Mike Rigby is joined by the inaugural (and current) Principal, Professor Ross Renton, and Chair of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Business Board, Al Kingsley MBE, to discuss the genesis of the campus, the awards for social mobility, its importance to the region and its steps towards becoming a standalone institution in 2023.
You can contact the Eastern Promise podcast team by emailing: podcast@easternrpomise.org.uk.
For more information on ARU Peterborough, click here.
To hear other episodes of the Eastern Promise podcast, click here.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.

Episode 120: Cambs & Peterborough in Parliament PLUS Brecks-Cambridge Housing Roundtable (Part 2)

This Week: You join me in the Mother of Parliaments as a guest of Andrew Pakes, MP for Peterborough; North West Cambridgeshire MP Sam Carling; and the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority and Mayor Dr Nik Johnson.  
I chat with Nik about the message behind the event; that Cambridgeshire and Peterborough stand ready to provide the growth that the UK needs.  We also discuss his role as the East of England's ONLY metro mayor and we hear comments to the assembled from Local Growth Minister Alex Morris MP.  But that's not even half of what this episode has for you...
We bring you part two of our panel on 'How the Brecks can Support the Growth of Cambridge', looking specifically at housing, community and placemaking.  
The Brecks area of Norfolk straddles the A11 and Cambridge railway line, and sits roughly equidistant between Cambridge and Norwich.  
How the area might relieve the housing pressure on Cambridge for he benefit of all, and do so in a carefully created community is discussed by an all-star panel.  
Joining host Mike Rigby from Breckland Council are Councillor Sarah Suggitt, Cabinet Member for housing and planning at along with Strategic Growth Manager Stephen Scowen.  From Thetford Town Council we have independent Deputy Mayor Carla Barreto; Community engagement expert and CEO of Socially Adept, Esmee Wilcox; Feilden and Mawson architect and champion of arboreal living Matt Wood; and Mills & Reeve’s own, Stewardship and development specialist Anna Aldous.
 
You can hear the first part of the roundtable here: https://easternpromise.podbean.com/e/episode-120-cambs-peterborough-in-parliament-plus-brecks-cambridge-housing-roundtable-part-2/
 
For more information on the New Town 'sandbox', email podcast@easternpromise.org.uk, putting 'sandbox' in the subject line.
Find out more about Breckland Council's growth and development plans here.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
For more information, and to hear all previous editions of the podcast, visit easternpromise.org.uk.  

Episode 119: How the Brecks can Support the Housing Needs of Cambridge (Part 1)

This Week: We return to our series on 'How the Brecks can Support the Growth of Cambridge'.  
The Brecks area of Norfolk straddles the A11 and Cambridge railway line, and sits roughly equidistant between Cambridge and Norwich.  
How the area might relieve the housing pressure on Cambridge for he benefit of all, and do so in a carefully created community is discussed by an all-star panel.  
Joining host Mike Rigby from Breckland Council are Councillor Sarah Suggitt, Cabinet Member for housing and planning at along with Strategic Growth Manager Stephen Scowen.  From Thetford Town Council we have independent Deputy Mayor Carla Barreto; Community engagement expert and CEO of Socially Adept, Esmee Wilcox; Feilden and Mawson architect and champion of arboreal living Matt Wood; and Mills & Reeve’s own, Stewardship and development specialist Anna Aldous.
For more information on the New Town 'sandbox', email podcast@easternpromise.org.uk, putting 'sandbox' in the subject line.
Find out more about Breckland Council's growth and development plans here.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
For more information, and to hear all previous editions of the podcast, visit easternpromise.org.uk.  

Episode 118: The CPCA Social Impact Investment Fund

This Week: We look at the £2.4m of fresh support for social enterprises in the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) area, bridging the gap between those organisations looking to put people and place before profit and traditional forms of finance.  
Chair of the CPCA Business Board, Al Kingsley MBE, Gary Parker of the FSE Group, and Iain Crighton MBE FIMI of Allia join your host, Mike Rigby, in Huntingdon to hear stories of social enterprises being supported and the nuts & bolts of how the scheme works in practice.  
For more details, visit:
https://cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk/what-we-deliver/business/business-growth-service/ (Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority); 
https://futurebusinesscentre.co.uk/programmes/cpca-social-impact-investment-fund/ (Allia)
https://www.thefsegroup.com/fund/cpca-business-growth-and-social-impact-investment-fund (The FSE Group).
You can contact Eastern Promise by visiting our website or emailing podcast@easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.