Eastern Promise - The Podcast: Recent Episodes
Mike Rigby
‘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 ‘Challenge: Anglia‘: where Mike reads out your answers to the lukewarm question of the hour...
You can contact Mike at host@easternpromise.site.
This week: With the Summer holidays upon us, what better time to explore Watatunga Wildlife Reserve in the company of Reserve Operations Manager, Molly Ruder!
Join Molly and your host, Mike Rigby, as they head into Watatunga's 170 acres of breathtaking woodland, grassland and lakes - a stunning recreation of the natural habitat of the endangered deer and antelope from across Africa and Asia that now reside just south of Kings Lynn.
You'll hear about the Watatunga ethos of animal care, the inspiration behind the park and learn about some of the furred and feathered characters that call the park home, not least Water Buffaloes Rocket and Slice, and Hattie the Eurasian Crane.
Why not give Watatunga a try for a Summer Safari? You can find out more at: https://watatunga.co.uk/
For more information about Eastern Promise, to listen to our back catalogue or to contact us, visit: https://easternpromise.org.uk.
The Eastern Promise podcast was made in The Podding Shed in partnership with Mills & Reeve: https://mills-reeve.com.
This Week: I'm chatting to journalist-turned-visionary Shiv Malik, as Eastern Promise takes a look at Forest City 1.
It's an exciting scheme that's certainly turning heads, as well as both asking big questions about how we want to live our lives in the future, and providing one possible answer.
The scheme, which has attracted some controversy(!), proposes that a city be built between Newmarket and Haverhill, at a scale that allows it to be infrastructure first and with a vision of municipal life last seen in the Garden City movement.
Eastern Promise host Mike Rigby met with Shiv at the National Trust's Hatfield Forest in Essex to discuss how the vision for Forest City 1 originated, what the proposal actually entails, and what the scheme might deliver for the region beyond its bounds.
It's a fascinating insight into a bold proposal.
To find out more about Forest City 1 click here: https://www.forestcity.uk/.
To find out more about Eastern Promise, to contact us and to listen to our back catalogue, visit our website here: https://easternpromise.org.uk.
This week: Welcome you to the brickmakers' city, which sits across the main arteries of communication for all four points of the compass! This is the Beginner's Guide to PETERBOROUGH!
Our panel of local and sector specialists are:
ARU Peterborough's Assistant Principal (PFHEA) Professor Tom Williamson;
Multi-hat wearing local champion Al Kingsley MBE;
MD of Cap Air Systems, board member and advanced manufacturing advocate Katy Davies; and
Engagement Manager at the Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce and Trustee of Peterborough Cathedral Connor Butler.
Together, the panel identify the heart and soul of Peterborough, the engines of growth and innovation in the city, and their hopes for the coming years as exciting projects are rolled out and the Mayoral Development Corporation gathers pace.
And, speaking of the Mayor of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, Paul Bristow, he and Leader of Peterborough City Council, Cllr Dr. Shabina Quayyum open this episode by underlining the potential of Peterborough, as well as some inspired dining recommendations!
But there's more love for Peterborough in another Eastern Insight from resident of the city and regional hotelier Gez Chetal!
It's all in Peterborough so listen in and then get going!
You can find out more about Eastern Promise, listen to our back catalogue or contact us by visiting: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This episode of Eastern Promise was made in The Podding Shed in partnership with Mills & Reeve: Achieving more, together.
From the sun-kissed garden of O2H Group's UK HQ, Hauxton House, Eastern Promise brings you our contribution to Cambridge Wide Open Week 2026:
'Everything you ever wanted to know about Cambridge (but were afraid to ask)...'
Your host Mike Rigby has the questions and we've assembled an incredible panel who have the answers! They are:
- Harriet Fear MBE, multi-hat wearer, including beaing the chair of Cambridge Ahead and the Cambridge Science Centre;
- Dr Julia Wilson, Director of Innovation and Impact at the Wellcome Sanger Institute;
- Recruitment expert and disruptor talent scout, Joe Graziano of Sheffield Haworth; and
- Constance Anker of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority!
We discuss the ingredients of the city's 'Secret Sauce', making opportunity available for all, whether you have to be good at networking in Cambridge to have a great network here, and more. O2H's own Francois Meullenet and Sunil Shah also join the fun.
You can find out more about Cambridge Wide Open Week here, and you can sign up for 2027's celebration of the Capital City of Science here. Well, go on then!
To find out more about Eastern Promise, listen to our back catalogue and to contact us, visit https://easternpromise.org.uk.
The Eastern Promise podcast is made in The Podding Shed and is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
In this second part of our mammoth two-part roundtable featuring the UKRI-funded institutes and partners on the Norwich Research Park, we look at how these institutes communicate the impact of research, the commercialisation of discovery and the way science and research influence the policy-making process.
Your host Mike Rigby chats with the returning stars of episode 174, who 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 Durantini 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/
We also welcome a special guest appearance from back in May - Prashant Shah of O2H Group and Cambridge Wide Open Week, recorded at #UKREiiF 2026 last month.
Join us now for this fascinating exploration of research and how it's used - plus our list of action-packed Action Points!
You can listen to the Eastern Promise back catalogue and contact the show at: https://easternpromise.org.uk or at podcast@easternpromise.org.uk
Eastern Promise is made in The Podding Shed in proud association with Mills & Reeve.
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.
This week: We drop in on Stephen Crocker, CEO and Creative Director of Norwich Theatre. We ask Stephen about his career, whether behind or in front of the curtain; the three stages across the City of Stories that make up the Norwich Theatre; how Norwich Theatre lives and breathes its values and the amazing community work the theatre does.
Host Mike Rigby talks to Stephen about how the cultural sector contributes to the region's economy, the power of Norwich as a centre for creative wellbeing and Stephen's role as a Norfolk ambassador.
As our ACTION POINTS stress, regional theatre provides an amazing entry point for new performance arts, whether as patron or participant; ballet, opera, straight drama, comedy, music or even panto. Oh, yes it is! (Stop it!)
Do visit the Norwich Theatre's website here: https://norwichtheatre.org/
Find out how you can support Norwich Playhouse's redevelopment project: https://norwichtheatre.org/playhouse-redevelopment-project/
Learn more about the Norfolk Ambassadors here: https://norfolkambassadors.co.uk/
...and the Norfolk Suffolk Cultural Board here: https://norfolksuffolkculture.co.uk/
To find out more about Eastern Promise, including our entire back catalogue and to contact us via our messaging service, visit: https://easternpromise.org.uk!
The Eastern Promise podcast is made with love in The Podding Shed, in proud association with Mills & Reeve.
This Week: Your host Mike Rigby chats to Councillor Cameron Holloway, Leader of Cambridge City Council.
We discuss his ward, the side of Cambridge many people seldom see, and also the impact of the Cambridge x Manchester Innovation Partnership.
Not only that, Cameron also discusses the hugely positive impact that the city council has had on housing and the consultation on the Greater Cambridge Development Corporation that closes shortly (1st April 2026).
Then, we distil the interview and propose three 'Action Points'; each of great practical and philosophical value!
PLUS! Eastern Promise is looking for strategic partners who share our values and can support us in delivering our ambitious programme for 2026-27. With your help we can go even further...
- For more information on Cambridge City Council, click here: https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/
- Find out more about the Cambridge x Manchester Innovation Partnership by clicking here: https://www.cambridge-manchester.com/
- To submit your response to the consultation on establishing a Greater Cambridge Development Corporation before 1st April 2026, click here: https://easternpromise.org.uk
- You can read the Bylines East Anglia interview with Cameron Holloway, as referenced in the podcast, here: https://eastangliabylines.co.uk/politics/local-government/cameron-holloway-on-growth-poverty-and-rebuilding-trust-in-cambridge/
To find out more about Eastern Promise, access our podcast's full back catalogue and get in touch via our contact form, here: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This podcast is made with love in The Podding Shed in association with Mills & Reeve.
This Week: We return to our special series of 'Beginner's Guides' with a deep dive into the East of England's town & city ecosystems. And in this episode, we take on Suffolk's county town - IPSWICH!
You join your host, Mike Rigby, at the University of Suffolk with an extraordinary panel:
- Provost of the University of Suffolk, Professor Rachel Allen;
- CEO of 'Brighten The Corners'. Joe Bailey;
- Ipswich Borough Councillor, former Mayor and columnist, Lynne Mortimer;
- Ipswich Central's Chief Executive, Lee Walker; and
- Local resident, previous guest and Senior Partner (East Anglia) for KPMG, Joe Faulkner.
Between them, the panel delves deep into: what defines Ipswich for them. We examine why the cultural and music scene is so fundamental to the town, as is its rich historic legacy.
The panel share their thoughts on the University itself, the key sectors of Ipswich's economy, especially innovation. Then there's networking, start-up funding, signposting and much more besides!
Plus, with the announcement that Ipswich has been long-listed for City of Culture, Lee explains the process, considerations and strategy behind Ipswich's approach - it's one Eastern Promise supports wholeheartedly!
And that's not all! Mike is back for your Eastern Insight this week, extoling the benefits of a strategic partnership with...Eastern Promise! Can he do that? Yes, he can!
Some Ipswich links:
- https://www.uos.ac.uk/ - The University of Suffolk.
- https://ipswichcentral.com/ - Ipswich's Business Improvement District (BID).
- https://www.brightenthecorners.co.uk/ - A non-profit, youth-focused live music organisation.
- https://www.ipswich.gov.uk/ - Ipswich Borough Council.
- https://www.danceeast.co.uk/ - Based on Ipswich waterfront, it's the home of dance in the East of England.
- https://www.abports.co.uk/locations/ipswich/ - The Port of Ipswich.
- https://usehalo.com/ - Suffolk software firm moving into Ipswich's iconic Willis Building.
- https://ipswich.love/ - giving Ipswich the love it deserves.
This is episode 162 of the Eastern Promise podcast, made in The Podding Shed.
To listen to our back catalogue, and to contact us, visit: https://easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is made in The Podding Shed in association with Mills & Reeve: http://mills-reeve.com..
This week: We're taking a closer look at Government proposals to establish a centrally-led Urban Development Corporation (UDC) for Greater Cambridge.
Taking us through the proposals, including what exactly is being proposed, the powers a UDC will have, the difference a UDC can make and the size of the opportunity presented, are two distinguished members of the Cambridge Growth Company's Advisory Council.
Mike is joined by CGC Chair, Peter Freeman; and Master of Fitzwilliam College Cambridge, and Chair of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Baroness Sally Morgan. Peter and Sally take Mike through the proposals and stress the potential for positive public impact to emerge early through these proposals.,
The Government consultation on these proposals is open now and runs until 1 April 2026. You can read the consultation documents and submit your response by clicking here.
You can also read more about the Cambridge Growth Company - which will evolve into the Greater Cambridge Development Corporation - by clicking here.
PLUS! This week's 'Eastern Insight' is delivered by our own Mike Rigby, delivering a three-minute slug of thought leadership on 4.5 years' worth of learning from the Eastern Promise podcast. Listen now!
You can listen to our podcast's back catalogue, or contact Eastern Promise, by visiting our website - click here to go there now!
Eastern Promise is proud to be in partnership with Mills & Reeve.
This week: Eastern Promise host Mike Rigby sits down to chat with Mayor of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, Paul Bristow.
We discuss Paul's hometown of Peterborough, the Cambridge x Manchester Partnership, the difference between being a mayor and his previous role as an MP, and also the Combined Authority's Local Growth Plan - particularly the decision to have 'mayoral targets', putting his accountability front and centre.
You can read and download a copy of the Local Growth Plan by clicking here.
You can visit the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority website by clicking here.
PLUS! We begin a new era with our first EASTERN INSIGHT! This week, Kim Lockwood of Thetford Town Cricket Club's Project 100, which aims to create a fully inclusive, modern, and accessible community sports environment that enables more people in Thetford to become active, stay active and feel part of a supportive community.
Here's Project 100's crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/project-100-2.
For more more information on Eastern Insight, contact Eastern Promise at: podcast@easternpromise.org.uk.
Visit our website at https://www.easternpromise.org.uk.
Thank you to our partners, Mills & Reeve.
This Week: With a packed hall of farmers, agronomists, scientists and agricultural luminaries old and young, we're glad Mike Rigby dropped in on the 2026 Norfolk Farming Conference! Calling in first on the Food and Farming Discovery Trust's splendid mobile classroom, we hear from Trust Manager Frances Roberson about why they're at the conference and what this educational sister charity to the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association has planned for the year ahead - no need to feel sheepish!
Next, Mike drops by the Norfolk Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group's stand to chat with Nathan Walker about their deer management strategy and the move to get more people into venison.
With the slightest of pauses to hear more about Eastern Insight, Mike catches up with Cllr Fabian Eagle to ask about the Norfolk Rural Business Awards, before seizing the chance to interview former agriculture minister and Pier of the Realm, Baroness Shepard of Northwold, asking about what makes this event so important.
It was a whistle-stop tour of the stands but you can get a flavour of the event right here...possibly venison!
You can hear all of Eastern Promise's back catalogue and contact us by visiting our website and clicking on 'contact'.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: Form the Future is one-of-a-kind; a unique bridge between the worlds of education and work.
This Cambridge-based CIC is rightly praised for its work in lifting the horizons of young people in the #EastofEngland and beyond, so Eastern Promise didn't hesitate to send Mike Rigby along to Hinxton Hall Conference Centre to ask delegates at Form the Future's 2026 Annual Conference why they're there, what makes Form the Future so special, and what they hope to have gleaned by the end of the day.
Mike chats to delegates, speakers and CEO of Form the Future, Anne Bailey herself. Don't miss it!
To find out more about Form the Future, click here.
PLUS! Hear all about our new thought leadership slot, 'EASTERN INSIGHT'; it'll be kinda like 'Thought for the Day' but more: 'Thought for the East'! Perfect if you need to raise the salience of a product, place, innovation, or a cause that motivates you.
If you've something to say that's true to Eastern Promise's values of people, place, potential and positivity, and shares our commitment to diversity and inclusion, then get in touch via podcast@easternpromise.org.uk for pricing and booking details. There's only one Eastern Insight slot per week, so you'll have unrivalled visibility (or audibility!)
To listen to Eastern Promise's entire back catalogue, or to contact the podcast, click here to visit easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: As the magnificent Cambridge Science Centre publishes its new Strategic Plan for 2026-2031, Eastern Promise's own Mike Rigby chats with the centre's CEO on the intent behind the Strategic Plan, their outreach strategy and the drive to not only make the centre 'best in class', but also an exemplar for STEM educational centres around the world.
You can read the Strategic Plan by clicking here, and buy tickets to visit the centre by clicking here.
PLUS! You can hear about the all-new thought leadership slot coming soon to the Eastern Promise podcast: EASTERN INSIGHT! It's your chance to share your news, views and more with the world, with strategic visibility and a unique position in each episode.
All this and so much more!
You can contact Eastern Promise by visiting the Eastern Promise website and clicking or by emailing podcast@easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: Confused by Cambridge? Well, Eastern Promise has your back and help is at hand!
We bid you welcome to this first in our occasional series exploring our region's main urban ecosystems, the BEGINNER'S GUIDES!
In this first of our special episodes, Mike Rigby is joined by local experts to explore and explain the nuances, niceties, and need-to-knows of CAMBRIDGE!
Joining Mike to make up this cohort of Cambridge connoisseurs is:
- Chair of Cambridge Ahead, Cambridge Science Centre, and all-round legend, Harriet Fear MBE;
- Founder and CEO of CONEXEN, Paula Bekinschtein;
- MD of Cap Air Systems, Board Member and SME champion, Katy Davies;
- Strategy and Community Advisor, Ilker Akansel; and
- Investment Fund specialist and Partner at Mills & Reeve, Dona Ardeman!
Together, they talk through the special secret sauce that makes this city what it is; bust a few myths and shed new light into a place that can seem intimidating from the outside, but is a truly warm and welcoming place that rewards those who make the effort to engage. You'll be informed, educated and - hopefully - entertained!
More Beginner's Guides will be coming soon, with Ipswich, Norwich and Peterborough following later in the spring!
Let us know what you think of these special episodes. What did Mike miss? Does it need a second volume? Where should we go after our first four? Let us know by emailing podcast@easternpromise.org.uk, or by visiting our website at https://easternpromise.org.uk, and clicking on 'contact us'.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
Recorded on 5th December 2025 at Botanic House, Hills Road, Cambridge.
This Week: We meet three of Norfolk's incredible coterie of AMBASSADORS! Meet Matt Smith of Place UK, Candy Richards of the Federation of Small Businesses, and Chris Spinks of Westcotec, who will be sharing with you:
- Their love for Norfolk;
- What makes the county unique; and
- Why families, businesses, entrepreneurs and more should relocate to Norfolk!
Our ambassadors share their experience and a clear-eyed vision for the county; not shrinking from challenges and eager to forge solutions. Norfolk really couldn't ask for better representatives
So, put those spherical, golden chocolate & hazelnut sweeties into a tottering pyramid, because these ambassadors are really spoiling us!
- To find out more, and to apply to become an Ambassador for Norfolk, click here.
- For further details about the Norfolk Business Board, click here.
To learn more about Eastern Promise, and to listen to all of our back catalogue, click here.
Eastern Promise is proud to be sponsored by Mills & Reeve.
This Week! We're kicking off 2026 in style, and focussed on what's currently the most important economic development project in the UK - The Oxford Cambridge Corridor.
Our navigators to this galactic-scale potential are the Oxford-Cambridge Supercluster Board, ably represented by Chair Andy Williams and fellow board member (and CEO of Cambridge Ahead) Dan Thorp. Together, we'll dig into where we are, where we're going, what's at stake and what each of us needs to do to make this happen (top tip: just be nice to each other!)
It's a fantastic listen and a brilliant insight into the importance of capability, community and coherence to this project. Our thanks to Dan and Andy.
For the Connected Clusters report referenced by Mike and Dan, click here.
To visit the website of the Oxford-Cambridge Supercluster Board, and read the reports referenced in this episode, click here.
Click here to read the UK Government's investment prospectus for the Oxford Cambridge corridor (PDF, opens in new window).
To read the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority's Local Growth Plan, then click here (PDF, opens in new window).
If you want to take a look at the Cambridge Growth Company Click here to visit their site.
Eastern Promise was made in The Podding Shed and you can catch up on previous episodes at our website, and contact us there or by emailing podcast@easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: We round off our Christmas Charity Appeal open mic with the Big C Cancer Charity and the MedCan Foundation! Find out more about our 2025 featured charities here:
- Abbey People
- The Big C - Norfolk's Cancer Charity
- The Cambridge Acorn Project
- The MedCan Foundation
Then! We take a long, loving look back at 2025 with some choice cuts from the archive...
We'll visit UKREiiF 2025, pop in on the John Innes Centre's Insectary, drop by the STEMM village during the Royal Norfolk Show, and relive part of last month's 'Skills, Careers & Policy' event (such a catchy title, and it's three parts, actually!)
We'll even skip ahead and sample some of what 2026 has to offer, including the Oxford-Cambridge Supercluster Board, and a snippet from two of our 'Beginner's Guides': Norwich and Cambridge!
Thank you for listening in 2025 and all being well, we'll see you again on 15th January 2026!
To find out more about Eastern Promise, contact us, and listen to our back catalogue, click here.
Eastern Promise was made in The Podding Shed and is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: We find out how, for dementia patients and their families, the hits of their youth have now become a critical bridge, especially when communication falters. We'll meet Music for My Mind's Dimana Georgieva at Cambridge Consultant's HQ on Cambridge Science Park, along with CC's AI experts Joseph Corrigan and Ali Shafti, to discover how the deeptech dynamos of CapGemini Invent helped Hertfordshire-based charity 'Music For My Mind' to create an AI Prototype to measure and learn the reactions of people living with dementia to hearing music.
To try out the Music For My Mind playlist maker yoursef, click here: https://app.musicformymind.com/
We'll also be bringing you our first two Christmas charity appeal open mics, and we'll be joined by the Cambridge Acorn Project's own Hannah Golding, and then by Nicky Shepard, CEO of Abbey People, a vibrant community charity in the Abbey Ward of Cambridge,
improving the lives and wellbeing of Abbey residents.
CLICK HERE FOR THE CAMBRIDGE ACORN PROJECT BIG GIVE!
To find out more about the Cambridge Acorn Project, a fantastic mental wellbeing of young people in Cambridgeshire, click here.
To find out more about Abbey People's amazing work in the Cambridge Abbe Ward, click here.
This Week: On 21st November 2025, Eastern Promise held a live event at Mills & Reeve's Cambridge office, focussed around skills, careers and creating better policy on both.
However, this recording, in front of a live audience set out to do something different: to talk to a group of young people about their hopes, dreams and future plans, and get a panel of educators and skills professionals consisting of: Andy Daly, Executive Principal of the Meridian Trust; Anne Bailey, CEO of Form the Future CIC; Kevin Keable, Chair of the East of England Energy Group (and, coincidentally, the recently announced Liberal Democrat candidate for Mayor of Norfolk and Suffolk), and Deputy Principal of East Norfolk Sixth Form College in Gorleston near Great Yarmouth, Dr Simon Fox, to address these points, before giving young people the final say.
Then, in what is admittedly a bit of a 'long player' of a podcast, we move forward to look at the impact of career breaks, whether chosen or not, and career pivots. We'll hear a number of stories of what can best be described as 'squiggly careers', huge life changes, sudden shocks, pivots from successful careers into new ventures and more. Taking us through this are: Deborah Dawson of Mills & Reeve, Victoria Higgins of 'Beyond the Noise', Sally Field of Cambridge Wireless and Tarquin Bennett-Coles of Compass Carter Osborne.
And finally, Charlotte Horobin, CEO of the Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce; Dan Thorp, CEO of Cambridge Ahead; Owen Garling of the Bennett School of Public Policy; and Gareth John, Director of Policy at accountancy trainers First Intuition will unpack everything we've heard and share their thoughts about what it all means going forward.
Eastern Promise would like to thank everyone who attended the recording, our engineer, North Cambridge Academy and East Norfolk Sixth Form, and especially Lee, Dotty, Mai, Drew, Ash and Shanae from those institutions for taking part.
To find out more about Eastern Promise, to listen to our back catalogue and to contact us, visit https://easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: Mike Rigby joins the fun and frolics (there were frolics, weren't there?) to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the opening of Haverhill's very own innovation hub, the EpiCentre!
Eastern Promise's own Grand Fromage, Mike Rigby, joins the jamboree and, at the invitation of Centre Manager Helen Earl and Innovation Director Gary Jennings, hosts four special panels for the galaxy of guests present, with each panel looking at a different aspect of the EpiCentre's offer to its community.
We consider:
- Funding;
- Engineering Skills;
- Healthcare & Innovation; and
- AI.
It's a celebration with insight, excitement, progress, and practical advice, and we thank all those who took part.
For more information on the EpiCentre, click here.
To listen to our whole back catalogue, or to contact Eastern Promise, click here.
Eastern Promise is proud to be sponsored by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: High Streets Matter! They matter across our region and they matter in North Walsham, where your host, Mike Rigby, finds himself this week.
In the company of Alexandra Hemen of New Anglia Growth Hub, visits the magnificent Black Swan Pub and Theatre to chat with landlord, actor and all-round human dynamo Joseph Ballard, along with social entrepreneur Selina of Best In Broads.
Alex then whisks us into the town proper, calling in at Dolly's gift shop, a recipient of support ftom the Norfolk County Council Retail Excellence Programme, to talk to shop florist Evie. All our local guests have several things in common: their love of North Walsham and their soaring community spirit. Alex(andra), meanwhile, brings huge and hard-won retail expertise at the pinnacle of one of the East of England's best known brands.
One of Mike Rigby's favourite things is to get out and about across the East of England and North Walsham was truly something special.
If you want to find out more about the High Streets Matter package of support, visit the New Anglia Growth website here: https://www.newangliagrowthhub.co.uk/norfolk-high-streets-matter/
Find out more about the wonderful New Stages Black Swan Pub & Theatre here.
You can find out more about Eastern Promise, listen to our back catalogue or contact us here.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: 'Ahead of the Curve' could well be Cambridge Consultant's business address. Indeed, these global professional problem solvers, part of Capgemini Invent, thrive on getting out in front and staying there.
After an illuminating press day, host Mike Rigby is joined by Head of Biotechnology Frances Metcalfe and New Frontiers Board Member Richard Traherne, to find out more about this organisation, whose presence on the Cambridge Science Park site predates the park itself.
For more information on Cambridge Consultants, visit their website here.
To listen to our back catalogue or to contact Eastern Promise, visit our website here.
Eastern Promise is proud to be sponsored by Mills & Reeve. Follow the link to discover more.
This Week: We start a new 6-week run of the Eastern Promise podcast at the Earlham Institute on Norwich Research Park! This event looks at the latest developments in genomics and brings together industry, academia, and Knowledge Transfer Partnership experts from Innovate UK.
Your host, Mike Rigby, chats to all these fine folk, including Director of the Earlham Institute, Professor Neil Hall and Helena Saunders of Syngenta. Melissa Salmon and Marine Folgoas represent PhD candidates and Tozer Seeds-embedded Jamie Pike tells us more about KTPs, alongside Innovate UK's Mike Lloyd. We'll also hear from Georgie Oatley about Tropic's banana-based work!
For more on the Earlham Institute, click here.
You can find more information, contact details and listen to the Eastern Promise back catalogue here.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: We welcome the two leading lights of the Cambridge Tech Podcast, all-round ecosystem lynchpin Faye Holland and MD of the iconic Bradfield Centre and NFL fan, James Parton! We'll discuss how they do what they do, the importance of Faye's rolodex and what drives their pod forward! Host Mike Rigby has been itching to interview Faye and James since day one of Eastern Promise so please listen, so maybe now he'll stop going on about it!
You can hear the most recent episode of the Cambridge Tech Podcast here, on Apple, Spotify, and Audible.
To listen to more of the Eastern Promise podcast, or to drop us a line via our contact form, visit the Eastern Promise website here.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: You didn't think we'd forgotten about Cambridge Tech Week, did you? Certainly not! In fact your own (and you're welcome to him) Mike Rigby hits the anything-but-mean streets of the Cambridge Guildhall for 'Innovation Alley', and what an incredible experience it is...
We chat to some of the hottest names in new tech, some of the sharpest spin-outs, the most brilliant innovators and we say 'wilkommen' to visitors from the German tech sector. Digital twins, AI, photonics, battery tech, it's all here!
AND THIS IS JUST PART ONE! Come back next week for part two, where we chat with the dynamic duo behind the Cambridge Tech Podcast!
At Cambridge Tech Week 2025, we meet...
- Cambridge Enterprise
- Entopy
- FiveD
- Form The Future CIC
- HutanBio
- Illumion
- Orca
- Paicon
- Prospectral
- The University of East Anglia
To listen to the Eastern Promise back catalogue and to contact the show, click here.
Eastern Promise is proudly supported by Mills & Reeve and is a Podding Shed production..
This Week: We peek behind the scenes at one of the most consequential research institutes in the world, let alone the UK or the East of England!
Nestling at the heart of the Norwich Research Park, the John Innes Centre is home to the UK's greatest concentration of plant and microbial science and scientists - but that's not all! No siree...
My co-host for our Royal Norfolk Show episodes joins regular roving microphone wielder Mike Rigby to look at just a fraction of the work being done inside the centre, including Bioimaging, Genotyping and the Insectary! We also take in the social side of the John Innes Foundation, created though bequest by a Mr J. Innes.
It was a struggle to keep this recording under an hour and it only just makes it. The recording was also bedevilled by technical issues, hence the delay bringing it to you and for which we apologise to you and the JIC.
But wait! We do find time for helicopters and fish! And the link will surprise you...
For more information about the John Innes Centre click here.
To contact Eastern Promise or listen to our back catalogue, click here.
Eastern Promise are proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: When Innovate Cambridge call and say "we'd like to talk about the HUGE week ahead for the city and both the tech and life science ecosystems", you drop EVERYTHING!
And so, dear listener, we did...
So it was that your host, Mike Rigby, dropped in on The Glasshouse - home of Innovate Cambridge - to find out how the fun, inclusive and enigmatic branding unveiled last year is launching now, just as Cambridge Tech Week and the inaugural BioCentury Grand Rounds - Europe take the city by storm in ONE SINGLE WEEK (15th Sept. to 19th Sept. 2025)!
Dr Kathryn Chapman, Executive Director of Innovate Cambridge will be telling us about the huge importance of this moment and the vote of confidence it represents for the city.
And then! Chair of Innovate Cambridge, Prof. Andy Neely and Michelle Lamprecht of Cambridge Innovation Capital join Mike to talk through the branding campaign for the Cambridge Innovation Study, just how widely it's being spread, and the power of a unified ecosystem to make a huge difference for everyone.
To find out more about the Cambridge Innovation story, including the film introducing the story, click here.
To listen to the Eastern Promise podcast back catalogue, or to contatct us, click here.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: We are at one of the most important locations in the East of England for furthering, supporting and unleashing our region's innovative and entrepreneurial spirits in all manners health-related. Yes! Mike Rigby is heading to Health Innovation East!
The key reason Health Innovation East exists is to translate early-stage scientific discover and research into actual medicines, processes, practices and devices. My guest, Health Innovation East's (HIE) CEO Piers Ricketts, tells your host Mike Rigby (and, therefore, you!) about the manifold ways in which HIE helps the NHS, plus academia and the private sector, to do precisely that.
For more information on Health Innovation East, visit: https://healthinnovationeast.co.uk/
To listen to our back catalogue, or to find out more about Eastern Promise click here.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: Eastern Promise roars back from our Summer hiatus, with a trip to the new King's Lynn Enterprise Park!
Your host (with, if not the most, then at least a bit), Mike Rigby, headed over to the Enterprise Park to meet Cllr Simon Ring, Deputy Leader of the Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Regenerations Programme Manager Jemma Curtis, also of BCKLWN; Norfolk County Council's Enterprise Zone guru Jen Wigzell and Graham Purkins, co-founder and CTO of med-tech anchor tenant Merxin!
We discuss the origins of the park, what the assembled want to see as the KLEP continues it's growth, why Graham chose King's Lynn in the first place, plus the sheer drive and verve behind the KLEP offer is laid out. It's got exactly the right ethos and we look forward to revisiting it soon.
To find out more about King's Lynn Enterprise Park, click here.
King's Lynn Town Deal board is here and, for more about this perfectly positioned port, visit Vision King's Lynn!
You can learn more about the New Anglia Growth Hub here.
For Merxin, please visit this link!
If you want to hear our back catalog, including our previous visitas to King's Lynn, then visit https://easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is proud to be sponsored by Mills & Reeve.
Eastern Promise is a Podding Shed Production.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
This week: We're on the world-famous Cambridge Biomedical Campus to find out more about plans for the new, multi-million pound Cancer research hospital there.
Mike Rigby talks to Dr Hugo Ford, clinical lead for the project and Director of Cancer Services at the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Shelly Thake, CEO of the Addenbrookes Charitable Trust, ACT4Addenbrookes!
Together, we'll discuss the importance of the planned hospital, discuss aligning our finest scientific minds on the problem of cancer and find out what we can all do to help with the fundraising effort.
This is a vitally important project and in by far the best place for the region and the nation to maximise the scientific expertise on the biomedical campus, throughout the city and the region as a whole.
For more information on the project, visit: https://www.cambridgecancer.org.uk/.
Find out more about the fundraising effort at: https://act4addenbrookes.org.uk/.
You can listen to the Eastern Promise back-catalogue and contact us by visiting https://easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: We join two conferences in the heart of Norwich; first, the Norwich Financial Industry Group (FIG) met in Aviva's iconic Marble Hall to discuss the ramifications of AI for FinTech and the financial sector. Speakers Ash Black and Nathan Punter of Coder explain how AI can boost the Norwich Financial Cluster.
Then! Oh, but then, your host Mike Rigby is joined on the streets of Norwich by Director of Save Britain's Heritage, Henrietta Billings, to preview the charity's upcoming annual conference on 15th May 2025 in the Kings Centre, on King Street in Norwich.
We run down the speakers and panels, as well as discussing the conference's key theme: delivering good growth in heritage locations - and what better place or time to discuss it than sat outside with a coffee on Gentleman's Walk on a sunny Wednesday morning in April?
Nope, there isn't one.
For more details and to get tickets to the Save Britain's Heritage Annual Conference, click here.
For more information on Norwich FIG click here.
To find out more about Eastern Promise podcast, including our back catalogue and contact form, visit our website at https://easternpromise.org.uk. Alternatively, email us at: podcast@easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise are proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: Direct from the James Hehir Building of the University of Suffolk, Mike Rigby chats with Jack Abbott MP, Member of Parliament for Ipswich and the Government's Missions Champion for the East of England.
Jack shares what that role means in practice, his road to Parliament, his maiden speech, why all the policemen and doorkeepers already knew his name, and his hopes for the future of Ipswich and of Suffolk, as both and MP and a local boy.
It's a fascinating glimpse 'behind the Speaker's Chair' from a unique perspective.
For more information about Jack, including his contributions to debates, visit the House of Commons website here or his own website, https://www.jackabbott.org/.
For more information on Eastern Promise, including our back catalogue, visit https://easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: We bring you an on-location special!
First, Mike Rigby talks to organisers and key delegates at the East of England Local Government Association (EELGA) & Infrastructure Matters' conference, 'Opportunity East', itself based on EELGA's landmark 2024 report (PDF) and held at the award-winning 'Lab' at ARU Peterborough.
With us are EELGA Chief Executive Cairistine Foster-Cannan, Charlotte Horobin, CEO of the Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce, Strategic Director of Transport East, Andrew Summers, and MP for Lowestoft, Jess Asato. We'll explore the message of Opportunity East and what the output will achieve.
Then, we head hotfoot (and back in time, technically!) to Norwich University of the Arts for Tech Educators' #HackEd hackathon! We hear from mentors, Frankie Shreeves, Steve Whitelock of Aviva and Neal Riley of Adaptavist. We'll dive into why Norwich is such a hotbed for the hackathon!
In a shock move, we've had to cram in an extra episode due to all the awesomeness going on!
Links to the various organisations featured are above.
For more information on Eastern Promise, to listen to our back catalogue and to contact us, visit our website, https://easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This week: Welcome to the first Eastern Promise podcase of 2025! And what a belter it is...
Anglia Capital Group MD Hannah Brynn joins me to discuss 'The Halo Programme', which readies participants to work with angel investors. Hannah shares the way the programme works and we'll also hear from 2023 Halo Programme alum, Dr |Rosaria Campilongo of PfBIO on the difference the programme made to her.
But that's not all! You can also hear an EXCLUSIVE sneak preview of the first few months of 2025's Eastern Promise goodness!
For more information on the Halo Programme and Anglia Capital Group, click here.
Intrigued by PfBIO? Then click here.
To drop Eastern Promise a line, email podcast@easternpromise.org.uk.
You can visit the Eastern Promise website here.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve. Achieving more, together.
This Week: In our last show of 2024, Mike Rigby chats to Nick Steven-Jones, Chief Executive of the Jarrold Group, which includes logistics, facilities management and training companies as well as the iconic Jarrolds department store in central Norwich.
We'll hear from Nick: how his career path's taken him through some of Norfolk's biggest names; what it means to have a 250-year old independent, family-run store under his watchful gaze; the brand evolution working with The Cl!ck; and also his chairmanship of the Norfolk Business Board.
Get in touch by emailing us at: podcast@easternpromise.org.uk and find out more about Eastern Promise by going to easternpromise.org.uk.
You can visit the Jarrold Group website here.
More details about the Norfolk Business Board are available here.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: We're so pleased so many of you Love the CrowdSourcery feature (no, really; the data says so) and this time you've outdone yourselves, sharing your tallest tales, strangest stories and craziest chronicles from across the East of England, and here they are, recounted by a man who can't even act his age.
So prepare to...COWER from the wrath of the Ludham Wyrm!
RECOIL at the expectorating antics of Cambridge's ghostly airman! FLEE as the Fen Tiger strikes!
And more stories from local legends given a halloween spin!
Look out for our next call for some CrowdSourcery on LinkedIn and listen to more instalments at https://easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is proud to be sponsored by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: Your host, Mike Rigby, chats with EdiForm founders John Farley and Prof. Sheng Qi about their revolutionary approach to dementia care: using specialised 3D printers to deliver more nutritious, palatable food - a huge leap forward in material science spinning out from the University of East Anglia. We also share news of Newmarket's 'Presents Galore' festive shopping experience this coming weekend (29/11/24 - 1/12/24).
Find out more about EdiForm here, and click here to visit the Eastern Promise website. To contact the show, simply write to podcast@easternpromise.org.uk/.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This week: I chat with a Cambridge-based charity which supports patient groups formed by those who have a family member diagnosed with a rare condition.
We'll hear from Beacon CEO Rick Thompson and Digital Resources Manager Blayne Baker-Garwood, as well as co-founder of the Timothy Syndrome Alliance - which has been supported by Beacon - Sophie Muir. It's a truly wonderful charity who provide hope and lift up those who are lifting up each other.
Find out more about Beacon for Rare Diseases here.
You can find out about the Timothy Syndrome Alliance here.
Contact Eastern Promise at podcast@easternpromise.org.uk or visit easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: Mike Rigby visits Co-Labs by Journey and meets Laura Grimwood, along with Adam Pead of Inuti, to look at a fresh new model for delivering lab space for scientific startups. Laura encountered this model - where high-quality lab space is provided without the unnecessary fripperies that can drive up costs - in the USA and, on finding nothing like it in the UK, resolved to bring the model back to Britain.
And, dear listener, she did.
Laura and Adam, from lab property specialists Inuti, describe the steps taken to bring this 14,700 square feet of affordable startup space across the Pond, and describe just what makes this model so competitive.
To find out more, visit: https://journeyre.io/spaces/colabs-niab-cambridge/
You can contact Eastern Promise at: podcast@easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise would not be possible without the support of Mills & Reeve.
This week: We begin our new six-week run of episodes with a very special guest: Professor David Maguire, Vice Chancellor of the University of East Anglia (UEA). I chat with David about the UEA's huge breadth of offer, its peerless position as an engine of sustainable economic growth and David's own varied career, how a new Vice-Chancellor goes about bringing change to the institution they lead.
We also chat about David's time as Principal of the Dyson Institute, and what we can learn from that unique facility.
We also make mention of the Civic UEA team (to declare an interest, I produce their podcast) and you can click here to read their recent excellent report, 'Unlocking Norfolk's Potential'.
To contact Eastern Promise, email podcast@easternpromise.org.uk or visit easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: At the inaugural Innovate Cambridge summit in 2023, a partnership between Innovate Cambridge and the University of Manchester was unveiled. Now, with the 2024 Innovate Cambridge summit less than a week away, Eastern Promise is on the ground in Manchester, talking to Lou Cordwell OBE and John Holden of the University of Manchester.
Lou and John will be sharing their view of the opportunities and potential contained within this collaboration. They'll also demonstrate that the two cities' differences on paper are dwarfed by the commonalities. It's a must-listen if you want tot understand the scope and the potential bound within this project, and special thanks must go to: Lou & John, Lisa Gledhill & Kelly Burnham for all their help with logistics; to Kathryn Chapman, Executive Director of Innovate Cambridge for her help and the guest appearance; and to Cambridge Ahead CEO Dan Thorp, and Milner Therapeutics Institute and Connect:Health-Tech's Paula Rogers-Brown for assisting with my preparations and their general encouragement.
To find out more about Eastern Promise, click here, or email us by clicking here.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: Your host Mike Rigby chats with University of East Anglia academic, Dr Aram Saeed, about the revolution in ophthalmology that will use 3D printing to update treamtents dating back to WWII pilots and generic 'one-size-fits-all' ocular implants with bespoke, made-to-measure lenses.
To find out more about Eastern Promise and listen to more episodes, visit: https://easternpromise.org.uk, or contact us at podcast@easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
We take a listen to your summertime activities across the mighty East of England, especially from those heading from Cambridgeshire to the Norfolk & Suffolk Coast. Packed with our trademark...levity(?) if not brevity, take a listen to what our listeners have been doing across the region this Summer! And make sure you listen all the way through for a special message.
Wanna get in touch? Click here. For more info about Eastern Promise, click here.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: Your host Mike Rigby drops in on the Cambridge Acorn Project.
Now in its tenth anniversary year, the Cambridge Acorn Project works to provide meaningful, individual support to children and families who have lived through adverse experiences, including abuse, and financial hardship. It’s hard to understate the crucial importance of their work, helping disadvantaged families heal and grow post-trauma. Mike Rigby joins Matt Edge, Hannah Chapman and Hannah Golding to find out more.
For more information on the Cambridge Acorn Project click here.
And why not also visit the Eastern Promise website too?
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: We're off for our first trip to Hertfordshire, in the company of region-wide environmental charity, Groundwork East, to find out more about their role on the Watford Borough Council project, 'Rediscovering the River Colne'.
We also hear from Councillor Ian Stotesbury, Cabinet Member for Transport & Sustainability at the Council, who has been tasked by Watford's elected Mayor with delivering the project for people, place and planet.
Click here to find out more about Groundwork East, and here to find out more about the Rediscovering the River Colne'. For Watford Borough Council, click here.
To find out more about Eastern Promise and listen to more episodes, visit: https://easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: Join us for a look back at days 1 & 5 of Cambridge Tech Week, a special message from George Freeman MP, a chat with Form the Future CIC's Kath Austin and more. Well, where else would we be?!
PLUS - that's not all at all! We have a Public Service Announcement about Norfolk County Council's Market Towns Conference on 1st October 2024 at Swaffham Assembly Rooms - more details can be found here. Register for your place by emailing: econdev@norfolk.gov.uk.
Eastern Promise is proud to be sponsored by Mills & Reeve.
Contact us via LinkedIn DM, via our website at https://easternpromise.org.uk or by emailing podcast@easternpromise.org.uk.
This Week: We're back from our Summer break with a bang, as a panel of the East of England's top experts in commercialising innovation discuss the potential, the pitfalls and the possibilities, all through the prism of the Triple Chasm model, co-developed by our first guest, Uday Phadke.
Kathryn Chapman has been a guide and mentor to many disrupters seeking to cross the three chasms to successful commercialisation in her time as Director of Science and Innovation at the Babraham Research Campus (since the recording, Kathryn has moved to become full-time Executive Director of Innovate Cambridge).
James Fry, meanwhile, leads on life sciences for full-service law firm and 'friends of the show', Mills & Reeve. There truly could not be a better panel.
To find out more about Triple Chasm and its groundbreaking model, click here, or go to the Babraham Research Campus website here.
To find out more about Eastern Promise and listen to more episodes, visit: https://easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
In this very special edition of the Eastern Promise podcast, your host Mike Rigby looks ahead to Cambridge Tech Week (9-13 September 2024) with help from: Chair of the CTW Steering Committee, Chris Bruce; University of East Anglia Pro Vice-Chancellor Nicola Hancock; Mills & Reeve's investment guru Zickie Lim; and CEO of Form The Future CIC, Anne Bailey.
This superb panel (and Mike) take you through each action-packed day, laying out who's who and what's where. You better be quick if you want to join the party, 'coz tickets are going fast! Find out more at https://cambridgetechweek.co.uk/
Eastern Promise is brought to you in proud association with Mills & Reeve.
Contact Eastern Promise at podcast@easternpromise.org.uk or visit https://easternpromise.org.uk.
We interrupt your Summer fun to bring you our CrowdSourcerer's picks for the very best gifts that the East of England has given to the world, all with our trademark silliness to boot...
Look out for the next CrowdSourcery on LinkedIn.
To get in touch with the show, email podcast@easternpromise.org.uk or visit https://easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is brought to you in proud association with Mills & Reeve.
AN EASTERN PROMISE SPECIAL! Recorded on Day 1 of the 2024 Royal Norfolk Show, this special takes us around the STEMM Village, chats with VIPs, talks to educators and energy gurus and generally has a whale of a time!
This year, Dr Penny Hundleby of the John Innes Centre joins Mike Rigby on a tour of the show and this year, we focus on the STEMM Village and the magnificent people within...BUT! We also bump into more across the showground.
Unfortunately, there was a fault on the microphone which means the audio wasn't as good as it could have been. However, it's been cleaned up and worked on as much as possible so you at least get to share in the amazing happenings at the 2024 Royal Norfolk Show!
This Week: Just in time for the school holidays! I take a trip back in time, to The ROARR! Dinosaur Adventure Park at Lenwade near Norwich to meet Adam Goymour, Park Director and scion of the Goymour family. I'll be chatting with Adam about the park, his family's legacy, the Norfolk tourism sector, and just where d'you get dinosaurs from anyway?! We'll also be taking a trip along the Valley of the Dinosaurs, giving you a flavour of the park. If you're interested in dinosaurs, tourism, how to keep your children entertained over the summer, or all of the above (guilty!) then it's a must-listen.
To find out more about the ROARR! Dinosaur Adventure Park, click here.
To find out more about Eastern Promise and listen to more episodes, visit: https://easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: We return to Leeds and UKREiiF 2024, so no need to check the map!
With the help of our friends at the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, Eastern Promise is proud to bring you the second panel held at UKREiiF and chaired by our host and executive producer, Mike Rigby. Along with Al Kingsley, Chair of the CPCA business board; Chief Executive of Peterborough City Council Matthew Gladstone, Richard Bickers of ARUP and Judith Barker, Executive Diurector of Place and Connectivity at the Combined Authority, we explore this concept and what it could mean for our region's second largest city: Peterborough.
Join us to find out!
To listen to previous episodes and find out more about Eastern Promise, go to: https://easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: Eastern Promise comes to you live(ish) from the 2024 UK Real Estate, Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) and the Team Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Pavillion for the Combined Authority's inaugural panel event: "How can we develop the Cambridge phenomenon with community at its heart?"
Our own Mike Rigby chairs an all-star panel, consisting of: Chair of the UK Innovation Corridor, Jackie Sadek; Chair of Homes England and the Cambridge Delivery Group, Peter Freeman; and Leader of Cambridge City Council, Cllr Mike Davey. Incisive and informed debate is guaranteed, as are first rate questions from the packed audience.
Do get in touch on podcast@easternpromise.org.uk or via our website at https://easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: We asked YOU what you're looking forward to at this year's Royal Norfolk Show - the UK's premier two-day agricultural show - and you did NOT disappoint.
So many recommendations, we'll still be there on Friday 28th! So many people to meet and so much we need to squeeze in! Thank you to all who contributed and everyone stay safe in the sun tomorrow (26/6/24).
Oh, and to all our friends elsewhere in the East of England, we'll be asking you for recommendations for Cambridge Tech Week next, you mark my words!
Find out more here: https://easternpromise.org.uk
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: Executive Producer and self-confessed Amiga fan Mike Rigby was thrilled to meet BAFTA-winning game designer, and CEO and Creative Lead at Glowfrog Games, Kate Killick, along with Game Artist Ellie Eady, to discuss the thriving Norwich indie gaming scene.
What makes the scene so special, how does the creative process for games work (which comes first, look or gameplay?) and what would make the Norwich gaming sector even more of a creative hub than it is already?
Find out by taking a listen! And if you want to weigh in, do get in touch by DM to Mike Rigby via LinkedIn, or by email to: podcast@easternpromise.org.uk.
You can check out Glowfrog Games here!
Find out more at: https://easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is proud to be sponsored by Mills & Reeve.
This week, we look at how and when the East of England last blew your mind! Plus our first contributor in their own voice! Get in touch by LinkedIn DM or via email: podcast@easternpromise.org.uk.
Find out more about the University of East Anglia's advancements in 3D-printing that could revolutionise the treatment of cataracts, here
And! Listen to Dave Graham on the Blooming Late Scientists podcast here.
Visit our website: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This Week: It's another packed edition this week, as we look back at Cambridge Wide Open Day 2024, and ahead to The Rising Festival this September.
I'm joined by Lily Cheng, founder of The Rising Network and creator of The Rising Festival. We'll be chatting about the genesis of the network and we'll preview the forthcoming festival along with two of the event's highly distinguished panel moderators, Mary Hockaday and Professor Dame Carol Black.
Then! Join me on the 6th floor of Botanic House as I meet some of the businesses exhibiting for Cambridge Wide Open Day, from contracting AI to an unbelievably accurate speech-to-text engine, lab equipment, chemical processes, analysis and lightweight circuits on plastic. Yes, it's a packed episode but why wait?!
That's all on episode 101 of...Eastern Promise!
For more information, visit our website at https://easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is proud to be sponsored by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: Episode 100 arrives at last, and WHAT a bumper show we have for you!
First, recorded at UKREiiF 2024, O2H Co-founder Prashant Shah previews Cambridge Wide Open Day and tells us more about O2H before we're joined by special surprise guest, Dr Andy Williams, Chair of the Oxford Cambridge Supercluster Board. Find out more about Cambridge Wide Open Day here: https://cambridgewideopenday.com
Then! We dip into the Aviva/Tech East Fintech Hackathon to hear some snippets of the pitches, get the results and chat to the teams and judges. It confirms the city's fintech sector is good to grow!
Visit our website: https://easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is proud to be sponsored by Mills & Reeve.
This week: We journey to King's Lynn in West Norfolk to see the Bard's Boards - the very stage upon which Shakespeare performed, recently discovered under the floor of St George's Guildhall in the town.
We'll also be discussing how the Guildhall is the centrepiece of the £25m Town Deal project, and taking to the streets of King's Lynn to find out more about the town, visiting historic streets and buildings, and hearing some incredible tall tales about the history of the town.
Host Mike Rigby chats to Councillors Alistair Beales and Simon Ring, now Leader and Deputy Leader of the Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk*; interim Chair of the Town Deal Board, Vicky Etheridge; and Creative Director of St George's Guildhall, cultural officer at the Borough Council - as well as an actor and comedian - Tim Fitzhigham to find out the amazing history that's not just underpinning Norfolk's largest town, it's setting the stage for its future renaissance.
* Cllrs Beales and Ring were Cabinet Members for Business and Culture respectively at the time of recording.
Find out more at: https://easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is proud to be sponsored by Mills & Reeve.
This Week: We journey out to the magnificent public house in Guildern Mordern, near Royston in Cambs to visit 'The Three Tuns', a magnificent pub that is in community hands thanks to the efforts of some very dedicated residents, along with help from Plunkett UK and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. We're joined at the pub by CPCA Mayor, Dr Nik Johnson and Susie Middleton of Plunkett UK, alongside representative of the community John Harrison to hear the tale of the Three Tuns unfold...
For more information, visit https://easternpromise.org.uk.
We are proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
Welcome to Crowdsourcery, an audience participation spectacular rooted in the East of England, where we use LinkedIn to root out the best the region has to offer!
This time, our focus is the landmarks that welcome you back to the East of England, and let you know your doorstep is not far away. And your choices range from roundabouts to racecourses...
...to squeeze all this and more into the show, your host Mike Rigby, converses with pachyderms, engages in filthy, FILTHY wordplay, and fends off demons from the Orwell Bridge for some reason!?
All this and more, thanks to a little bit of...CROWDSOURCERY!
Find out more at https://easternpromise.org.uk
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This week: We join the audience at the East of England Tech Collaboration event at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts at the University of East Anglia, sponsored by Mills & Reeve.
We hear from Dr Soraya Jones, UEA VC Prof. David Maguire, Cambridge Tech Week Chair Chris Bruce, and a panel consisting of Dr Jerry Wu of Tus Park UK, Prof. Sheng Qi of the UEA, Hannah Smith of Anglia Capital Group and Martin Frost CBE. Oh, and Eastern Promise host Mike Rigby, too...
Join us for the event as recorded on the evening of Tuesday 23rd April 2024!
For more information, visit: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This Week: We hear from one of the East of England's foremost Angel Investors, Peter Cowley. Host Mike Rigby chats to Peter about his career, the highs and lows of being an angel investor and puts some submitted questions to the man himself.
We also learn about the tumultuous life experiences that have shaped his path, leaving him with many valuable life lessons. Plus! A look ahead to what's in this jam-packed run of six episodes...
Peter's book, 'Public Success, Private Grief' is available here.
Find out more at: https://easternpromise.org.uk
We investigate your happy places in the East of England, where you go to rest and recalibrate. A lot of our contributors choose water, some pick pooch walking, long countryside ambles ofwhich we have many. And coffee shops are ever a popular place to watch your fellow humans and enjoy the benefits of a well-crushed Arabica bean..
The makers of this podcast apologise to Scotland for shooting bagpipes out of season, and BBC East for...everything, really.
Yes, we're very sorry - BUT! It's time for a spell of CROWDSOURCERY!
This Week: We preview the forthcoming East of England Tech Collaboration Event at the Sainsbury Centre on the University of East Anglia's campus, itself a curtain-raiser to Cambridge Tech Week!
And then, for the main event, I chat to Rachel Hales, founder of Get Synergised and the With Purpose platform, along with Hannah Chapman of the Cambridge Acorn Project and Nick Finlayson-Brown, partner and Head of the Cambridge office of Mills & Reeve.
And then and then! We tell you what's happened to your favourite CrowdSourcing feature...(Spoiler alert - not much).
For more info, visit: https//easternpromise.org.uk.
This Week: We celebrate your Unsung Heroes in another star-spangled CROWDSOURCERY!
For More Information, please go to https://easternpromise.org.uk.
We are proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This week: This is it! The Grand Finale is upon us, with the last panel comprising Dr Riaz Bhunnoo, Director of the GlobalFood Security Programme for UK Research and Innovation; Dr Stella Peace, Director of Healthy Living and Agriculture for Innovate UK; Shadow Food and Farming Minister and MP for Cambridge Daniel Zeichner MP; and host and Director of the Quadram Institute, Professor Ian Charles OBE. We'll hear what they made of the event and their advice on collaboration, the need for a narrative, and where the Norwich Food Science Supercluster should focus to see continued success.
And Finally! We celebrate your Unsung Heroes in another star-spangled CROWDSOURCERY!
For More Information, please go to https://easternpromise.org.uk.
We are proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
Let's kick off another round of community-sourced goodness looking at sporting venues across the East of England in another goal-hanging CROWDSOURCERY...
This Week: Your host Mike Rigby takes you back to the Norwich Food Science Supercluster event and we hear from Vice-Chancellor of the University of East Anglia, Professor David Maguire, who introduces the second half of the event. Then, after the audio of the film promoting the Innovation capabilities of the supercluster, Imogen Shipperlee of Hethel Innovation, , Dr Nick Goodwin of Anglia Innovation Partnership, Dave Martin of Condimentum and Dr Jon Clarke of the John Innes Centre, then take us through the current innovation climate in Norwich, Norfolk and the East of England. It's an intriguing discussion which highlights the possibilities as well as the true depth of the facilities in Norwich.
And finally: let's kick off another round of community-sourced goodness looking at sporting venues across the East of England in another goal-hanging CROWDSOURCERY...
Find out more at: https://easternpromise.org.uk
Eastern Promise is proud to be sponsored by Mills & Reeve
We are but eight episodes away from our centennial episode - 100 episodes shining a light on the very best of the East of England, whether in - Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk & North Essex. But how should we mark the milestone? You tell us your view with a magical touch of CROWDSOURCERY!
Find out more at: https://easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
This week: We continue our coverage of the recent Eastern Promise Norwich Food Science Supercluster summit with our Infrastructure panel. It should probably have been called the 'planning' panel as that's the primary focus: the Food Enterprise Zone upon which the Food Enterprise Park is forming; the proposed HP3 facility (Healthy Plants, Healthy People, Healthy Planet) on the Norwich Research Park, and the scale of the ambition the supercluster can support (SPOILER ALERT: It's limitless!)
And Finally! We are eight episodes away from our centennial episode - 100 episodes shining a light on the very best of the East of England, whether in - Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk & North Essex. But how should we mark the milestone? You tell us your view with a magical touch of CROWDSOURCERY!
Find out more at: https://easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
We celebrate your best indie businesses in another sense-shattering CrowdSourcery!
If you want to get in touch you can contact me via https://easternpromise.org.uk
This Week: We're back with our second panel from the recent Norwich Food Science Supercluster summit, this time looking at INVESTMENT. How we get it, how we keep it, what's already happening and how we can do more to boost the number of angel investors.
First, we'll hear from Mills & Reeve's Head of VC and Investment, Zickie Lim, then you'll hear from our panel of James Allen (New Anglia LEP & Connected Innovation); Caroline Dean (Partner, Mills & Reeve); Chris Starkie (Director of Growth & Investment, Norfolk County Council) and Prof. Andy Neely (at the time of recording, Senior Pro-Vice Chancellor for Enterprise & Business Relations for Cambridge University). It really is encouraging and I urge you to take a listen!
And finally: We celebrate your best indie businesses in another sense-shattering CrowdSourcery!
If you want to get in touch you can contact me via https://easternpromise.org.uk
We look at your recommendations for a weekend away. So grab your toothbrush, drop your kids off with your ma & pa, and follow these top recommendations in another royally righteous CROWDSOURCERY!
To find out more, visit https://easternpromise.org.uk
We're back! After a hiatus to prepare for the Eastern Promise event - 'The Norwich Food Science Supercluster' summit - the East of England's premier podcast pops up yet again, brining you the first part of that self-same summit!
We'll hear from Prof Ian Charles OBE, Director of the Quadram Institute and George Freeman MP, Mid Norfolk's Member of Parliament and a former science minister. We then join Prof. David Maguire, Vice-Chancellor of the University of East Anglia, Nova Fairbank, CEO of the Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, Dr Catherine Richards, Principal of East Norfolk Sixth Form College, and Mark Nicholas MBE DL, Managing Director of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, to discuss how Norwich and Norfolk secure the skills a food science supercluster requires. It's made the show longer than normal, so apologies there...
And finally! We look at your recommendations for a weekend away. So grab your toothbrush, drop your kids off with your ma & pa, and follow these top recommendations in another royally righteous CROWDSOURCERY!
This Week: We profile your favourite parks and gardens in the East of England, bizarrely with a decidedly Gallic flair? Well, they ARE chosen by you!
Yes, it all got rather silly but that's CROWDSOURCERY!
For more information go to: https://easternpromise.org.uk.
Thank you to our sponsor, Mills & Reeve.
This Week: We join the unsung heroes of science: technicians and other professionals without whom scientific research would be impossible. We also have some of the keynote speech from Norfolk's own science superstar, Prof. Ben Garrod!
And finally, we profile your favourite parks and gardens in the East of England, bizarrely with a decidedly Gallic flair? Well, they ARE chosen by you! Yes, it all got rather silly...
Thank you to Andrew Stronach, Dr Penny Hundleby, Saskia Hervey, Jim Lipscombe, Lizzie Meadows, and Lewis Hollingsworth.
For more information go to: https://easternpromise.org.uk
Thank you to our sponsor, Mills & Reeve.
A shout out to our American listeners - Thank you for your support in 2023 and please do get in touch! We want to know why you're listening and who you are. Thank you for your support in 2023.
Find out more at: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This Week: We find out whither you wander as we set off to tread our region's most historic streets for another CROWDSOURCERY!
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
Find out more at: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This Week: In an episode that couldn't be more timely, Mike Rigby talks to Tristan Fischer of Fischer Farms - a vertical farm just outside Norwich - about his philosophy, why a Lichfield-based organisation came to Norwich, and what the potential for Controlled Environment Agriculture to aid plant scientists at the Norwich Research Park and beyond.
Also this week, we honour our American audience, whose listening figures eclipsed every audience in the world except England - that's right bigger than Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland!
And finally, we find out whither you wander as we set off to tread our region's most historic streets for another CROWDSOURCERY!
Eastern Promise is proud to be supported by Mills & Reeve.
Find out more at: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This Week: And finally: We list your major milestones for the year ahead and Mike Rigby goes to barely credible lengths to hide his lack of material...
Find out more about Eastern Promise at https://easternpromise.org.uk
This Week: I talk to Clarice Benney of Connect Health Tech about this ground-breaking collaborative community at the nexus of tech and medicine, as well as sakuting the winners of the 2023 Connect Health Tech Community Awards!
Find out more here; https://connect.cam.ac.uk/health-tech
And finally: We list your major milestones for the year ahead and Mike Rigby goes to barely credible lengths to hide his lack of material...
Find out more about Eastern Promise at https://easternpromise.org.uk
This Week: We delve into your big plans for 2024 and find out what's got you salivatin', despite the waitin'! Yes, that's all on the first 2024 CROWDSOURCERY!
For more information, go to https://easternpromise.org.uk
This Week: Mike Rigby and co-host Sally Osborne try out the UrbanXR pop-up shop in Castle Quarter, Norwich. UrbanXR's James Lee Burgess helps them experience some mixed reality retail that just might save our high streets...
For more information, go to https://easternpromise.org.uk
This Week: Happy New Year! We kick off 2024 in fine fettle, as Mike chats to Waveney MP Peter Aldous about offshore wind, online democracy, and the regeneration of Lowestoft. Pete also gives us his hot take on the Autumn Statement...
For more information, go to https://easternpromise.org.uk.
* Please note: interviewees views are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Eastern Promise or its presenters.
This Week: Happy New Year! We kick off 2024 in fine fettle, as Mike chats to Waveney MP Peter Aldous about offshore wind, online democracy, and the regeneration of Lowestoft. Peter also gives us his hot take on the Autumn Statement*, delivered minutes before we recorded the interview...
And there's more! Mike and co-host Sally Osborne try out the UrbanXR pop-up shop and experience some mixed reality retail that just might save our high streets.
And finally! We delve into your big plans for 2024 and find out what's got you salivatin', despite the waitin'! Yes, that's all on the first 2024 CROWDSOURCERY!
For more information, go to https://easternpromise.org.uk.
* Please note: interviewees views are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Eastern Promise or its presenters.
This week: What's on your Christmas list for the East of England? Let's find out in another bauble-bustin' CROWDSOURCERY...
This week:Eastern Promise head honcho Mike Rigby chairs a Bidwells Bitesize event looking at the potential of onshore wind energy, . An expert panel consisting of Chris Thyer and James Alflatt of Bidwells, and Isobel Morris from the RSPB, look at the potential, possibilities and, yes, pitfalls of onshore wind, and answer key questions such as: what is the current planning situation? What effect do they have on wildlife? And what should landowners do if apporached? Recorded as live at the Centrum building on Norwich Research Park in November 2024.
And finally! What's on your Christmas list for the East of England? Let's find out in another bauble-bustin' CROWDSOURCERY...
And Now! We run down your festive frivolities and Mike adds to the Christmas spirit by composing some appropriately (awful) East-of-England themed Cracker Jokes, for your listening...we want to say 'pleasure'?
We reconvene our fourth Cam-Brecks Panel, examining how the Norfolk Brecks can support the growth of Cambridge.
In this fourth panel of our occasional series, Mike is joined by Chris Starkie of Norfolk County Council, Anna Aldous of Mills & Reeve, Andrew Holdsworth of Breckland District Council and Paul Downing of Snetterton Business Park, to look at the importance of the park's commercial offer in proximity to Cambridge. We also learn more about the emerging Norfolk Economic Strategy from Chris Starkie!
Thank you to our sponsors Mills & Reeve
For more information, visit: https://easternpromise.org.uk
We reconvene our Cam-Brecks Panel, looking at how the Norfolk Brecks can support the growth of Cambridge. On this third panel of this occasional series, Mike is joined by James Bishop of Equipmake, Andrew Holdsworth of Breckland District Council and Paul Downing of Snetterton Business Park to discuss the specifics of the Snetterton offer and hear from its marquee tenant, Equipmake, along with details of Breckland Council's plan for the site.
This Week: We reconvene our Cam-Brecks Panel, looking at how the Norfolk Brecks can support the growth of Cambridge. This time, Mike is joined by Chris Starkie of Norfolk County Council, Anna Aldous of Mills & Reeve, James Bishop of Equipmake, Andrew Holdsworth of Breckland District Council and Paul Downing of Snetterton Business Park. The first panel discuss the specifics of the Snetterton offer and the second looks at the importance of its commercial offer in proximity to Cambridge.
Andy finally! Let's see which festive shindigs you organised in our Yuletide CROWDSOURCERY!
This Week: We take a look at the social enterprises that warm the cockles of your heart at a slightly more sedate-than-usual edition of CROWDSOURCERY!
Find out more at: https://easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is a Priors Croft production in proud association with Mills & Reeve: Acheiving More, Together.
This week: Professor Andy Neely OBE, Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Enterprise and Business Relations is omnipresent in the Cambridge ecosystem, and he's been at the forefront of many of the organisations, initiatives and groups that have contributed to cementing Cambridge's global reputation as a thriving global hub for business, science, enterprise and innovation. Mike Rigby chats to Andy about his approach to that ecosystem and the wider region.
Also this week: We take a look at the social enterprises that warm the cockles of your heart at a slightly more sedate-than-usual edition of CROWDSOURCERY!
Find out more at: https://easternpromise.org.uk.
Eastern Promise is a Priors Croft production in proud association with Mills & Reeve: Achieving More, Together.
You tell me what your first taste of Autumn has been, and share some spots to take in the most enigmatic of the seasons, in another all-conkering (sorry) CROWDSOURCERY!
To find out more, go to: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This week: We visit the Galfrid School in Cambridge, to a HAF Club being run by Cambridge United Foundation, part of the drive by the city's League Two football club to give back to the city and support the communities around the Abbey Stadium.
We're at the school to meet Vicky Neal, Head of the Foundation, as she and her team deliver a Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Club in one of the most deprived wards in the city, itself one of the most unequal in the UK. Vicky talks us through the strategy behind the Foundation's work and their incredibly strong strategy. I'm also joined by Eastern Promise Chief Sports Correspondent Andrew Dubock, whose experience of being a longstanding part of a football club community lends a fascinating additional perspective.
And finally! You tell me what your first taste of Autumn has been, and share some spots to take in the most enigmatic of the seasons, in another all-conkering (sorry) CROWDSOURCERY!
To find out more, go to: https://easternpromise.org.uk
And finally... Where do you like to visit once a week? Let's find out in another wacky, wonderful CROWDSOURCERY!!
This week's episode was made possible by the Greater Gabbard Community Fund and in association with Mills & Reeve.
To find out more, visit: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This week: Mike drops in on Rachel Bunn, Commercial Projects Director at East Coast College in Lowestoft. We talk about the Energy Skills Centre, where the offshore wind technicians and more that are needed to power the region's energy sector anre being trained...and just in time, for estmates put the shortage of skilled personnel at 0.75 million next year. Rachel tells me what the College is doing to lead efforts to fill the gap. With special guest appearance from Peter Aldous MP!
And finally... Where do you like to visit once a week? Let's find out in another wacky,wonderful CROWDSOURCERY!!
This week's episode was made possible by the Greater Gabbard Community Fund and in association with Mills & Reeve.
To find out more, visit: https://easternpromise.org.uk
Recorded in the Frankopan Hall at Jesus College Cambridge, Eastern Promise brings you our recent event looking at the decarbonisation, retro-fit and repurposing of historic buildings. Featuring discussions with:
Panel One:
- Dr Nik Johnson, Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority;
- Dr Richard Anthony, Bursar of Jesus College;
- Laura Ludlow, Principal Associate and real estate lawyer at Mills & Reeve; and
- David Tittle, Chief Executive of the Heritage Trust Network.
On Panel Two:
- Jerene Irwin, Director of Chaplin Farrant and Chair, RIBA East;
- Tom Roundell-Greene, Director of Sustainability, Carter Jonas;
- Nathan Blowers, Special Projects Director for Canham Consulting;
- Hannah Wooller, Founder of Matter Of Place Architects CIC; and
- Gwilym Still, Director at Max Fordham LLP.
This includes the Q&A sessions following the panel discussions.
Find out more at https://easternpromise.org.uk.
And finally! We hear where you're spending bonfire night in another whizz-poppin' CROWDSOURCERY!
Listen to more at https://easternpromise.org.uk
This Week: Recorded in the Frankopan Hall at Jesus College Cambridge, Eastern Promise brings you the first panel of our recent event looking at the Decarbonisation of historic buildings. Featuring discussions with Dr Nik Johnson, Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority; Dr Richard Anthony, Bursar of Jesus College; Laura Ludlow, Principal Associate and real estate lawyer at Mills & Reeve; and David Tittle, Chief Executive of the Heritage Trust Network.
Please note that the full event is also available on the Eastern Promise podcast feed.
And finally! We hear where you're spending bonfire night in another whizz-poppin' CROWDSOURCERY!
With thanks to our sponsor, Mills & Reeve.
Find out more at https://easternpromise.org.uk
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
After our recent live event in Cambridge, many more people wanted to find out more about Eastern Promise: who we are, what we do and why we do it. Here, our CEO Mike Rigby attempts to answer some of your questions...
And finally: Let's kick hunger to the kerb, with a look at where you like to grab lunch on the go, in this week's CROWDSOURCERY...!
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/
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/
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
This Week: 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, we've assembled two stellar panels, featuring Breckland Council Deputy Leader, Cllr Sarah Suggitt, Bidwells Partner and Ox-Cam Arc Lead, Rob Hopwood, Director of Snetterton Business Park Paul Downing, Matt Samways of real-estate firm Inuti, Mills & Reeve Real Estate lawyer Anna Aldous and Norfolk County Council's Director of Growth and Investment, Chris Starkie.
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.
Find out more at: https://easternpromise.org.uk
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.
What's the top networking events that you just can't miss. We find out in another CrowdSourcery!
Eastern Promise is a Priors Croft production in proud association with Mills & Reeve, Achieving more, together.
Find out more at: https://easternpromise.org.uk
It's part one of our occasional series looking into the work of the region's professional sports clubs in our communities. For our first stop, we're flocking to The Next, Horsford home of Norwich City Community Sports Foundation. Mike pays the Nest a visit, chatting with Foundation CEO Ian Thornton OBE. We drop in on the 3G pitches, the Challenge Woods and the Clubhouse, where a Dementia Cafe is in full swing.
Eastern Promise is a Priors Croft production in proud association with Mills & Reeve, Achieving more, together.
Find out more at: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This Week: It's part one of our occasional series looking into the work of the region's professional sports clubs in our communities. For our first stop, we're flocking to The Next, Horsford home of Norwich City Community Sports Foundation.
Mike pays the Nest a visit, chatting with Foundation CEO Ian Thornton OBE. We drop in on the 3G pitches, the Challenge Woods and the Clubhouse, where a Dementia Cafe is in full swing.
And finally, what's the top networking events that you just can't miss. We find out in another CrowdSourcery!
Eastern Promise is a Priors Croft production in proud association with Mills & Reeve, Achieving more, together.
Find out more here: https://easternpromise.org.uk
Were you born to run? Well, lots of you clearly were as we show a clean pair of heels to another CROWDSOURCERY!
Eastern Promise is brought to you in association with Mills & Reeve: Achieving More, Together.
We're in Ipswich, joining the 550th anniversary festivities of the birth of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey: titan of Tudor politics. I'll be talking to Kath Cockshaw FRSA of Locus MS, Emily Shepperson from the Suffolk Archives and [checks notes] one Henry VIII!
Visit our website: https://easternpromise.org.uk. Eastern Promise is brought to you in association with Mills & Reeve: Achieving More, Together.
We're back and we're in Southwold, which can mean only one thing: the Sole Bay Brewery of Adnams and, specifically, Andy Wood OBE DL. Chief Executive of this independent family firm that is seen as a bellwether for the UK's brewing and hospitality sectors. I'll be chatting to Andy about the values Adnams embodies, as well as looking back on his time a the first ever Chair of the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership.
Visit our website: https://easternpromise.org.uk. Eastern Promise is brought to you in association with Mills & Reeve: Achieving More, Together.
This Week: We're back! And, in a flying start to the new term, we're doing double duty in Suffolk, except it's not a duty, it's a pleasure...
First up, we're in Southwold, which can mean only one thing: the Sole Bay Brewery of Adnams and, specifically, Andy Wood OBE DL. Chief Executive of this independent family firm that is seen as a bellwether for the UK's brewing and hospitality sectors. I'll be chatting to Andy about the values Adnams embodies, as well as looking back on his time a the first ever Chair of the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership.
We're also in Ipswich, joining the 550th anniversary festivities of the birth of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey: titan of Tudor politics. I'll be talking to Kath Cockshaw FRSA of Locus MS, Emily Shepperson from the Suffolk Archives and [checks notes] one Henry VIII (going under the pseudonym 'David Smith')!
And finally, were you born to run? Well, lots of your clearly were as we show a clean pair of heels to another CROWDSOURCERY!
Visit our website: https://easternpromise.org.uk. Eastern Promise is brought to you in association with Mills & Reeve: Achieving More, Together.
This week: CrowdSourcery takes to the Cam to celebrate our urban waterways!
Visit our website: https://easternpromise.org.uk
As Eastern Promise heads off on a summer break for lots of lovely admin, we look ahead to what's coming soon on the podcast that explores the full potential of the East of England!
Visit our website: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This week: I talk to Neil Fossett and Rachel Holden of Norfolk-based NR Medical Training about their work to bring knowledge and, crucially, language around sepsis to the social care sector. Sepsis claims the lives of five people an hour in the UK so ensuring the safety of the most vulnerable in our society has to be high on anyone's agenda.
Find out more here: https://nrmedical.training/
We also hear from Dr Ron Daniels, Chief Executive of the UK Sepsis Trust.
Visit our website: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This week: I talk to Neil Fossett and Rachel Holden of Norfolk-based NR Medical Training about their work to bring knowledge and, crucially, language around sepsis to the social care sector. Sepsis claims the lives of five people an hour in the UK so ensuring the safety of the most vulnerable in our society has to be high on anyone's agenda.
Also: as Eastern Promise heads off on a summer break for lots of lovely admin, we look ahead to what's coming soon on the world's favourite podcast focussed on raising aspiration in and for the East of England!
And Finally! CrowdSourcery takes to the Cam to celebrate our urban waterways!
Visit our wesbite: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This Week: We're clearly quite the smooth criminals in the East of England, as when we asked what you'd steal fror the region from elsewhere, there were enough suggestions to fill a police auction! Let's find out what you want to nick for our slice of the nation in another CROWDSOURCERY!!
Visit our wesbite: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This Week: Mike Rigby revisits the Royal Norfolk Show for a special look at the RNAA's 'Norfolk Voices for Norfolk's Future' initiative. We'll hear from a collection of young show-goers what they want to future of Norfolk to look like, as well as Holkham Director of Conservation Jake Fiennes and Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association Trustee Emily Norton, to hear more about the genesis of this timely idea.
Visit our website: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This Week: Mike Rigby revisits the Royal Norfolk Show for a special look at the RNAA's 'Norfolk Voices for Norfolk's Future' initiative. We'll hear from a collection of young show-goers what they want to future of Norfolk to look like, as well as Holkham Director of Conservation Jake Fiennes and Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association Trustee Emily Norton, to hear more about the genesis of this timely idea.
And finally: We're clearly quite the smooth criminals in the East of England, as when we asked what you'd steal fror the region from elsewhere, there were enough suggestions to fill a police auction! Let's find out what you want to nick for our slice of the nation in another CROWDSOURCERY!!
This Week: As this episode goes live on 27th July - Norfolk Day! - we celebrate with a special message(s) from its creator, former EDP editor and now CEO of Norfolk Community Law Foundation, David Powles!
Visit our website: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This Week: As this episode goes live on 27th July - Norfolk Day! - what better time to hear from someone who's has a massive impact on both the county and the region: Chris Starkie. As Chief Executive of the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, Chris has been at the forefront of growth and economic development in both Norfolk and Suffolk since the formation of LEPs in 2010. I ask him about the New Anglia LEP's greatest achievements, the future of the Cambridge Norwich Tech Corridor and what day one at the LEP was like.
This is the full-length interview.
Visit our website: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This Week: As this episode goes live on 27th July - Norfolk Day! - what better time to hear from someone who's has a massive impact on both the county and the region: Chris Starkie. As Chief Executive of the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, Chris has been at the forefront of growth and economic development in both Norfolk and Suffolk since the formation of LEPs in 2010. I ask him about the New Anglia LEP's greatest achievements, the future of the Cambridge Norwich Tech Corridor and what day one at the LEP was like.
Visit our website: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This Week: As this episode goes live on 27th July - Norfolk Day! - what better time to hear from someone who's has a massive impact on both the county and the region: Chris Starkie. As Chief Executive of the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, Chris has been at the forefront of growth and economic development in both Norfolk and Suffolk since the formation of LEPs in 2010. I ask him about the New Anglia LEP's greatest achievements, the future of the Cambridge Norwich Tech Corridor and what day one at the LEP was like.
And finally...we celebrate Norfolk Day with a special message(s) from its creator, former EDP editor and now CEO of Norfolk Community Law Foundation, David Powles!
Visit our website: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This week: With the holidays almost upon us, what better time than now to share tips for keeping all the dear children from getting bored and fractious? No better time at all for some...CROWDSOURCERY!
Visit our website: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This week: Mike Rigby joins Jane Hutchins, Director of Cambridge Science Park, for a chat in the world-famous Bradfield Centre, before taking to the highways and byways of the park for a tour. This is the whole interview and tour: the abridged version is available on the podcast feed!
Visit our website: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This week: Mike Rigby joins Jane Hutchins, Director of Cambridge Science Park, for a chat in the world-famous Bradfield Centre, before taking to the highways and byways of the park for a tour. This is just the abridged version, listeners, the whole tour is available on the podcast feed!
And! With the holidays almost upon us, what better time than now to share tips for keeping all the dear children from getting bored and fractious? No better time at all for some...CROWDSOURCERY!
Visit our website: https://easternpromise.org.uk
We look at where you go to free your inner child. Choices range from the electronically powered to the adrenaline-fuelled! But dinosaurs seem to be very important for many of you...
Find out more at: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This Week: We look back at the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority Rail Conference in July 2023, and a bit further still at the Eastern Promise 'Great Railway Adventure' in October 2022, talking to key voices in local government and the rail industry about the future opportunities the rail network can provide...IF we can unlock the bottleneck that is Ely junction, a C19th piece of infrastructure seriously hampering the UK's growth.
Find us at: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This Week: We look back at the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority Rail Conference in July 2023, and a bit further still at the Eastern Promise 'Great Railway Adventure' in October 2022, talking to key voices in local government and the rail industry about the future opportunities the rail network can provide...IF we can unlock the bottleneck that is Ely junction, a C19th piece of infrastructure seriously hampering the UK's growth.
And finally! We look at where you go to free your inner child. Choices range from the electronically powered to the adrenaline-fuelled! But dinosaurs seem to be very important for many of you...
Find us at: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This week: We bring you the best of what we saw at the UK's premier two-day agricultural festival, the Royal Norfolk Show!
We're bringing you our pick of 2023: We look at schemes to lift up our best and brightest young people; how Norfolk County Council is caring for our countryside, renewable energy, furniture, cutlery and much, much more! Take a listen to our abridged coverage in the omnibus version, or delve into the longer 'Director's Cut' on the podcast feed!
And that's not all, no siree! We have your top choices for the best festivals, most enormous events and all the fun of the fair in this week's CROWDSOURCERY!
Find out more at: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This week: We bring you the best of what we saw at the UK's premier two-day agricultural festival, the Royal Norfolk Show!
We're biving you our pick of the most interesting stands, and the top people. We look at schemes to lift up our best and brightest young people; how Norfolk County Council is caring for our countryside, renewable energy, furniture, cutlery and much, much more! Take a listen to our abridged coverage in the omnibus version, or delve into this EXTENDED 'Director's Cut' on the podcast feed!
Find out more at: https://easternpromise.org.uk
We have your top choices for the best festivals, most enormous events and all the fun of the fair in this week's CROWDSOURCERY!
Find out more at: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This Week: Mike chats with Sam Burton of Creative East and the University of East Anglia, and Robin Milton of Fairer Games, about the Create Growth Programme. We find out how the programme works, what it's like to be on it and the kind of support and mentorship you receive.
And finally, we look at your choices for our region's top statues, memorials and monuments in another spectacular CROWDSOURCERY!
Visit our website: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This Week: Mike chats with Sam Burton of Creative East and the University of East Anglia, and Robin Milton of Fairer Games, about the Create Growth Programme. We find out how the programme works, what it's like to be on it and the kind of support and mentorship you receive.
Visit our website: https://easternpromise.org.uk
And finally...we look at your choices for our region's top statues, memorials and monuments in another spectacular CROWDSOURCERY!
Visit our website: https://easternpromise.org.uk
You nominate future guests for this podcast in another... CROWDSOURCERY!
Visit our website: https://easternpromise.org.uk
Mike joins the festivities at the first Cambridge Wide Open Day to find out what attendees have made of the event, before joining the evening celebrations at the Garden Party.
All that, plus you nominate future guests in another. CROWDSOURCERY!
Visit our website: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This week: talk to Johnathan Reynolds of the Opergy Group about this region's huge power in...well, power! Clean power to be precise. It's a hugely encouraging and exciting chat.
Plus, a guest appearance from Waveney MP, Peter Aldous!
This is the FULL version of the interview.
Visit our website: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This week: Mike joins Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority Mayor, Dr Nik Johnson, on his Six District Challenge to visit all six districts of the Combined Authority using only public transport.
We join Dr Johnson on the leg between Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire.
Visit our website: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This week: There's more Eastern Promise than you can shake a city at, as we join Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority Mayor, Dr Nik Johnson, on his Six District Challenge to visit all six districts of the Combined Authority using only public transport.
Then! I talk to Johnathan Reynolds of the Opergy Group about this region's huge power in...well, power! Clean power to be precise. This is just the first part of the interview, you can find the full version in the podcast feed.
Are we done? Not even slightly! We join the festivities at the first Cambridge Wide Open Day to find out what attendees have made of the event, before joining the evening celebrations at the Garden Party.
All that, plus you nominate future guests in another. CROWDSOURCERY!
Visit our website: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This week: Mike Rigby chats with Dr Johanna Forster and Dr Ben Little of the University of East Anglia's Civic University Project, and get a moving example of the UEA's convening role in the unique Passover Seder following the civic apology for the Blood Libel made by the City of Norwich.
Visit our website: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This week: Mike Rigby chats with Dr Johanna Forster and Dr Ben Little of the University of East Anglia's Civic University Project. Ben and Johanna also give a moving example of the UEA's convening role in the unique Passover Seder following the civic apology for the Blood Libel made by the City of Norwich.
And finally, we look at where you're picking out for your pub lunch in this week's CROWDSOURCERY!
Visit our website at: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This week: Mike Rigby chats with Dr Johanna Forster and Dr Ben Little of the University of East Anglia's Civic University Project.
Visit our website: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This week: We look at where you're picking out for your pub lunch in this week's CROWDSOURCERY! Oh, and beware the bagpipes!
Who are YOUR dream dinner party guests? We find out and put some of your more ...erm...combustible suggestions to the test!
Visit our website: https://easternpromise.org.uk
This week: Mike Rigby heads out to Whersted Park to meet Doug Field OBE, Chief Executive of the East of England Co-Op. Discussions look at the importance of being a values-based business and even 'The Co-Op Guide to Dating' - food dates that is!
And finally, we look at your dream dinner party guests for the Eastern Promise Dining Club, where things do get more than a little rowdy...
Visit our website at https://easternpromise.org.uk.
Mike Rigby talks to Chief Executive of the East of England Co-Op, Doug Field OBE, about being a strong values-based business in the East of England and how to make your values work for you.
Visit our website: https://easternpromise.org.uk
Cake! Where (in the East of England) do you get yours? One way to find out, in this week's CROWDSOURCERY!
Another bumper edition this week, as Mike looks back at Cambridge Tech Week with Chris Bruce, and reaction from the event itself. More interviews are included in the stand-alone piece on the podcast feed.
Also, Mike Rigby chats to Adam Thorp and Matthew Stewart of the East of England Local Government Association on their landmark report on housing in the region: "Opening the Door: Good Quality, Available and Affordable Housing in the East of England" Read it here: https://www.eelga.gov.uk/housing-report/.
Finally, we look at the best place for cake in the East of England. Mmmmmm!
Visit our website: easternpromise.org.uk
Mike Rigby chats to Adam Thorp and Matthew Stewart of the East of England Local Government Associaton on their landmark report on housing in the region: "Opening the Door: Good Quality, Available and Affordable Housing in the East of England" Read it here: https://www.eelga.gov.uk/housing-report/.
Visit the Eastern Promise website at easternpromise.org.uk
Another bumper edition this week, as Mike looks back at Cambridge Tech Week with Chris Bruce, and reaction from the event itself, with Dr Julian Huppert of Jesus College, Paula Rogers-Brown of Connect Health Tech and more...
This version contains extended coverage, including more interviews from the Thursday event.
W: easternpromise.org.uk
This week: After the success of Cambridge Tech Week and the call for greater STEMM skills, it seems only right to look again at how our region is answering that call. Mike Rigby talks to Dr Samantha Fox, Director of The Youth STEMM Award CIC to talk about how the awards reflect, support and encourage young people around the world to embrace STEMM subjects, including that extra 'M' for medicine.
Sam will be leading the STEMM village at the 2023 Royal Norfolk Show, so there's no better time to hear from her once again.
For more information on The Youth STEMM Award, visit ysawards.co.uk. For more from Eastern Promise, visit easternpromise.org.uk.
Yes! It's another 'Best of the Guests' - our top pick from the last 12 months. Norwich-based singer-songwriter Eliza Delf is our go-to example for the creative end of the huge spectrum of guests we are so lucky to have had on the 'Eastern Promise' podcast. Eliza talks through her East Anglian inspirations, the stories behind her songs and we get to hear some of her top picks from her debut album, 'Into the Wilderness'.Enjoy the music and the joy of all the hugely talented creatives we have in the East of England!
PS: You can watch Eliza's session at the Banham Barrel here.
This week, we look at your top recommendations for fish and chip shops in the East of England, including the mysteries of the deep-fried Jammie Dodger and the risky excitement of Bang-Bang Sauce. Welcome to Eastern Promise...
This week: Mike Rigby heads to The Sainsbury Laboratory on Norwich Research Park to meet its Executive Director, Professor Nick Talbot, to discuss the power of the plant science being conducted on the NRP and in the East of England, the differences and similarities with the US systems and the significance of the Lab's coffee room ceiling!
Then, we join Dr Samantha Fox of the Youth Stemm Award CIC and Dr Shannon Woodhouse of the Food and Farming Discovery Trust at the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, to preview the amazing STEMM Village; part of the Discovery Zone at this year's Royal Norfolk Show.
And finally, we look at your top recommendations for fish and chip shops in our region, including the mysteries of the deep-fried Jammie Dodger and the risky excitement of Bang-Bang Sauce.
Welcome to Eastern Promise...
Mike Rigby heads to The Sainsbury Laboratory on Norwich Research Park to meet its Executive Director, Professor Nick Talbot, to discuss the power of the plant science being conducted on the NRP and in the East of England, the differences and similarities with the US system and the significance of the Lab's coffee room ceiling!
Welcome to Eastern Promise...
We join Dr Samantha Fox of the Youth Stemm Award CIC and Dr Shannon Woodhouse of the Food and Farming Discovery Trust at the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, to preview the amazing STEMM Village; part of the Discovery Zone at this year's Royal Norfolk Show.
Welcome to Eastern Promise...
Mike Rigby chats with Chris Bruce about the inaugural Cambridge Tech Week, running from 8-12 May 2023: it's an amazing programme that you can view and book here: https://cambridgetechweek.co.uk/programme/.
Mike heads to the Centre for Computing History, where visitors can see just how much the East of England in general, and Cambridge in particular, is hard-wired into the base code of computing technology. You can also see - and, more importantly, PLAY - computer consoles and games from PONG all the way up to more modern gaming systems. Find out more at: https://www.computinghistory.org.uk/
We creep into the crypts and tackle the towers of the best castgles and keeps in the East of England in this week's CROWDSOURCERY (dragon optional)...
This week: Mike Rigby chats with Chris Bruce about the inaugural Cambridge Tech Week, running from 8-12 May 2023: it's an amazing programme that you can view and book here: https://cambridgetechweek.co.uk/programme/.
Then, Mike heads to the Centre for Computing History, where visitors can see just how much the East of England in general, and Cambridge in particular, is hard-wired into the base code of computing technology. You can also see - and, more importantly, PLAY - computer consoles and games from PONG all the way up to more modern gaming systems. Find out more at: https://www.computinghistory.org.uk/
And finally...we creep into the crypts and tackle the towers of the best castgles and keeps in the East of England in this week's CROWDSOURCERY (dragon optional)
This week, we look at what you do on high days and holidays in the East of England! Stand by for some more CROWDSOURCERY!
Mike heads out to Adastral Park near Ipswich for the Connected Innovation conference and talks to delegates and Space Cluster manager Stuart Catchpole.
Visit: www.spaceeast.co.uk
Mike chats to Norfolk-based SF author Garrick Fincham about his debut novel, his day job at the UEA and his inspirations. There's also a treat in store: a snippet of a dramatised reading of one of Garrick's short stories: STORM DAMAGE, available now on the Eastern Promise podcast feed.
This week: Mike talks to Norfolk-based SF author Garrick Fincham on his debutr novel Interchange, the creative process, how he got into print and where he finds inspiration in the East of England. Then, after a short advertisement break, we hear from delegates at the launch of Space East, the region's new Space Cluster! All that, plus we look at your Bank Holiday Haunts in this week's CROWDSOURCERY!
On a failed Mars colony, two survivors look for one final hope of redemption amidst the ruins of a dead world.
By Garrick Fincham, author of 'Interchange', and adapted for audio by Mike Rigby, executive producer of the 'Eastern Promise' podcast.
The Swaffham Prior Community Land Trust #districtheating scheme is a trailblazer for the #eastofengland, if not the #UK, and it was a huge pleasure to chat with the Chair of the #CLT Emma Fletcher, about the scheme.
Though District Heating schemes are common on the continent, they are less so here in Britain. Even so, the Swaffham Prior scheme in #cambridgeshire has really come into its own since the huge pressure on energy costs became apparent. Emma and I also discuss housing and her then day job as MD of Evera Homes, where she shares her insightful and highly thoughtful prescription for what's needed. This interview initially went out in two parts last year and is presented here as recorded.
I'm grateful to Emma and proud to bring you this 'Best of the Guests' bonus from the Eastern Promise Archive! And look out for Episode 60 next week, 'cos it's Out of This World...!
As Mike is off on his holidays as you hear this, we've reached back into the archive for one week only, to bring you CHALLENGE:ANGLIA - It's Telly Time!
This week: Mike Rigby pays a visit to Broadcast House, home of the Broadcast Journalism course at the University of East Anglia, to meet MA students there and also to sit down in studio 2 with Course Director Clare Precey, former Editor of the Eastern Daily Press David Powles, and Mike Talbot, former Head of News at ITV Anglia.
And then, as Mike is off on his holidays as you hear this, we've reached back into the archive for one week only, to bring you CHALLENGE:ANGLIA - It's Telly Time!
This week: Mike Rigby pays a visit to Broadcast House, home of the Broadcast Journalism course at the University of East Anglia, to meet MA students there and also to sit down in studio 2 with Course Director Clare Precey, former Editor of the Eastern Daily Press David Powles, and Mike Talbot, former Head of News at ITV Anglia.
Mike Rigby drops in on the Grand Finale of the UEA 'Change Makers' programme 2023, at the university's iconic Enterprise Centre.
This week: Mike Rigby talks to Asher Minns, Executive Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of East Anglia, discussing not only the work he and his team do in charting the impact of climate change but the many opportunities our region has to lead the fight against it.
Then, sticking with the UEA we'll be dropping in on the Grand Finale of the 'Change Makers' programme, at the university's iconic Enterprise Centre.
And finally, where do you go and what do you do to keep active and sporty in the East of England? Only one way to find out! Let's go into extra time for this week's CROWDSOURCERY!
Get in touch at mike@easternpromise.site
This week: Mike Rigby talks to Asher Minns, Executive Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of East Anglia, discussing not only the work he and his team do in charting the impact of climate change but the many opportunities our region has to lead the fight against it.
Where do you go and what do you do to keep active and sporty in the East of England? Only one way to find out! Let's go into extra time for this week's CROWDSOURCERY!
This week: Mike Rigby heads for the region's biggest tech conference, Nor(Dev)Con 2023, to hear from speaker Dr Gail Ollis, Molly Howes of Aviva, Gearset's Cathrine Evans, gaming guru Oscar Clarke, Simon Blackwell and Norwich tech legend James Adams.
Get in touch at mike@easternpromise.site!
This week: Mike Rigby talks to Susan Gowling, Founder of Laptops4Learning (Laptops4learning.co.uk) about her life, her drive to help people across the world and how the pandemic created a tremendous force for good in our region, fighting digital exclusion and digital poverty. Then, we head for the region's biggest tech conference, Nor(Dev):Con 2023, to hear from speaker Dr Gail Ollis, Molly Howes of the Aviva Foundry, Gearset's Cathrine Evans, gaming guru Oscar Clarke, Simon Blackwell and Norwich tech legend James Adams. And finally, we wrap it all up with the most mysterious places in the East of England and a body's found in the library in this week's CROWDSOURCERY!
Get in touch at mike@easternpromise.site!
This week: Mike Rigby talks to Susan Gowling, Founder of Laptops4Learning (Laptops4learning.co.uk) about her life, her drive to help people across the world and how the pandemic created a tremendous force for good in our region, fighting digital exclusion and digital poverty.
Get in touch at mike@easternpromise.site!
This week: We visit your choices of the most mysterious places in the East of England and a body's found in the library in this week's CROWDSOURCERY!
Get in touch at mike@easternpromise.site!
The answer over what to do on to your wet weekends: solved! It's all here in this week's CROWDSOURCERY!
This week, it's Blast Off for the New Anglia Space Cluster as our news roundup hears from cluster manager Stuart Catchpole. All that and the answer over what to do on to your wet weekends: solved! In this week's CROWDSOURCERY!
For more on Space East, visit: https://spaceeast.co.uk/
Contact Eastern Promise by emailing: mike@easternpromise.site.
This week, Eastern Promise heads to RSPB Minsmere to find out from Richard Powell OBE the wonders of the natural economy. New team member Sally Osborne helps her co-host Mike Rigby appreciate the wildlife on display, as we discuss all manner of matters, including the imminent impact of Sizewell C.
This is the full-length tour.
Contact Eastern Promise by emailing: mike@easternpromise.site.
This week, Eastern Promise heads to RSPB Minsmere to find out from Richard Powell OBE the wonders of the natural economy. New team member Sally Osborne helps her co-host Mike Rigby appreciate the wildlife on display, as we discuss all manner of matters, including the imminent impact of Sizewell C. You can hear the full tour on your podcast feed or enjoy these highlights.
Plus, it's Blast Off for the New Anglia Space Cluster as our news roundup hears from cluster manager Stuart Catchpole. All that and the answer over what to do on to your wet weekends: solved! In this week's CROWDSOURCERY!
Contact us by emailing: mike@easternpromise.site.
Big sky. Big potential...this is Eastern Promise.
This week, Mike Rigby talks to Professor Cheryl Davenport, Managing Director of the East of England Local Government Association (EELGA), a membership body encompassing the region's 50 local councils, from North Norfolk and the Suffolk Coast to central Cambridge and the edge of London. We'll hear about EELGA's work, its sustainable growth prospectus and its landmark report evaluating the progress of 'Levelling Up' the East of England.
We'll also hear from the fringes of the recent Parliamentary reception, hosted by MPs and Peers of the East of England All-Party Parliamentary Group, to discuss that EELGA report and identify where the region is at its strongest and where much more still needs to be done.
Our news roundup will call upon you to assist Innovate Cambridge and also lay out the exciting changes at...Eastern Promise?
Finally, where in the East of England do you go to clear your mind and soothe your soul. Let's find out in this week's CROWDSOURCERY!
Get in touch by emailing mike@easternpromise.site
Mike Rigby talks to delegates at the recent Parliamentary reception, hosted by MPs and Peers of the East of England All-Party Parliamentary Group, to discuss that EELGA report on levelling up progress in the region and identify where the East is at its strongest and where much more still needs to be done.
Interviewees include:
- Peter Aldous MP (Con), Member of Parliament for Waveney;
- Cllr Matthew Hicks (Con), Chair of the East of England LGA and Leader of Suffolk County Council;
- Arnie Craven, Cadent;
- Anita Thornberry, Haven Gateway Partnership;
- Cllr John Fuller (Con), Leader, South Norfolk Council;
- Paul Carter, Anglian Water;
- Lawrence Morris, University of Cambridge;
- Adam Thorp, East of England LGA;
- Andrew Sinclair, BBC East; and
- Cllr Anna Smith (Lab), Acting Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough and Leader, Cambridge City Council.
Get in touch by emailing mike@easternpromise.site
Our news roundup will call upon you to assist Innovate Cambridge and also lay out the exciting changes at...Eastern Promise?
Complete the Innovate Cambridge survey here.
Send your stories to newsdesk@easternpromise.site
Big sky. Big potential...this is Eastern Promise.
Where in the East of England do you go to clear your mind and soothe your soul? Let's find out in this week's CROWDSOURCERY!
Get in touch by emailing mike@easternpromise.site.
Big sky. Big potential...this is Eastern Promise.
Mike Rigby talks to Professor Cheryl Davenport, Managing Director of the East of England Local Government Association (EELGA), a membership body encompassing the region's 50 local councils, from North Norfolk and the Suffolk Coast to central Cambridge and the edge of London. We'll hear about EELGA's work, its sustainable growth prospectus and its landmark report evaluating the progress of 'Levelling Up' the East of England.
Read more here: https://www.eelga.gov.uk/levelling-up-report/
Get in touch by emailing mike@easternpromise.site
For the 'Best of the Guests', Eastern Promise brings together the most popular interviews that were originally released in two parts.
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! For this delve into the Eastern Promise archive, we look to the silver screen, as Rachel Aldridge and Jim Horsfield of Screen Suffolk, Craig Higgins of Norfolk Screen and local film-maker Crispin Buxton share their insights about making movies in the East of England. What does it mean for the local economy when a movie or TV studio rolls into town? And does that offset the risk of having our best and brightest behind-the-camera talent poached? We'll look at all that, and more.
So sit back and relax, grab your popcorn and enjoy our feature presentation...
This week: love isn't blind as we look at where you go in our region to feel the lurve. Pucker up for this week's CROWDSOURCERY!
This week: The news round-up takes in NOURISH, news of Warren's spiffy rebrand and your chance to have your say on the County Deal for Norfolk and Suffolk, as well as the Local Skills Improvement Plan.
Send your press releases to newsdesk@easternpromise.site
This week: Mike Rigby chats to Harriet Fear MBE, Chief Executive of Cambridge& (https://cambridgeand.com/) about her career, the importance of foreign direct investment and how vital it is to have a compelling story and 'shop window'. The news round-up takes in NOURISH, news of Warren's spiffy rebrand and your chance to have your say on the County Deal for Norfolk and Suffolk, as well as the Local Skills Improvement Plan. And finally, love isn't blind as we look at where you go in our region to feel the lurve. Pucker up for this week's CROWDSOURCERY!
This week: Mike Rigby chats to Harriet Fear MBE, Chief Executive of Cambridge& (https://cambridgeand.com/) about her career, the importance of foreign direct investment and how vital it is to have a compelling story and 'shop window'. The news round-up takes in NOURISH, news of Warren's spiffy rebrand and your chance to have your say on the County Deal for Norfolk and Suffolk, as well as the Local Skills Improvement Plan. And finally, love isn't blind as we look at where you go in our region to feel the lurve. Pucker up for this week's CROWDSOURCERY!
Where be the greatest hidden treasures in the East me hearties? Find out in this week's CROWDSOURCERY!
NEWS SPECIAL! The Norwich Science Festival has three days left so just enough time to check out these great events and much, much more!
For more details visit https://norwichsciencefestival.co.uk/
Send your stories to newsdesk@easternpromise.site.
Stardust meets the salt of the earth as we sample a very small part of the Agri-Tech E and New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership event on how agri-tech meets space tech. Dr Belinda Clarke, Julian Munson and guests will be on hand to tell us more.
Find out more at https://www.agri-tech-e.co.uk/ and https://newanglia.co.uk/business-chiefs-plan-for-suffolk-to-take-giant-leap-into-space-sector/
Get in touch at mike@easternpromise.site
Eastern Promise has got your goat(s) as Mike Rigby visits The Goat Shed Farm Shop at Fielding Cottage, Honingham in Norfolk. Founder Sam Steggles takes us round this multi-award-winning Norfolk business, including where their world-renowned goat cheese is made, and shares how the business was founded in the teeth of the pandemic with Sam on the other side of the world.
For more information, go to: https://www.fieldingcottage.co.uk/the-goat-shed-farm-shop/
This week: Eastern Promise has got your goat(s) as Mike Rigby visits The Goat Shed at Honingham in Norfolk. Founder Sam Steggles takes us round this multi-award-winning Norfolk business, including where their world-renowned goat cheese is made, and shares how the business was founded in the teeth of the pandemic with Sam on the other side of the world.
Sticking with the agricultural theme whilst being out of this world, we sample a very small part of the Agri-Tech E and New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership event on how agri-tech meets space tech. Dr Belinda Clarke, Julian Munson and guests will be on hand to tell us more. With the news round-up exclusively from the final days of the Norwich Science Festival, we also take on our region's hidden treasure in this week's CROWDSOURCERY!
Get in touch at mike@easternpromise.site
All the news that's new and improved in our region: we thank those who contributed to these stories!
This week, Eastern Promise heads to Cambridge to meet CEO Jane Paterson-Todd and Head of Policy & Programmes Dan Thorp of Cambridge Ahead. We talk about the quality of CA's research, being a membership organisation with such high-profile members and the way the East of England works.
For more information, visit: https://www.cambridgeahead.co.uk/
This week, Eastern Promise heads to Cambridge to meet CEO Jane Paterson-Todd and Head of Policy & Programmes Dan Thorp of Cambridge Ahead. We talk about the quality of CA's research, being a membership organisation with such high-profile members and the way the East of England works. We also take a look at the latest news across the region and we find out your favourite street food in the East of England in this week's CROWDSOURCERY!
With a little help from Engineer 49 and Dolby the Digitised Dog, we find out where in the East you walk your four-legged friend in this week's CROWDSOURCERY!
The latest news on the Norfolk Chambers of Commerce's 'Big Debate 2023', Cambridge Network's virtual jobs fair, the 'Bridge the Gap' charity walk in the centre of Cambridge and NUNCATs are reaching for the sky from Old Buckenham! Send your stories to newsdesk@easternpromise.site.
This week, join Mike Rigby as he journeys through the archives at the History of Advertising Trust, on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. We join Archivist and Deputy Director Alistair Moir in looking at Ed Sheeran's ketchup bottle, the origins of Brown Bread, Ridley Scott: the Early Years and the birth of Mr Kipling. Plus! Hob Nobs and the Butlins' Annunciator of Parental Shame. Mike also chats with Trust Director John Gordon-Saker about having stewardship of the biggest advertising archive in the world!
(NB: This version contains the FULL VERSION of the tour and the interview with Trust Executive Director, John Gordon-Saker).
https://www.hatads.org.uk/
This week, join Mike Rigby as he journeys through the archives at the History of Advertising Trust, on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. We join Archivist and Deputy Director Alistair Moir in looking at Ed Sheeran's ketchup bottle, the origins of Brown Bread, Ridley Scott: the Early Years and the birth of Mr Kipling. Plus! Hob Nobs and the Butlins' Annunciator of Parental Shame. Mike also chats with Trust Director John Gordon-Saker about having stewardship of the biggest advertising archive in the world!
(This version contains highlights of the tour and the interview with Trust Director, John Gordon-Saker. The full tour is also available on the podcast feed).
Also, we look at the latest news from across the region and, with a little help from Engineer 49 and Dolby the Digitised Dog, we find out where in the East you walk your four-legged friend in this week's CROWDSOURCERY!
From the footplate of Eastern Promise's very own steam locomotive, we share your tales of the mightiest mechanical marvels in the East of England in this week's CROWDSOURCERY!
The news for the week of 26th January 2023: Find out about festivals in Cambridge and Norwich, plus sweet salvation from AMR, thanks to an international team of researchers led from the John Innes Centre on the Norwich Research Park...
Send your releases to newsdesk@easternpromise.site.
This week on Eastern Promise, Mike's special guest is Roz Bird, Chief Executive of Anglia Innovation Partnership LLP, which manages the development of Norwich Research Park. one of the most important science and innovation hubs in the region, if not the country. I'll be chatting to Roz about her history in the science park sector, AIP's plans for the park and what she means by 'Engineered Serendipity'.
The big Five-O is here! This week on Eastern Promise, Mike's special guest is Roz Bird, Chief Executive of Anglia Innovation Partnership LLP, which manages the development of Norwich Research Park. one of the most important science and innovation hubs in the region, if not the country. I'll be chatting to Roz about her history in the science park sector, AIP's plans for the park and what she means by 'Engineered Serendipity'.
All that, plus news of festivals in Cambridge and Norwich, plus sweet salvation from AMR, before we look at your mightiest mechanical marvels on this week's CROWDSOURCERY!
Contact Mike at host@easternpromise.site.
What spot in Suffolk makes you swoon? What Norfolk vista makes your list-a? let's find out what view is for you in this weeks...CROWDSOURCERY!
The latest news from across the region, including new appointments and net zero successes! Send your stories to newsdesk@easternpromise.site!
Although unable to attend the morning session of the Norfolk Farming Conference 2022 last November, Mike Rigby did get to the afternoon speeches and panels, chatting with Chair Dr Belinda Clarke of Agri-Tech E, Daniel Johns of Water Resources East, James Beamish of the Holkham Farming Group, Nick Padwick of Wild Ken Hill, and Holly Whitaker of the RNAA.
This week, Mike Rigby is joined by Daniel Zeichner MP, Member of Parliament for Cambridge. Mike and Daniel will be chatting about Cambridge, how he views the East of England as a region and his work as Co-Chair of the East of England All-Party Parliamentary Group.
Find out more here: https://www.danielzeichner.co.uk/
This week, Mike Rigby is joined by Daniel Zeichner MP, Member of Parliament for Cambridge. Mike and Daniel will be chatting about Cambridge, how he views the East of England as a region and his work as Co-Chair of the East of England All-Party Parliamentary Group.
Elsewhere, Daniel gave the keynote address at the Norfolk Farming Conference, and we join Chair Dr Belinda Clarke and speakers on water and regenerative farming.
Then, there's a glut of improvements to our region in the news headlines, as well as recent appointments.
Lastly, what's your favourite views of the region? Find out in CROWDSOURCERY!
Mike Rigby talks to games creator and designer Robin Milton, founder of Fairer Games, about her inspiration for setting up the company, how the industry treats its customers and employees who are women and/or ethnic minorities, and the sector in the East of England, plus what her favourite titles are!
This is the full length, unabridged interview.
Mike Rigby visits the fantastic new Roku office in Cambridge for a legendary 'Tech & Beer' event, and chats with host, presenter and showman Kent Height of the Innovator Network, about why he does what he does, and also talks with Tim Granger of our hosts, Roku inc., about the streaming giant's presence in our region.
Bringing you the latest news from the #eastofengland, this week shining a light on Priscilla Bacon Hospice's need for volunteers. Send your news releases to newsdesk@easternpromise.site.
Eastern Promise returns for 2023! And what a show we have for you - Robin Milton of Norwich-based computer games company Fairer Games talks to Mike Rigby about her influences, favourite games and inclusion and diversity within the industry and games themselves.
Then, we head to Roku in Cambridge for a snifter of Tech & Beer, high-energy networking events run by Kent Height & the Innovator Network. Mike chats with Kent about why he does what he does, and also to Tim Granger of Roku on why the company does things that little bnit differently.
And finally, we find out where in the region you go for an adrenaline rush in this week's CROWDSOURCERY!
We revisit Mike Rigby's chat with sustainable construction advocate and guru, Saul Humphrey, recorded in April 2021. This retains the record for most downloaded interview!
In September 2021, Mike headed to Adastral Park to interview BT's Director of Applied R&D, Lisa Perkins. Mike & Lisa chat about what innovation means to her, how to process of innovation unfolds amongst her team and the shape of tech in the East of England.
Celebrating both Christmas 2022 and one year of Eastern Promise, our first 'Best of the Guests' is our most downloaded interview with Mid Norfolk MP George Freeman. Previously split into across two episodes, it's now available in its complete form for the first time.
Where in the East of England would you like to explore, but have yet to visit? Let's find out with some CROWDSOURCERY!
Mike Rigby joins the workers at Norwich Research Park for a 'Festive Fling' to celebrate the holiday and bring tenants and staff together. Ho, ho, ho!
Mike Rigby journeys to the Innovation Centre, Knowledge Gateway at the University of Essex's Colchester campus this week, to meet Innovation Director Neil Griffin and for a tour of the building from Centre Manager Georgina Watts!
Mike journeys to the Innovation Centre, Knowledge Gateway at the University of Essex's Colchester campus this week, to meet Innovation Director Neil Griffin and for a tour of the building from Centre Manager Georgina Watts.
Then, we grab a mince pie at the Norwich Research Park festive fling, and talk to staff and tenants of the NRP to see what's on their list to Santa.
And finally, we see where you want to go in the East of England and have yet to visit in CrowdSourcery, but not before we tease you with clips of Eastern Promise's output in January 2023. Merry Christmas to all, and to all, enjoy!
Nerves are a -janglin' as the big SYNC THE CITY clock ticks its remorseless way to zero, and we join our judges in camerato hear their deliberations, as well as some comments from the teams before you can hear a bit of their presentations, the questions put by the judges, the winners are announced and their reaction! It's 54 minutes of trials, tribulations, tears and triumph!
From Edward & Tubbs' local shop for local people (altogether now: "...we'll have no trouble here!") to Arkwright's corner shop, the little shop is a bastion of popular culture. But what's your favourite small high-street establishment? Find out the choices of friends old and new in this week's...CROWDSOURCERY!
On this week's new headlines, Leader of Norfolk County Council Andrew Proctor shares the news about the new County Deal for Norfolk in his own words...
Send your news releases, statements and stories to newsdesk@easternpromise.site...
There's an early Christmas treat for you in the form of Mike's long-awaited interview with Tim Robinson, COO of Tech East. Tim surveys the East of England's tech sector, giving us an unvrivalled view of the landscape, and gives us an exciting glimpse of Tech East's future plans...
What a whopper! The biggest EVER episode of Eastern Promise is heading down your chimney NOW, no need to wait until Christmas!
And that early Christmas treat is firstly in the form of my long-awaited interview with Tim Robinson, COO of Tech East. Tim surveys the East of England's tech sector, giving us an unvrivalled view of the landscape, and gives us an exciting glimpse of Tech East's future plans...
We also return to the incredible Sync the City 2022 for Day THREE, which means the clock is almost done ticking and it's gonna be showtime for our ten teams...
But there's still more! We share Councillor Andrew Proctors words about the Norfolk County Deal and disclose your favourite little shops in the East of England!
And, just one more show 'till Christmas!
It’s curtain up for the greatest theatres, playhouses and live performance venues in the East of England in this week’s CROWDSOURCERY! Encore!
The latest news from the East of England: send your stories to newsdesk@easternpromise.site.
How do we in the East of England identify, train and retain our best leaders? And what even makes a good leader? I’ll be putting these questions to Norfolk’s pre-eminent expert on leadership, CEO of Nelsonspirit Nigel Cushion; and graduate of Nelsonspirit’s ‘Home First’ programme, Charlotte Pounder.
We bring you the highlights of day two of SYNC THE CITY: we chat to mentors and contestants, and find that on a cold Friday morning, reality is also beginning to dawn for our teams…
Welcome to another packed edition of Eastern Promise, starting with a mash-up of the East of England and the Shipping Forecast (apologies, I’ve always wanted to do that)!
We start with a roundup of the news from the East of England. Send your stories to newsdesk@easternpromise.site.
We bring you the highlights of day two of SYNC THE CITY: we chat to mentors and contestants, and find that on a cold Friday morning, reality is also beginning to dawn for our teams…
How do we in the East of England identify, train and retain our best leaders? And what even makes a good leader? I’ll be putting these questions to Norfolk’s pre-eminent expert on leadership, CEO of Nelsonspirit Nigel Cushion; and graduate of Nelsonspirit’s ‘Home First’ programme, Charlotte Pounder.
And finally, it’s curtain up for the greatest theatres, playhouses and live performance venues in the East of England in this week’s CROWDSOURCERY! Encore!
For what, where or whom are you thankful in the East of England? Let's find out in this week's CROWDSOURCERY!
The latest news from the East of England: send your stories to newsdesk@easternpromise.site.
Join your host, Mike Rigby, as he journeys to the 2022 extravaganza that is Sync The City! Listen to the build-up, hear the pitches and marvel as 34 become 20, become the 10 teams we'll be following through the three-day event from the King's Centre in Norwich.
Host Mike Rigby and Augmented Reality expert & architect James Lee Burgess of UrbanXR take you on a tour of the Digi-Tech Factory at City College Norwich (plus Mike trying on a Trimble helmet with Google Hololens).
We're back! Eastern Promise returns with a selection box of excellence from the East of England. First, host Mike Rigby and Augmented Reality expert & architect James Lee Burgess of UrbanXR take you on a tour of the Digi-Tech Factory at City College Norwich (plus Mike trying on a Trimble helmet with Google Hololens).
Then, we journey to the 2022 extravaganza that is Sync The City! Listen to the build-up, hear the pitches and marvel as 34 become 20, become the 10 teams we'll be following through the three-day event from the King's Centre in Norwich.
All that, plus the latest news and your votes of thanks in CROWDSOURCERY! Why listen to anything else?
Where there's a wind, there's a way this week, as Mike heads to the SuNRISE Coast at Lowestoft, to chat with Ian Pease of GENERATE: A pioneering partnership of regional business and political leaders leading the way for future investment and development of the energy sector in Norfolk and Suffolk. We'll be discussing the huge potential of the East of England to lead on zero-carbon energy and why hydrogen has more colours than a bag of Skittles!
A round-up of new developments in the East of England, including:
- A call for support from Diss, Thetford and District Citizen's Advice.
- Broadland MP Jerome Mayhew visits the Norwich Research Park.
- A heart-warming tale of illumination and neighbourliness from Lowestoft.
Submit your stories to newsdesk@easternpromise.site.
Where there's a wind, there's a way this week, as Mike heads to the SuNRISE coast at Lowestoft, to chat with Ian Pease of GENERATE: A pioneering partnership of regional business and political leaders leading the way for future investment and development of the energy sector in Norfolk and Suffolk. We'll be discussing the huge potential of the East of England to lead on zero-carbon energy and why hydrogen has more colours than a bag of Skittles.
We also bring you the latest news and see which High Street is also a High Esteem Street in...CROWDSOURCERY!
Mike's guest this week is David Powles, former editor of the Eastern Daily Press, the biggest local paper in the East of England. David, who stepped down in 2022, shares with us how he got into journalism, his views on how we can do better as a region, the positive power of the press, and whether the news shapes its readers or vice versa. This is a great insight into how THE paper of record in Norfolk, North Suffolk and East Cambs finds its voice.
And finally...this episode goes out shortly before bonfire night and so, we get a burst of recommendations of where to find the best displays in the East, thanks to some CROWDSOURCERY!
Oh, and stay tuned for my daughter's post-credits scene!
Mike's guest this week is David Powles, former editor of the Eastern Daily Press, the biggest local paper in the East of England.
David, who stepped down in 2022, shares with us how he got into journalism, his views on how we can do better as a region, the positive power of the press, and whether the news shapes its readers or vice versa. This is a great insight into how THE paper of record in Norfolk, North Suffolk and East Cambs finds its voice.
And finally...this episode goes out shortly before bonfire night and so, we get a burst of recommendations of where to find the best displays in the East, thanks to some CROWDSOURCERY!
Oh, and stay tuned for my daughter's post-credits scene!
The rail panel; business panel and science & innovation panel, all recorded on the 11:27 train from Norwich to Cambridge on 7th October 2022.
Mike shares the latest news from the region, and shares your tales of terror, recounting the scariest places in the East of England! Oo-er!
Mike runs down some of the latest news from the region:
- Singer-songwriter Eliza Delf releases 'The Blackberry Thief' EP in time for Halloween;
- The University of East Anglia's Enterprise Centre wins its fifth accolade from the British Council for Offices.
Send your news releases to: newsdesk@easternpromise.sitee.
To illustrate the science and R&D links that connect Norwich and Cambridge, Mike chats with Professor Gerard Parr MBE, Head of the Comuter Sciences School at the UEA, regarding the Smart Emerging Technologies Institute (SETI), which is one of the most exciting digital projects currently underway in the East.
The Great Eastern Promise Train Adventure finally rolls into Cambridge Station, but not before Roz Bird, CEO of Anglia Innovation Partnerships (which runs the Norwich Research Park); Belinda Clarke, Director of Agri-TechE; Fiona Lettice, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Innovation at the University of East Anglia (UEA); and Douglass Cuff of IQHQ share their thoughts on the science and R&D links that connect Norwich and Cambridge.
It's a bumper crop this week, as the Great Eastern Promise Train Adventure finally rolls into Cambridge Station, but not before Roz Bird, CEO of Anglia Innovation Partnerships (which runs the Norwich Research Park); Belinda Clarke, Director of Agri-TechE; Fiona Lettice, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Innovation at the University of East Anglia (UEA); and Douglass Cuff of IQHQ share their thoughts on the science and R&D links that connect Norwich and Cambridge.
And, to illustrate those connections, Mike chats with Professor Gerard Parr MBE, Head of the Comuter Sciences School at the UEA, regarding the Smart Emerging Technologies Institute (SETI), which is one of the most exciting digital projects currently underway in the East.
Mike also shares the latest news from the region, and shares your tales of terror, recounting the scariest places in the East of England! Oo-er!
Mike runs down your guiltiest pleasures (which, let's be honest, aren't all that guilty) in the East of England in this week's CROWDSOURCERY!
Mike continues his tour around the Food Enterprise Park near Honingham with a trip inside its keystone tenant, Condimentum! CEO Dave Martin takes us through the history of the plant, and how his team channels their Mint 'n Mustard Mojo!
This is the completely UNABRIDGED version with additional Dave, Mike and minty magic!
Welcome to Episode 40 of Eastern Promise, where we once again ride the region's rails following our recent Great Train Adventure! This week, host Mike Rigby brings you or the business roundtable, featuring Norfolk Chambers of Commerce CEO Nova Fairbank, Partner at Carter Jonas Cambridge, William Rooke, and mentor and leadership expert Nigel Cushion, CEO of Nelsonspirit.
Our panel discuss the view from Cambridge, the opportunities in the relationship and the need to follow Admiral Nelson's example. Eastern Promise's guests on the journey are having a lot of fun, so its a noisy train but you should hear the panel just fine.
Welcome to Episode 40 of Eastern Promise, where we once again ride the region's rails following our recent Great Train Adventure! This week, host Mike Rigby brings you or the business roundtable, featuring Norfolk Chambers of Commerce CEO Nova Fairbank, Partner at Carter Jonas Cambridge, William Rooke, and mentor and leadership expert Nigel Cushion, CEO of Nelsonspirit.
Then, as if that wasn't enough, we follow up last week's trip around the Food Enterprise Park near Honingham with a trip inside its keystone tenant, Condimentum! CEO Dave Martin takes us through the history of the plant, and how his team channels their Mint 'n Mustard Mojo!
And finally, Mike runs down your guiltiest pleasures (which aren't that guilty!) in the East of England in this week's CROWDSOURCERY!
Your top tips for a night out in the East of England will come in VERY handy this weekend, with Beer, Jazz, LBGTQ+ cabaret and all manner of high-end eateries all awaiting you. What's not to love!?
To celebrate Eastern Promise's first anniversary, we take to the rails for a panel interview with Jonathan Denby, Head of Corporate Affairs at Greater Anglia, Andrew Summers, Strategic Director at Transport East, and Andrew Holdsworth, Assistant Director of Development & Growth at Breckland Council...ON A MOVING TRAIN!
We discuss the future of the line, the stations and towns on the route, how we can unlock improvements and the opportunities that can flow from that unlocking.... (Part 1 of 3)
The agri-food sector is worth an estimated £110 BILLION, yet so much added value earns money outside our region for processors based in other parts of our country or overseas.
To change this, the vision of a Food Enterprise Park at Honingham is now a reality.
We join agri-futurist extraordinaire, Clarke Willis MBE, who takes us on a tour of the Food Enterprise Park and shares his encyclopaedic knowledge of the sector.
This is the full version of the interview. A shorter version is included in the omnibus edition (episode 39).
It's a bumper package this week, as Eastern Promise approaches its first anniversary!
We join agri-futurist extraordinaire, Clarke Willis MBE, who takes us on a tour of the Food Enterprise Park near Norwich. This is an abridged version and the full interview is available on the Eastern Promise podcast feed.
Then! To celebrate Eastern Promise's first anniversary, we take to the rails for a panel interview with Jonathan Denby, Head of Corporate Affairs at Greater Anglia, Andrew Summers, Strategic Director at Transport East, and Andrew Holdsworth, Assistant Director of Development & Growth at Breckland Council...ON A MOVING TRAIN!
Finally, your top tips for a night out in the East of England will come in VERY handy this weekend, with Beer, Jazz, LBGTQ+ cabaret and all manner of high-end eateries all awaiting you. What's not to love!?
Mike runs down your favourite family days out, contemplates the no-escape room, visits the zoo with the Zoological Society of East Anglia, and hears more about the new attraction coming in 2024 at ROAR!! Dinosaur Park... All in a day's work thanks to CROWDSOURCERY!
Eastern Promise is back in Cambridge this week, at ideaSpace West at the Hauser Forum, on the physical sciences campus to the West of the city. ideaSpace head Ben Hartley is once more our guide to these unique innovation and entrepreneurial hubs, and we'll meet Sam Goddard of Labmotive and Dr David Sinclair of Immense Ltd.
Eastern Promise is back in Cambridge this week, at ideaSpace West at the Hauser Forum, on the physical sciences campus to the West of the city. ideaSpace head Ben Hartley is once more our guide to these unique innovation and entrepreneurial hubs, and we'll meet Sam Goddard of Labmotive and Dr David Sinclair of Immense Ltd. And then...we run down your favourite family days out, contemplate the no-escape room, visit the zoo with the Zoological Society of East Anglia, and hear more about the new attraction coming in 2024 at ROAR!! Dinosaur Park... All in a day's work thanks to CROWDSOURCERY!
What's the best building in the East of England? I head into the wilds of...the UEA(?) and run down your top choices in...CROWDSOURCERY!
This week, we're Cambridge-bound to visit IdeaSpace, three multi-sector hubs of founders and entrepreneurs, spreads across three sites in the city. We drop in on the City Centre site and hear about the IdeaSpace philosophy from its Director, Ben Hartley, and chat with founders Anthony Quinn and Moti Tabulo. We learn more from Ben about the distinctiveness of IdeaSpace and the factors that set it apart from other innovation and accelerator hubs across the region.
This week, we're Cambridge-bound to visit IdeaSpace, three multi-sector hubs of founders and entrepreneurs, spreads across three sites in the city. We drop in on the City Centre site and hear about the IdeaSpace philosophy from its Director, Ben Hartley, and chat with founders Anthony Quinn and Moti Tabulo. We also mine your collective brilliance for the best building in the East of England in... CROWDSOURCERY!
Woodlands, wetlands and wilderness, let's look at your favourite places to encounter the natural world in the East of England, thanks to a spell of...CROWDSOURCERY!
Mike talks with Thomas Panton, CEO and co-founder of sustainable shopping platform GreenR, about etrhical purchasing and the startup founder's journey.
Find out more here: https://greenr.co.uk/
Please note, this link is provided for information only and does not constitute an endorsement.
Part two of my very well received chat with Chris Sargisson, CEO of Diss and Thetford CAB and former CEO of Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, Chris reflects on what drew him to the position with the Citizens Advice Bureau.
Recorded on the terrace of The Unthank Arms in Norwich.
This Week: Mike talks more to Chris Sargisson, CEO of Diss & Thetford CAB and somehow, Chris ends up being the one asking the questions!
GreenR, the sustainable shopping startup, is the focus of my chat with co-founder and CEO Thomas Panton.
CROWDSOURCERY reveals the areas of outstanding natural beauty in the East of England, as chosen by you!
And finally, If you enjoy Eastern Promise and/or find it an uplifting guide to the East of England, and would like to be part of growing Eastern Promise, find me here: via my LinkedIn profile, or email me at: host@easternpromise.site
This week, as Chris Sargisson steps down from leading the Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, your host Mike Rigby gets Chris' view of his time as CEO and where the business environment in the Eastern region might be headed.
This week, as Chris Sargisson steps down from leading the Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, your host Mike Rigby gets Chris' view of his time as CEO and where the business environment in the Eastern region might be headed. Then, we drop in on the demo day of Tech Educators, the coding bootcamp that aims to meet the growing need for computer programmers. And finally, we find out which beach is your best in another spell of CROWDSOURCERY!
Eastern Promise finds out which beach is your best, as Engineer 49 reaks havoc on the seagull population as only he knows how, in another spell of CROWDSOURCERY!
Your host Mike Rigby drops in on the demo day of Tech Educators, the coding bootcamp that aims to meet the growing need for computer programmers, talking to Tech Educators Graduate Leanna Lucas, and Tech Educators MD James Adams.
Following Breckland Council Leader Sam Chapman-Allen's call-to-arms on Thetford last week, Mike joins Greater Thetford Partnership's Jack Weaver on the streets of Thetford, sniffing out potential and taking in everything the town has to offer...Meanwhile, you share your top museum picks to sample the region's history in...Crowdsourcery!
As promised, the FULL LENGTH version of the Eastern Promise tour of Thetford, in the company of the Greater Thetford Partnership's Jack Weaver. Listen for the full lowdown on Thetford's full potential!
We take you to the wholly non-fictional* Museum of East Anglian Sound, where Mike runs down your top picks for the region's best museums! * - not really
CROWDSOURCERY! Where the East of England recommends the finest pubs and bars North of the M25 and East of the M1!
Mike talks to John Fagan, who previews the gruelling but much-loved 54-hour challenge where the business and tech communities combine, Sync The City. Recorded outdoors in the centre of Norwich.
THETFORD! Councillor Sam Chapman-Allen, Leader of Breckland Council is Mike Rigby's special guest for Episode 33 of Eastern Promise. Sam details the huge promise of the Breckland District in Norfolk, and the potential of the district's biggest town.
Councillor Sam Chapman-Allen, Leader of Breckland Council is Mike Rigby's special guest for Episode 33 of Eastern Promise. Sam details the huge promise of the Breckland District in Norfolk, and the potential of the district's biggest town, Thetford.
Mike also talks to John Fagan, ahead of the much-loved 54-hour challenge of Sync The City.
And finally, we look at the East of England's best pubs and bars in CROWDSOURCERY!
This week, the Eastern Promise Crowdsourcerers bring you the best weekend breaks and getaways in the East of England.
Mike completes his interview with Sarah Steed, Director of Innovation and Engagement at the Norwich University of the Arts.
Mike talks to legendary regeneration expert Jackie Sadek, about her experience of working in government; how to get the best out of bidding for funds, and the importance of having one team, one plan.
Welcome to a bumper edition of Eastern Promise. Mike chats with regeneration guru Jackie Sadek, who shares her wisdom, and you can also hear the second half of Mike's interview with Sarah Steed, Director of Innovation and Engagement at Norwich University of the Arts. And then, join us for more CROWDSOURCERY, as wer find the best breaks and getaways the East has to offer...
A trailer produced by the Norwich University of the Arts, showing why professionals in, and entrants to, the screen sector should choose Norfolk and Suffolk.
Feel the magic of Eastern Promise: CROWDSOURCERY! Your recommendations for cafes and tearooms are read out to better inform resident and visitor alike where the best brew may be found! Listen now!
This week, Mike talks to Sarah Steed, Director of Innovation & Engagement at Norwich University of the Arts, on how NUA has stayed at the forefront of creative industry rankings and how she prepares NUA graduates for employment. Part one of two. BONUS FEATURE - A shameless plug for this very podcast.
This week, Mike talks to Sarah Steed, Director of Innovation & Engagement at Norwich University of the Arts (NUA), on how NUA has stayed at the forefront of creative industry rankings and how she prepares NUA graduates for employment. Then, after a shameless plug for this very podcast, we then feel the magic of CROWDSOURCERY! Your recommendations for cafes and tearooms are read out to better inform resident and visitor alike where the best brew may be found!
It's the last Challenge:Anglia - but the moment has been prepared for. We dish the dirt on the birth, life and decapitation of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. Then, we introduce our new feature...CROWDSOURCERY!
PlaceShapers shines an audio spotlight on how communities in the East of England are creating their own vision for their places, awakening potential and seizing opportunities. Mike continues his tour of Ipswich in the company of Paul Clement of Locus and Ipswich Central, with a quick burst of wisdom from the legendary regeneration expert, Jackie Sadek.
Welcome to Episode 30, where our PlaceShapers special continues its tour of Ipswich, sniffing out the town's huge potential in the company of Paul Clement of Locus and Ipswich Central, with a quick burst of wisdom from the legendary regeneration expert, jackie Sadek. Then, for its grand finale, Challenge:Anglia takes a look at Ipswich's revered son, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, and featuring a cameo appearance from Wolsey's erstwhile chum, Henry VIII!
Ipswich! Mike poses three puzzling, pun-laden posers for you to unravel. Plus, we take a look at the utter shamelessness of the Lloyds Building in London. How is that relevant to an East Anglian-themed podcast? All will be revealed....
If you thought you knew Ipswich, think again. Mike talks to placeshaping guru Paul Clement of Locus MS, a local boy, about how the town has found an exciting vision for the future and the trade-offs and pitfalls that may line the route. Part one of two.
PLACESHAPERS SPECIAL! This week, Mike takes you for an in-depth look (AKA listen) at Suffolk's county town...IPSWICH! Paul Clement is our genial host, both in the offices of Ipswich Central & Locus MS, and on the streets of Ipswich too, with a guest appearance from UK regeneration expert, Jackie Sadek. Then, Challenge:Anglia takes on Ipswich!
We travel down the A14 and/or the line to London Liverpool Street to uncover the mysteries of Stowmarket on...CHALLENGE:ANGLIA!
Eastern Promise brings you a second week of highlights from the Royal Norfolk Show 2022! Including interviews with @KayleighPoacher of @BBCNorfolk, @CLAEast, @TheQuadram, @NNUH, @DioceseNorwich and @FSBEastofEng.
Colmans, Lotus, Kettle Chips...Mike chats with Professor of Brand Leadership, Robert Jones of the University of East Anglia on what makes Norwich and the East of England such a branding hotspot.
@Brandland_world; @UEAforBusiness
This week, Mike talks to Professor of Brand Leadership at the University of East Anglia & @Brandland_world, Robert Jones, about why Norwich has been such a brand hotspot. We also return to the Norfolk Showground for our second set of highlights from the 2022 Royal Norfolk Show! And finally, we head to Stowmarket for...Challenge:Anglia!
@NorfolkShow @RNAAUK @UEAforBusiness
The first part of Mike's tour of the Royal Norfolk Show, taking in Norfolk County Council Leader Andrew Proctor; New Anglia LEP CEO Chris Starkie; Norfolk Chamber of Commerce CEO-Designate Nova Fairbank; EDP Editor David Powles; Brown & Co Partner Peter Hornor; Anglia Farmers CEO David Horton-Fawkes; and Agri-Tech-E CEO Belinda Clarke...
The second part of Mike's interview that listeners demanded! Dr Samantha Fox of the Youth STEMM Award CIC discusses STEMM Role Models and her dearest wish for STEMM education in the East of England...
This week, Mike and Dr Samantha Fox of the Youth STEMM Award discuss STEMM role models and STEMM education, with some exciting ideas! Mike also takes to the avenues of the Norfolk Showground in the first part of our coverage of the Royal Norfolk Show, which incidentally is also the topic of this week's...CHALLENGE:ANGLIA!
We hear which of our choral questions on Ely and its cathedral is, in fact, a bum note...
Do you want to make a podcast? Or an audiobook or drama? But don't know where to start? Our sponsor, Priors Croft Services may be able to help...
Mike talks to Dr Samantha Fox, Co-founder and Director of the Youth STEMM Awards, about the origin of the awards, the differences between STEM, STEMM and STEAM, and the importance of STEMM skills.
Eastern Promise looks at STEMM skills this week, talking to Dr Samantha Fox, Co-Founder and Director of the Youth STEMM Awards CIC. Meanwhile, you can hear more about Priors Croft Services and finally, we head to the smallest city in the East of England, ELY!
Mark Nicholas, Managing Director of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, continues our tour of the Norfolk Showground, taking in the arena and discussing the potential of the site.
Mike hits the halls at the Norfolk Showground for the 2022 Southern North Sea - Energy Integrated in the East 2022 conference, talking to EEEGR, Vattenfall, East Coast College, Apprenticeships Norfolk, Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, the City of Virginia Beach, ABP Ports, East Wind, and Opergy.
Mike returns to the Norfolk Showground to join the throng attending the EEEGR SNS2022 conference. MD of the RNAA Mark Nicholas takes us more of the exhibition space at the Showground; and Mike's Wymondham wonders are wobbly but stick with it!
Mike gets caught out this week, as one of his Wymondham facts is a bit wobbly and now, only one is true! Fear not: the record is corrected and hopefully it will not detract from your enjoyment...
Managing Director of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, Mark Nicholas MBE DL, talks to Eastern Promise about why the Royal Norfolk Show is the RNAA's flagship, the work the Association does and Mark and Mike take a turn around the Royal Norfolk Showground, looking for (and finding) opportunities to expand the RNAA's offer.
Mike tells us all about Fakenham and gets to grips with the tricky business of chocolate-making. Well, tricky for Mike anyway...
With the 2022 Royal Norfolk Show just weeks away, Mike talks to Mark Nicholas MBE, Managing Director of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association (RNAA) about how and why the Show is the Association's flagship event, the purposes of the RNAA and we also take a tour of the Showground itself. Then, Challenge: Anglia takes on Fakenham! Thank you to Mark for his time.
Do you know your fact from your fiction when it comes to North Norfolk and its coastline? Only one way to find out!
Mike talks more with Emma Fletcher, MD of Evera Homes and Chair of the Swaffham Prior Community Land Trust.
This week, Mike continues his chat with Emma Fletcher, MD of Evera Homes & Chair of Swaffham Prior Community Land Trust, looking at housing provision and how CLTs can help. We also taker a look ahead at what's to come on Eastern Promise, and did you spot the slippery customer on Challenge:Anglia's visit to North Norfolk?
Mike takes you to Lowestoft and unveils which of our three tunas of truth is a flounder. He also gleefully profanes the memory of one of Norfolk's greatest heroes...
Mike chats to Norwich-based singer-songwriter Eliza Delf about her forthcoming album, 'Into the Wilderness', her unique sound and her East Anglian influences. Excerpts from 'Into the Wilderness' are featured here by kind permission of Eliza Delf.
Mike talks to Emma Fletcher, MD of Evera Homes and chair of both Swaffham Prior's community land trust and its innovative district heating scheme. Emma details the progress of the district heating scheme so far, how it's not as radical as it sounds - if you're Danish - and the steps Evera Homes is taking to embed technology and net zero, as well as common sense innovations.
Mike talks to Emma Fletcher, MD of Evera Homes and Chair of the Swaffham Prior Community Land Trust about homes and Swaffham Prior's district heating project. Mike also chats with Norwich singer-songwriter Eliza Delf about her debut album 'Into the Wilderness', unique sound and her East Anglian influences. Finally, Mike heads to the beach at Lowestoft and unveils whether fish, fleet or forebears are the fake in Challenge: Anglia! Excerpts from 'Into the Wilderness' are featured by kind permission of Eliza Delf.
Mike Rigby unveils which of three likely stories is a LOT less likely, as Challenge:Anglia hits the beautiful borough of Bury St. Edmunds!
Mike chats further to Ashley Shorey-Mills of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce about the huge opportunities for SMEs in the Sizewell C supply chain.
Mike Rigby takes you to the Norfolk Constructing Excellence Club awards, where the cream of the construction sector meets to honour people and projects that were more than just a cut above. Chris Sargisson of the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce hosts the event as we get reaction from the winners.
This week, host Mike Rigby takes you to the Norfolk Constructing Excellence Club awards 2022, learns more aboput the fantastic oppportunities for SMEs in the Sizewell C supply chain, and separates fact from fiction on Bury St Edmunds in Challenge:Anglia!
Mike talks to Ashley Shorey-Mills, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce's lead on the Sizewell C Supply Chain, about the huge opportunities the supply chain will bring to the region.
Eastern Promise returns! This week, Mike chats to Ashley Shorey-Mills of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce about the opportunities to be had in the Sizewell C supply chain. Mike also puts you out of your monastic misery by letting you know whether it was David Parfrey's monky magic, his va-va-voom in Rome or his total tonnage of ties that was the fib in Challenge Anglia.
We sort the neckties from the cravats as the three statements of the legendary David Parfrey are put under the Challenge Anglia microscope!
This week, Mike heads back to the movies, as he re-convenes an all-star panel: Jim Horsfield and Rachael Aldridge from Screen Suffolk, Craig Higgins of Norfolk Screen, and Crispin Buxton of the Norfolk Film Company, to further discuss the screen sector in the East of England.
Yes, your weekly dollop of silliness is here, just in time for the weekend. Did Simon Blackwell defy the odds and fool the Challenge Anglia collective? Here's a clue: it rhymes with "oh".
Mike is joined by Catherine Guelbert-Thick as we try and extract clues as to the runners and riders ahead of the Norfolk Constructing Excellence Club annual awards...
This week, part 2 of the screen sector panel, focusing on skills. Mike talks to Catherine Guelbert-Thick on the upcoming NCEC awards 2022 and we find out if Simon Blackwell fooled the Challenge Anglia collective!
Did you know around one in seven listeners to Eastern Promise is outside the UK? If that's you, do get in touch via host@easternpromise.site. Mike wants to hear from YOU!
Mike takes to the sky to tell you which of the three statements offered by Penny Hundleby of the John Innes Centre are true and which is the fake! The truth will SHOCK you!
This week, Mike heads to the movies, as he convenes an all-star panel from Screen Suffolk, Norfolk Screen, and the Norfolk Film Company, to discuss the screen sector in the East of England. Also, find out what's coming next on the show before Mike asks his overseas listeners to get in touch. Finally, Mike takes to the sky to tell you which of the three statements offered by Penny Hundleby of the John Innes Centre are true and which is the fake! The truth will SHOCK you!
This week, Mike heads to the movies, as he convenes an all-star panel: Jim Horsfield and Rachael Aldridge from Screen Suffolk, Craig Higgins of Norfolk Screen, and Crispin Buxton of the Norfolk Film Company, to discuss the screen sector in the East of England.
By kind permission of ResPublica and the Eastern Powerhouse, all the speeches made at the launch of the Eastern Powerhouse.
Please note: This recording is provided for the purposes of information only, particularly for those who could not attend the event. Whilst Eastern Promise is pleased to support the efforts of any and all bodies seeking to promote, support and campaign for the East of England, including the Eastern Powerhouse, it should be noted that the two organisations are wholly separate from each other.
Mike Rigby of Eastern Promise is joined by Gary Douglas-Beet of Innovate UK and Wayne Taylor of ReHook to discuss the 'Valley of Death': the gap all startups must traverse in the search for investment...
Mike chats with former Chairman and current 'ambassador' for Norfolk Constructing Excellence, Roger Bond, about the judging panels for the Club's 2022 awards...
Mike talks with Eastern Powerhouse Chairman and first Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, James Palmer about the Levelling-Up White Paper, 'County Deals' and 'metro' Mayors.
Mike chats once again with 'Eastern Powerhouse' chairman, James Palmer, about the Levelling Up White Paper and James' experience as Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Next, Mike talks with Roger Bond, Ambassador for Norfolk Constructing Excellence on the club's forthcoming awards dinner. And finally, we look at the two facts, one fake offered by AR architect and all-round nice guy, Lee Burgess!
Challenge: Anglia challenges YOU to sort fact from fiction about Augmented Reality architect Lee Burgess!
Challenge:Anglia challenges you to spot the fake from fact about Tech East's resident tech titan, Tim Robinson.
Chairman of Norfolk Constructing Excellence Club Warren Salmons tells Mike about more of the sponsors of the club's forthcoming Annual Awards 2022.
Mike brings you highlights from the Eastern Powerhouse launch (including speakers George Freeman MP, Ollie Drury of Adnams, Matt Windle of Group Lotus, Philip Blond of ResPublica and Duncan Baker MP. Mike chats with Eastern Powerhouse Chairman, 1st Mayor of Cambs & Peterborough, James Palmer. Mike also speaks to MPs, Councillors and others at the launch event, including Paul Bristow MP, Shailesh Vara MP, Suffolk County Cllr Colin Noble and David Taitt from Hethel Innovation.
Mike brings you highlights from the Eastern Powerhouse launch and interviews its Chairman, 1st Mayor of Cambs & Peterborough, James Palmer. Mike also speaks to MPs, Councillors and others at the launch event. Warren Salmons returns to tell you about the special categories art the forthcoming Norfolk Constructing Excellence Awards 2022, and Tech East's Tim Robinson deals out two facts and one fake in the All-New Challenge Anglia!
Eastern Promise heads back to St Edmunds' Park in Acle as the guests of Norfolk County Council, to chat about the council's approach to One Public Estate policy and the Right to Contest from Cabinet Member Cllr Greg Peck, and Director of Property Simon Hughes.
This week, we rejoin Cllr Greg Peck and Simon Hughes from Norfolk County Council, and Chris Howes of Edfords Care Farm. Norfolk Constructing Excellence Club Chairman Warren Salmons previews the club's 2022 awards and then there's a taster of next week's interview with James Palmer, Chairman of the Eastern Powerhouse initiative. Finally, Challenge: Anglia challenges you to spot the fake from the facts about Brian Bush.
A taster of next week's interview with James Palmer, Chairman of the Eastern Powerhouse initiative.
Mike chats to Chairman of Norfolk Constructing Excellence Club Warren Salmons about some of the sponsors of the club's forthcoming Annual Awards 2022.
We hear more from Chris Howes of Edfords Care Farm about his experience of becoming a County Council tenant farmer, and his journey to therapeutic farming...
Eastern Promise heads to St Edmunds' Park in Acle as the guests of Norfolk County Council, to learn more about the council's approach to estates policy from Cabinet Member Cllr Greg Peck, and Director of Property Simon Hughes.
Love is in the air, as Mike performs a tribute to Cher from Felixstowe Docks, and lays out the shape of challenges yet to come...
Mike chats to Catherine Guelbert-Thick of Norfolk Constructing Excellence Club about their forthcoming Annual Awards 2022.
Mike chats to Chris Howes of Edfords Care Farm about his experience of becoming a County Council tenant farmer, and his journey to therapeutic farming...
This week, EP takes a look at how local authorities deal with land, visiting a Norfolk County Council housing project near Acle and Edfords Care Farm, a county farm near Great Yarmouth. Mike also hears about the Norfolk Constructing Excellence Awards 2022, whilst Challenge Anglia is feeling the Lurve!
In this special episode of Eastern Promise, in association with the Cambridge Norwich Tech Corridor, Mike talks to Reena Dayal, Chrsitine Bakewell and Darrel Arjoon about three big ideas underpinning leadership...
Challenge: Anglia honours Eastern Promise's largest audience outside the UK, as we head stateside for a slice of Americana. We visit the world of American Football, the Norfolk family history of 16th President Abraham Lincoln, and count down your top five tracks on the Challenge: Anglia billboard!
Join Mike Rigby as he chats with Norfolk entrepreneur Simon Blackwell about his deeply personal journey of discovery to harness the power of Hemp... For more information, contact: host@easternpromise.site
Mike Rigby talks to entrepreneur Simon Blackwell, about his deeply personal journey of discovery toward the power of Hemp...and, we go Stateside with Challenge: Anglia for a slice of Americana! For more info, contact: host@easternpromise.site
Eastern Promise's Mike Rigby chats with founder and CTO of AAA-Gaming studio SKC Games, on what brought him to the EpiCentre and how he's brought a gaming cluster to Suffolk. Okay, Mike admits he geeked out a little here!
Eastern Promise is delighted to chat with the Innovation Director of the EpiCentre in Haverhill, lecturer and coach for Barclays' Eagle Labs and the Cambridge Judge Business School, Babita Devi, on the lifecycle of a startup and what innovation means to her...
Let's do the timewarp again, as we fire up the DeLorean and head back to the 1980s! Like an East Anglian version of Trivial Pursuit, let's do TV, Music, Movies and the News...it's Challenge: Anglia!
Your host Mike Rigby returns to the EpiCentre at Haverhill Research Park to talk with SKC Games' head honcho, Asa Burrows, and a longer chat with Innovation Director, and Barclays/CJBS coach, Babita Devi. And then, let's do the timewarp as Challenge: Anglia heads back to the 1980s!
Join host Mike Rigby on a tour of the EpiCentre in Haverhill, meet the centre's Innovation Director Babita Devi and find out what gives the EpiCentre, which opened at the height of the pandemic, its unique community feel...
Challenge Anglia looks at the most inspiring, uplifting and entertaining sayings, aphorisms and phrases, and East Anglifies Richard III's soliloquy from Act 1, scene 1...
Eastern Promise visits The EpiCentre at Haverhill Research Park in Suffolk. Tour the building with host Mike Rigby and meet Innovation Director Babita Devi. And get the word(s) out: Challenge Anglia returns, and you can quote us on that!
Sarah Yandell of Get Ahead VA and Matt Sadler of Level Up Print tell us about their businesses and share the people and companies with whom they love to work!
Mike chats once again to construction guru Saul Humphrey, covering New Anglia LEP sector group Building Growth, new settlements and the future of car use...
We hear more from construction guru Saul Humphrey and reconvene the Plug Board with Sarah Yandell of Get Ahead VA and Matt Sadler of Level Up Print. Finally, Challenge Anglia takes us beyond the stars and deep into Suffolk's UFO country...
Mike introduces you to CASSI the region's answer to 2001's HAL (and no, she won't open the pod bay doors either...) before seeing if the truth is out there at the region's very own UFO hotspot, Rendlesham Forest...
Mike chats to construction guru and key progressive voice in the sector, Saul Humphrey. This interview was conducted via video link.
The idea behind the Plug Board is simple: you GET up to two minutes plugging your business or venture as ruthlessly as you can, for free. In return, all you have to do is GIVE a plug to an East Anglian organisation, group, event or business you admire. Simple, no? Come and join the board by contacting Mike Rigby at host@easternpromise.site!