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 Oct 26, 2023
Episode 79: Claudia Roberts & the Zoological Society of East Anglia
Thursday Oct 26, 2023
Thursday Oct 26, 2023
On this week's Really Wild Show, my guest is Claudia Roberts, CEO of the Zoological Society of East Anglia, recorded in a meeting room beside the Gelada Baboon enclosure at Banham Zoological Gardens! I talk to Claudia about her initial training as an opera singer, before working in retail and becoming what she calls an 'accidental' CEO, just as the pandemic struck. We'll also talk about the ZSEA's work to safeguard threatened species native to the UK, as well as the ZSEA's future plans.
And finally...what do YOU do when hunger strikes? Find out hwere to grab lunch in the go in this week's CROWDSOURCERY...
Eastern Promise is produced in the East of England in proud association with Mills & Reeve.
Find out more at https://easternpromise.org.uk

Friday Oct 20, 2023
CROWDSOURCERY! Events Space...
Friday Oct 20, 2023
Friday Oct 20, 2023
This Week: We learn about your top choices for events space in another CROWDSOURCERY...!
Find out more at: https//:easternpromise.org.uk
Eastern Promise is a Priors Croft production in proud association with Mills & Reeve: https://www.mills-reeve.com/

Friday Oct 20, 2023
Episode 78: Finding Top Talent with Joe Graziano
Friday Oct 20, 2023
Friday Oct 20, 2023
This Week: We check in with Growth EQ founder Joe Graziano to chat about how to find top-drawer talent for the IP-rich tech sector. We also learn about your top choices for events space in another CROWDSOURCERY...!
Find out more at: https//:easternpromise.org.uk
Eastern Promise is a Priors Croft production in proud association with Mills & Reeve: https://www.mills-reeve.com/

Thursday Sep 28, 2023
CROWDSOURCERY! Meeting Over Coffee...
Thursday Sep 28, 2023
Thursday Sep 28, 2023
Where do YOU meet your contacts for coffee and cake, eh? Stand by for recommendations aplenty in another CROWDSOURCERY!
Eastern Promise is brought to you in association with Mills & Reeve.
Find out more at: https://easternpromise.org.uk

Thursday Sep 28, 2023
The Quadram Institute FULL TOUR with Dr Tammy Dougan & Andrew Stronach
Thursday Sep 28, 2023
Thursday Sep 28, 2023
This Week: Eastern Promise rolls onto the Norwich Research Park to visit the Quadram Institute and chat to its Director, Professor Ian Charles OBE. Not only that, but I'm joined by Dr Tammy Dougan, Life Science and Healthcare Partnerships Lead for the University of Cambridge. This is the FULL LENGTH version of the tour.
Eastern Promise is brought to you in association with Mills & Reeve.
Find out more at: https://easternpromise.org.uk

Thursday Sep 28, 2023
The EP Interview: Prof. Ian Charles OBE, Director of the Quadram Institute
Thursday Sep 28, 2023
Thursday Sep 28, 2023
This Week: Eastern Promise rolls onto the Norwich Research Park to visit the Quadram Institute and chat to its Director, Professor Ian Charles OBE. Not only that, but I'm joined by Dr Tammy Dougan, Life Science and Healthcare Partnerships Lead for the University of Cambridge. This is the FULL LENGTH version of the interview.
Eastern Promise is brought to you in association with Mills & Reeve.
Find out more at: https://easternpromise.org.uk

Thursday Sep 28, 2023
Episode 77: Prof. Ian Charles OBE & The Quadram Institute
Thursday Sep 28, 2023
Thursday Sep 28, 2023
This Week: Eastern Promise rolls onto the Norwich Research Park to visit the Quadram Institute and chat to its Director, Professor Ian Charles OBE. Not only that, but I'm joined by Dr Tammy Dougan, Life Science and Healthcare Partnerships Lead for the University of Cambridge, who joins the QI's Head of Public Affairs, Andrew Stronach, for a tour of the Institute.
Both the tour and the interview with Professor Charles are abridged in this 'omnibus' edition but can be found in full on the Eastern Promise podcast feed.
And finally! Where do YOU meet your contacts for coffee and cake, eh? Stand by for recommendations aplenty in another CROWDSOURCERY!
Eastern Promise is brought to you in association with Mills & Reeve.
Find out more at: https://easternpromise.org.uk

Monday Sep 25, 2023
Panel 2: How Norfolk can grasp the opportunities in Cambridge’s growth
Monday Sep 25, 2023
Monday Sep 25, 2023
In this second panel, we examine what tools and actions will empower this Breckland slice of the Cambridge-Norwich Tech Corridor - from Attleborough, through Snetterton and down to Thetford - to collaborate with, and empower the growth of, the ever-dynamic city of Cambridge.
To discuss this, Bidwells Partner and Ox-Cam Arc Lead, Rob Hopwood, Director of Snetterton Business Park Paul Downing, Mills & Reeve Real Estate lawyer Anna Aldous and Norfolk County Council's Director of Growth and Investment, Chris Starkie join Mike Rigby at Breckland Council's Dereham HQ.
And finally: to market, to market! We look at your favourite street markets to find out what's fresh and hot today!
Eastern Promise is brought to you in association with Mills & Reeve.
https://easternpromise.site.

Monday Sep 25, 2023
Panel 1: What Cambridge needs and Norfolk’s Opportunity
Monday Sep 25, 2023
Monday Sep 25, 2023
On our first panel of an ongoing series, we look at the capability of a slice of Norfolk's southernmost geography on the Cambridge-Norwich Tech Corridor, from Attleborough, through Snetterton and down to Thetford, to bring their direct road and rail links to Cambridge, ample space, first-class quality of life and more to collaborate with, and empower the growth of, the ever-dynamic city of Cambridge.
To discuss this, Mike talks with Breckland Council Deputy Leader Sarah Suggitt, Bidwells Partner and Ox-Cam Arc Lead, Rob Hopwood, Matt Samways of real-estate firm Inuti, and Norfolk County Council's Director of Growth and Investment, Chris Starkie.
Eastern Promise is brought to you in association with Mills & Reeve.
https://easternpromise.site.

Thursday Sep 21, 2023
CROWDSOURCERY! Markets...
Thursday Sep 21, 2023
Thursday Sep 21, 2023
This Week: To market, to market! We look at your favourite street markets to find out what's fresh and hot today!
Eastern Promise is brought to you in association with Mills & Reeve.
https://easternpromise.site.

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.