Eastern Promise - The Podcast

This week: You join us for Part One of a mammoth two-part roundtable, taking in the UKRI-funded institutes and partners on the Norwich Research Park.  In this opening episode, your host Mike Rigby finds out more about the all-new Innovation Zone at this year's Royal Norfolk Show.  Joining us are:
Dr Matt Gilmour of the Quadram Institute: https://quadram.ac.uk/
Dr Agnieszka Witek of The Sainsbury Laboratory: https://www.tsl.ac.uk/
Dr Diego Duratini of The John Innes Centre: https://www.jic.ac.uk/
Doctoral candidate Jade van Wijk of the Earlham Institute: https://www.earlham.ac.uk/
Dr Sue Coleman of the University of East Anglia: https://www.uea.ac.uk/ and
Scott Cogman of Connected Innovation: https://connectedinnovation.co.uk/
The Royal Norfolk Show is the UK's largest two-day agricultural festival; very much Norfolk's shop window, pulling in tens of thousands of visitors each year.  That being so, finding out what the city's tight-knit scientific community can offer in the landmark innovation zone is very important.  And frankly, it sounds amazing!
The show is on until Thursday 25 June 2026 and you can buy your tickets here: https://royalnorfolkshow.co.uk/tickets/
You can listen to the Eastern Promise back catalogue and contact the show at: https://easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is made in The Podding Shed in proud association with Mills & Reeve. 
 
 

This episode is about one of the biggest barriers to growth in the East of England — skills.
We're at the University of Cambridge’s Bennett School of Public Policy with a region-wide panel of experts from education, business and industry. We’re unpacking this recent report from the Bennett School that asks a vital question:
In a region with high employment, why do so many employers still struggle to find the skills they need — and so many young people still struggle to find clear pathways into good work?
We're also blessed with an amazing panel:
Gwen Bergius, Head of Business Development at Form the Future;
Charlotte Horobin, Chief Executive of the Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce; 
Suzanne Allen, Skills for Energy manager from the East of England Energy Group; and
Burcu Selvi, Researcher at the Bennett School of Public Policy. 
In this conversation, we go beyond the headlines to explore why skills policy can’t be separated from transport, housing and access; how SMEs can engage with the system; and what it really takes to build pathways into work, not just qualifications.  
Because this episode isn’t just about training.  It’s about opportunity — and what needs to happen so that young people across the East of England can actually reach it, and employers have the skills staff they need.
PLUS!  East of England hotelier and hospitality industry stalwart Gez Chetal shares his Eastern Insight, principally his work through Prismstart creating employment pathways for ex-offenders and vulnerable people.   
For more information on Eastern Promise, to listen to our back catalogue, and to contact us, visit https://easternpromise.org.uk.  
Eastern Promise is made in The Podding Shed and is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
 

This Week: We join the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR) at the Norfolk Showground and Events Centre for the 2026 Southern North Sea conference.  It's the second day of this two-day event, and you get to come along as we visit stands in the exhibition hall, chatting to EEEGR members and luminaries.  These include Opergy CEO and member of the Suffolk Business Board, Johnathan Reynolds; Lowestoft Port Manager Tom Duit of Associated British Ports; Lillian Morter of Jarrold Training; ECITB scholar Luna Wilson; Dr Amy Kingston of Tide Medical; Richard Sheppard of SEEL;  Mark Walker of Norfolk County Council and an opening thought from Bill Cattenach OBE of the North Sea Transition Authority. 
Then, we get the closing thoughts of the Chair of EEEGR, Kevin Keable on a fantastic two-day event where the Energy Minister Michael Shanks MP addressed the conference on the opening day.  If you were ever in any doubt that the East of England has a uniquely diverse energy ecosystem, this should put the issue beyond doubt. 
Plus, we bring you our always-electrifying ACTION POINTS!  No offence to Michael Shanks, but we want Energy Secretary Ed Miliband next year for SNS2027!       
For more on the East of England Energy Group, visit: https://eeegr.com/.
To learn more about Eastern Promise, to contact us and to listen to our podcast back catalogue, visit: https://easternpromise.org.uk.
This episode was made in The Podding Shed in partnership with Mills & Reeve.   

This week: We're at the Norwich University of the Arts to discuss their recent report -'Beyond Entertainment' - on powering up the East of England's cutting-edge gaming industry.  
Your host Mike Rigby is joined by Professor Mark Wickham, lead gaming lecturer and an advisor to TIGA, the Independent Games Association.  Also on the panel for this wide-ranging discussion is Rebecca Cockerill, employment lawyer and Women In Tech specialist from our friends and partners at Mills & Reeve; and Robin Milton - founder of Fairer Games, lecturer and member of the Norfolk Business Board.    
Join us as we dig into the conclusions and recommendations and enjoy a wide-ranging discussion.  The read the report yourself, click here: https://norwichuni.ac.uk/app/uploads/2025/11/Beyond-Entertainment-Report-Norwich-University-of-the-Arts.pdf
For more information on Eastern Promise, to listen to our back catalogue, or to contact us, visit https://easternpromise.org.uk.
The Eastern Promise podcast episode #171 was made in The Podding Shed in proud association with Mills & Reeve.
 

The second day of the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum 2026 (aka #UKREiiF) was, contrary to expectations, packed with awesome, timely, and thought provoking panels and the opportunity to chat to key figures from the East of England and beyond. That's why our Day Two round-up is a MONSTER!
What's that?  You want examples?  Very well, try this on for size...
Lowestoft MP Jess Asato chairing the 'Coastal Communities Rising' panel;
Dr Andy Williams, Chair of the Oxford Cambridge Supercluster Board;
Leader of Peterborough City Council, Dr Shabina Qayyum;
Sandra Dineen, Chair of Bullen Group;
Matt Francis, Head of Science and Technology at Oxford Innovation Space;
Prashant Shah, Co-Founder of O2H Group & Cambridge Wide Open Week;
AI avatar 'Penny' and Dominik Vagner, both of 1956 Individuals;
Shiv Malik, CEO of ACDC;
Phil Harker, Technical Director at The Cambridge Growth Company;
Peter Cushing, Light Rail Commissioner for the Cambs & Peterborough Combined Authority;
Jane Hutchins, Director of the Cambridge Science Park; and 
Mike Rigby, CEO & Executive Producer at Eastern Promise!
Plus!  One very extra-special guest: Science Minister Lord Patrick Valance!  
It's an incredible feast for the senses - primarily, the hearing - where the East of England is showing the world of what it's made!  
Thank you to everyone at the Cambridge Growth Company, the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, the Oxford & Cambridge Growth Corridor and Norfolk & Suffolk Unlimited for their warm welcome and technical cooperation. 
For more information, to listen to our back catalogue and to contact us, visit: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This episode of Eastern Promise was made in The Podding Shed in proud association with Mills & Reeve, and in partnership with The Cambridge Growth Company.

This week: Eastern Promise is at UKREiiF 2026 at the Royal Armouries in Leeds, bringing you the best of the East of England here at the show!   
We begin in the Norfolk & Suffolk pavilion with key members of both counties' Business Boards, before hotfooting it to the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor to hear from Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook, alongside Chair of the Oxford Cambridge Supercluster Board, Dr Andy Williams, Mayor of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority Paul Bristow, Executive Director of Innovate Cambridge, Kathryn Chapman, and Chair of the Cambridge Growth Company, Peter Freeman.  
With the recent announcements of the opening date of Cambridge South Station, and a £3 billion pound expansion of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, small wonder that the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority’s pavilion was heaving as the Next Generation of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus came under the spotlight.  Paul Weston, Regional Head of panel sponsor Prologis UK, who previewed this event on last week’s episode, shares his key takeaways.
Finally for this Day 1 roundup, we drop in on Cambridge x Manchester Partnership Director, Faye Holland, to find out the latest about this mould-breaking collaboration that's pulling in interest from across the UK and beyond.
Due to the lack of cloning technology or a time machine, we couldn't make it to all the East of England's events, such as the Invest East prospectus launch.  However, you can find said document here: Invest-East_Investment-Prospectus_May-2026
We'll be back with the highlights of Day 2 tomorrow, there's so much more to come!
Eastern Promise wishes to thank the Cambridge Growth Company for their invaluable assistance in recording this episode.
For more information on Eastern Promise, including ways you can contact us and to listen to our back catalogue, visit: https://easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is made with love in The Podding Shed in proud association with Mills & Reeve.

This week: The Eastern Promise podcast is your guide to the week ahead in Leeds for #UKREiiF 2026!
Host Mike Rigby chats to three key players in the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority's (CPCA) programme for the UK's Real Estate, Investment and Infrastructure Forum:
Martin Woodhouse, Co-Founder and Director at PRD;
Adrian Davey, Interim Strategic Director for Growth and Regeneration at Peterborough City Council; and
Paul Weston,Regional Head of Prologis UK.
Each organisation a sponsor of the CPCA pavilion, and each of our guests will profile their organisation, share their aspirations for next week and also some much needed tips and advice for showgoers old and new!  
And don't forget next week, when we'll be coming to you from the Royal Armouries in Leeds for our legendary 'Yesterday at UKREiiF' episodes!
For more information on our guests and their projects, these be the links you need:
The UKREiiF website & 2026 Programme.
PRD: https://prdweb.co.uk/ 
Peterborough City Council's Regeneration page: https://www.peterborough.gov.uk/council/planning-and-development/regeneration
Discover Peterborough: https://discoverpeterborough.co.uk/
Prologis: https://www.prologis.co.uk/
The CPCA website: https://cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk/
Eastern Promise wishes to thank the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority for their assistance with this episode.
Don't forget, you can find our back catalogue, including our coverage of UKREiiF's past, on your podcast provider or on our website, where you can also contact us: https://easternpromise.org.uk 
Eastern Promise is lovingly made in The Podding Shed in association with Mills & Reeve. 

This week: It's a privilege for Eastern Promise to bring you our visit to the Babraham Research Campus to the south of Cambridge, at the invitation of Chief Scientific and Innovation Officer, Dr Louise Jopling!   
Our own Mike Rigby, will be chatting to Lou about innovation the Babraham way, looking at the Babraham Masterplan and the future of the campus - not to mention the big role housing is playing in that vision.  
Lou will also be showing Mike around the grounds, looking at the buildings and why green space is so important to those working on the Babraham Research Campus.  Don't miss it! 
For more information on the future plans for the Babraham Research Campus, click here: 
https://www.babraham.com/masterplan/
For more detail on Live Labs, click here: https://www.babraham.com/livelabs/
For more on the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Local Growth Plan, click here: https://cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/C221033-CPCA-Local-Growth-Plan-Stage-7_v21_Acc.pdf
For more information on Eastern Promise, to contact us, or to listen to our FULL back catalogue, click here: https://easternpromise.org.uk
Eastern Promise is made with love in The Podding Shed in association with Mills & Reeve.
 

This Week: We take you inside Aviva's iconic Marble Hall, where the Norwich Financial Industry Group (FIG) is meeting for its 2026 Annual Conference. 
This year's theme is 'People': an especially prescient theme as the AI revolution gathers pace.  Host Mike Rigby talks to keynote speakers Gautam Hazari, Chief Product and Innovation Officer at XConnect, and Professor Amir Sharif of the Norwich Business School at the University of East Anglia.
We hear what the delegates made of the event, including Turning Factor's Brian Bush and East Norfolk Sixth Form College students Charlie Willis and Sonny Moughton, not to mention college principal Dr Catherine Richards!  
Finally we hear from Norwich FIG Chair Steve Davidson on a fantastic evening, and Holly Bamford of Work In Norwich (WiN) about their crucial survey for the Norwich Business Improvement District.  And don't forget our three irresistible Action Points!
The Norwich financial sector is a case study in quiet excellence and a pleasure to turn up the volume yet further.
You can find the Work In Norwich survey here: https://www.workinnorwich.co.uk/win-fig-survey/.
Visit the Norwich FIG website here: https://fignorwich.org/.
To find out more about Eastern Promise, to use our contact form, or listen to our back catalogue, visit: https://easternpromise.org.uk.
The Eastern Promise podcast is made in The Podding Shed in proud association with Mills & Reeve.
 

This week: Eastern Promise's own Mike Rigby heads for Barnwell Road, on Cambridge's Abbey estate, where hyperlocal charity, Abbey People, are working incredibly hard to help residents move from surviving to thriving.
Mike joins Chief Executive Nicky Shepard and her team - Food Hub Coordinator Rachel and Comms guru Gemma, amongst many others - to chat about the work Abbey People do at The Hub on Barnwell Road, all whilst the Community Cafe buzzes away in the background. 
Then, they get out into a rainy Cambridge afternoon to walk to the pocket parks and new verges created by Abbey People, before visiting the Community Food Hub and Social Supermarket.  You can find out more about Abbey People, including how to donate to this hyperlocal charity, here: https://abbeypeople.org.uk/
All this, plus this week's 'Eastern Insight' also comes from Abbey People in their own words!  We hear more about Abbey People's Barnwell Basket campaign, aiming to ensure everyone in the community can have access to nourishing food.
For more information about the Barnwell Basket, visit the Abbey People website here and Boost the Basket: https://abbeypeople.org.uk/barnwell-basket-campaign/.
To deliver the 'Eastern Insight', and share your thought leadership with the region, contact Eastern Promise at podcast@easternpromise.org.uk.  A single slot costs £75 and a block of six across the year costs £350.  The slots are free to charities and non-profits. 
To listen to the Eastern Promise back catalogue, and to find out more about what we do, visit: https://easternpromise.org.uk.
The Eastern Promise podcast is made in The Podding Shed and is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.