About Us

Welcome from the Chairman
Welcome to the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP)

Greater Cambridge is home to Europe’s highest ranking university and the area is recognised by the European Union as a centre of excellence for technology innovation. Companies here attract over 25% of all venture capital investment in the UK. Our thriving economy is worth over £12 billion per year and growth is on a par with leading regions of the USA. But Greater Cambridge is much more besides. It is home for 635,000 people, 25,000 businesses and the hundreds of thousands of visitors that arrive throughout the year to enjoy all that is on offer.

As the sub-regional economic partnership (SREP) for Greater Cambridge, the GCP brings together leaders from enterprise, academia, local authorities, the public sector and community.

What unites us is a shared commitment to a vision of Greater Cambridge as a world leader in the knowledge-based economy, combining business success with a high quality of life for all. Together, we are creating a managed framework to shape the future growth of Greater Cambridge as a world-class place to work, live, visit, invest and do business.

- Nigel Brown, Chairman, Greater Cambridge Partnership

Background to the GCP
The GCP was established in 1998 as an alliance of public sector, private business, academic and community sector interests. The Partnership established a framework enabling these sectors to work together for the benefit of the entire community by increasing economic opportunities for businesses and individuals alike.

In 2004 the GCP was recognised by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) as one of nine sub-regional economic partnerships (SREPs) in the region. In 2006 the GCP became a not-for-profit limited company.

The GCP today
True to its original aims, the GCP has developed as a cohesive partnership working towards the goals set out in the Greater Cambridge sub-regional economic strategy (SRES). The common aim of GCP board members, delivery partners and associates is to champion Greater Cambridge. Click on the links to find out more about GCP structure, board members and the GCP executive team.

GCP Area Map

The vision for Greater Cambridge
The Partnership vision is to strengthen the role of Greater Cambridge as a world leader in the knowledge-based economy, combining business success with a high quality of life for all.

By providing a managed framework for the structural, economic, social, environmental and cultural development of Greater Cambridge, the GCP aims to:

  • Encourage global success in entrepreneurship, innovation and R&D in knowledge-based industries
  • Support business growth across key sectors in the general economy
  • Build a world-class skills base to support a world-class economy
  • Promote Greater Cambridge as a location for international investment and tourism
  • Enable social inclusion and economic opportunities for all via Investing in Communities
  • Create a sustainable, high quality environment in which to live and work.

What is our strategy?
The GCP works closely with EEDA to coordinate delivery of the East of England regional economic strategy (RES) in Greater Cambridge. Through extensive consultation, debate and analysis, the GCP identifies and aligns local economic priorities within the sub-regional economic strategy (SRES). The current strategy is a three-year plan (2005-08) with a ten-year outlook.

Download the sub-regional economic strategy

We also produce an annual business and investment plan specifying how the strategy will be implemented via projects managed by our delivery partners. For more on the SRES and GCP business plans see strategy

How does the GCP add value?
Essentially, the GCP acts as an enabler. We help set the strategy and ensure its implementation via partners who we also help equip with the resources including finance they need to deliver and make a difference.

The GCP provides support to the Greater Cambridge economy, its businesses and individuals in a variety of ways: representing the interests of the area at a regional, national and international level; commissioning research; providing a route to funding; offering strategic advice and guidance; giving promotional support; providing sponsorship; hosting events; facilitating introductions; and acting as a general enabler to help make things happen.

In relation to its work with EEDA, the GCP has seven identified roles:

  • Principal advocate – to influence national and international agendas, e.g. establishing the Greater Cambridge International Forum
  • Strategic navigator – to set and shape economic direction and ensure alignment of local priorities with regional goals, e.g. producing the sub-regional economic strategy
  • Convenor and facilitator – of the organisations, networks and stakeholders that are key to achieving sustainable regional economic development, e.g. strengthening London-Cambridge-Oxford links
  • Expert and advisor – to respond to specific economic challenges, e.g. leading the development of a new tourism strategy for Greater Cambridge
  • Innovator – to initiate and pilot innovative approaches, e.g. developing a new annual Greater Cambridge economic profile.
  • Commissioner – either of projects or research, e.g. coordination of the Greater Cambridge Enterprise Hub strategy
  • Delivery manager – leading the delivery of value-added projects or programmes, e.g. increasing social inclusion via the Investing in Communities programme

How we make a difference
The GCP is considered by EEDA to be a top-performing SREP in the region. To more formally understand the contribution the Partnership makes, the GCP monitors its impact at the sub-regional macro and micro levels. At the macro level the GCP produces an annual Greater Cambridge profile which provides an indication of the health and importantly the trends concerning people, the economy and quality of life.

Download the Greater Cambridge Profile

The sub-regional macro economic picture is as much dictated by national and international trends as by the activities of the GCP. The Partnership therefore also monitors at the micro level. Each project that the GCP or its partners undertake on the GCP's behalf is monitored against a pre-defined set of output criteria including, for example, jobs created, people trained and brownfield land converted into productive use. Visit the Investing in Communities section for more detailed information on some examples within the IiC programme.

To whom is the GCP accountable?
The GCP executive team is accountable to the GCP Operating and Partnership Boards. The Partnership Board comprises senior members from the public, private and community sectors, including elected councillors from the 10 local authorities within the GCP area. The Partnership Board is the GCP's final decision making body.

The GCP consults widely in terms of strategic direction; the SRES underwent 18 draft iterations and was debated in breakout sessions at the GCP annual conference attended by 300 delegates. The GCP annual business plan is also subject to consultation by our delivery partners and approved by the Operating Board and then the Partnership Board.

As a not-for-profit limited company the GCP is also bound by its member's Articles of Association and must comply with regulations relating to limited companies.

Registered office: Shire Hall, Castle Hill, Cambridge, CB3 0AP, UK.
Company number: 5616060
email: gcp.admin@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
tel.: +44 (0) 1223 717310

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