City of Westminster (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A Westminster event highlighted Cambridgeshire and Peterborough’s key role in UK economic growth on January 27, 2025. It was hosted by combined authority.
Politicians, corporate executives, and infrastructure specialists attended the conference to discuss regional future plans towards national progress.
The event was organized by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority at the House of Commons.
What were the key highlights of the event?
AstraZeneca, ARU Peterborough, Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce, Cambridge Delivery Group, and England’s Economic Heartlands were among the prominent panelists at the event.
They discussed important issues including housing and transportation while offering their perspectives on regional development.
Over 60 delegates participated, representing national stakeholder organizations, local government, the National Wealth Fund, MPs, start-ups, and established businesses.
“Driving Growth for the UK: The Pivotal Role of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough” was the title of the Westminster event, which was co-sponsored by Peterborough MP Andrew Pakes and North West Cambridgeshire MP Sam Carling.
Mayor Dr Nik Johnson said:
“Growth in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough is essential to achieving better living standards, higher wages and more opportunities for our residents.
It’s crucial that we advocate economic growth for our region, as everyone deserves a place to live, access to education, social connections and a healthy environment.
This event has provided us with the opportunity to showcase Cambridgeshire and Peterborough as a serious contender in growth initiatives and build excitement for UKREiiF 2025, where we can demonstrate our global leadership.”
Councillor Sarah Conboy, executive leader at Huntingdonshire District Council, said:
“Huntingdonshire is proud to play a key role in driving economic growth that can benefit Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
This event was an important step in building partnerships and momentum ahead of UKREiiF 2025.”
She added that they are proud to be supporting the next event in the run up to UKREiiF in Huntingdon on 10 February, which will bring together leaders from government, industry, and academia to explore the region’s future as the ideal location for a state-of-the-art UK Battery Research and Development Centre (UKBRDC).
Councillor Chris Boden, leader of Fenland District Council, said:
“Fenland makes a vital contribution to the economic growth of our region, so I’m delighted we had an opportunity to showcase its strengths at this important parliamentary event.
With our rich agricultural resources, thriving industries, and prime location, Fenland is a natural hub for investment, innovation, and sustainable growth.”
He added that as they build momentum towards UKREiiF 2025, he is excited to work with partners to highlight the immense opportunities in our district and ensure a prosperous future for our businesses and communities.
Councillor Lucy Nethsingha, leader of Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “The parliamentary reception has been a fantastic opportunity to highlight the unique strengths and opportunities within Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
Our region is at the forefront of innovation and economic growth and events like this help us strengthen partnerships, attract investment and address the key challenges we face.”
Councillor Peter McDonald, South Cambridgeshire District Council’s lead cabinet member for economic development said that attending this Westminster event was a powerful reminder of how Cambridgeshire is pivotal in becoming a driving force in the UK’s economy.
“Our region is a beacon of innovation, attracting world-class talent and investment”, he added.
Councillor Elisa Meschini, chair of the Greater Cambridge Partnership, said: “This week’s event highlighted yet again how working together across our partners whether they are in the public or private sector, will deliver the economic growth required to support our communities.”
Councillor Dennis Jones, leader of Peterborough City Council, said: “The event at Westminster was a fantastic opportunity to highlight the incredible potential of Peterborough.
By bringing together our regional partners, we showcased our city’s strength in innovation, infrastructure, and economic growth.”
What was the purpose of this Westminster event?
The event aimed to showcase Cambridgeshire and Peterborough strengths in areas such as innovation, life sciences, agri-tech, advanced manufacturing, and education to be considered a value addition to the UK economy. The core point of the message was to be the global hub for research and technology for the region.
By showing a “broad range of investment opportunities” in the region, it served as a gateway to future capital. This ranges from stressing the infrastructure needed for housing, transportation, and workforce development to sustainable growth.
Regional and national lawmakers, corporate executives, and infrastructure specialists who share the vision of cooperation between the public and private sectors attended the gathering.