FAQs

Q. What is the GCP?
The Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) is the sub-regional economic partnership (SREP) covering the 25-mile radius around Cambridge. The sub-region includes Huntingdon, Ely, Newmarket, Bury St Edmunds, Haverhill, Royston and Stansted.

The Partnership brings together senior representatives from the public, business, voluntary and community sectors as a cohesive driving force to meet the goals of the sub-regional economic strategy. The common vision is to advance the interests of Greater Cambridge and enable the realisation of its potential as a world-class, thriving economic area.

The GCP strives to achieve this common vision through supporting and commissioning specific projects, lobbying local, regional and central government and promoting and facilitating partnership working.

Q. What does the GCP do?
We work with partners to agree and develop the goals that work towards our common vision, producing the sub-regional economic strategy.

Guided by this strategy the GCP then supports and commissions specific projects, lobbies local, regional and central government and promotes and facilitates partnership working.

Q. How do I get involved?
There are many different levels at which you can get involved with the GCP.

GCP Associate
Sign up for our Newsletter to receive email updates of GCP activities and events.

GCP Delivery Partner
If after reading our strategy and business plan, you feel you could contribute towards achieving the GCP’s aims, please contact either Lucy Brock, lucy.brock@cambridgeshire.gov.uk or Martin Garratt, martin.garratt@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Tenders
The GCP regularly releases tenders for specific pieces of work, please see our Tender page for details of open tenders.

GCP Executive team
Please see our Tenders page for any opportunities within the GCP executive team.

Strategic direction
If you feel you could contribute to the development and shaping of GCP priorities and strategies, please contact Lucy Brock, lucy.brock@cambridgeshire.gov.uk or Martin Garratt, martin.garratt@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Q. Who does the GCP represent?
The GCP represents the interests of individuals and organisations from the public sector, private business, academic and community sectors that are based within the Greater Cambridge area (approximately 25 mile radius around Cambridge).

Q. Who are the members of the GCP?
The Greater Cambridge Partnership has an open door policy, with over 1,000 associates receiving regular event, project and research updates via our newsletter.

The GCP also has two boards, an Operating Board and a Partnership Board. Visit Partners and Structure for more information on the boards.

The GCP works across council boundaries and subsequently works closely with ten different local authorities:
- Cambridge City Council
- Cambridgeshire County Council
- East Cambridgeshire District Council
- Fenland District Council
- Forest Heath District Council
- Huntingdonshire District Council
- North Hertfordshire District Council
- South Cambridgeshire District Council
- St Edmundsbury Borough Council
- Uttlesford District Council

Q. What does the Operating Board do?
Directors of the Operating Board:

  • Develop proactive initiatives, respond to external issues and share potential policy ideas with a range of relevant partners
  • Review, amend and put forward plans, policy statements and programmes for endorsement by the Partnership Board
  • Promote the work of the GCP across the public, private, voluntary and community sectors

A list of Operating Board members can be found here.

Q. What does the Partnership Board do?
Members of the Partnership Board:

  • Provide the strategic direction for the GCP
  • Provide the final endorsement of the strategic plans, policies and programmes of the GCP
  • Promote the work of the GCP at a senior level across the public, private, voluntary and community sectors in the Greater Cambridge area and beyond

A list of Partnership Board members can be found here.

Q. Does the GCP work with other regions/areas?
Yes!

The GCP is part of the sub-regional economic partnership (SREP) network, which brings together all the SREPs in the Eastern region to identify synergies and potential areas for joint working.

The GCP is also working to develop strong relationships with regions that share strengths and common ground with the Greater Cambridge area, both in the UK, such as London and Oxford, and further afield such as Munich and Silicon Valley in the USA.

Q. What projects has the GCP supported?
The GCP supports a very wide range of projects meeting a range of different needs, such as those below:

Babraham BioConcepts and Babraham BioIncubator
The Babraham Research Campus was established in 1993. It offers bespoke accommodation for bioventures at any stage in the business development cycle.
The BioIncubator (open since 1998) and a technology accelerator – Babraham BioConcepts Ltd – provide the infrastructure to accelerate the technology transfer process; promote the commercial development of the Babraham Institute’s Intellectual Property; and offer an attractive environment for emerging life science enterprises. EEDA support of £1.8m provided via the GCP helped develop the incubator and technology accelerator.

Romsey Mill
Romsey Mill engages with hard-to-reach young people that may have struggled with school, work and education, had difficult backgrounds, or may be young parents.

IIC supported the redevelopment of Romsey Mill, with £340,000 capital in 2006/07. The Building work was completed in January 2007 and provides 50% more space for community facilities in the heart of Cambridge city’s Mill Road area.

For more details of Romsey Mill and other IiC projects please see visit the Investing in Communities section.

Q. How is the GCP funded?
The GCP is funded by EEDA, local authority members and private sector sponsorship.

Q. What geographic area does the GCP cover?
The Greater Cambridge Partnership covers the 25-mile radius around Cambridge. The sub-region includes Huntingdon, Wisbech, Ely, Newmarket, Bury St Edmunds, Haverhill, Royston and Stansted.
GCP Area Map

Q. How do I apply for funding?

Tenders
The GCP regularly release tenders for specific pieces of work, please see our Tender page for details of open tenders.

Project delivery
The GCP produces an annual business and investment plan, which details the priorities and gaps identified in achieving the agreed vision for Greater Cambridge. If you feel you have a project idea that fits with the GCP strategy or meets an identified need, please contact Cathy Taylor, cathy.taylor@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Investing in Communities
The Investing in Communities team produces a separate annual business plan. If you feel you could contribute towards its delivery and future shaping, please contact Mike Carter, michael.carter@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Q. What is the relationship between the GCP and EEDA?
The East of England Development Agency (EEDA) is the regional development agency covering the whole of the East of England. It acts as the driving force behind sustainable economic growth and regeneration in the East of England and provides funding and support for projects and partnerships to help that happen.

The Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) is one of 9 sub-regional economic partnerships that operate within the East of England.

EEDA produces a regional economic strategy (RES) which shapes the priorities for economic growth across the whole of the Eastern region. The RES is used as a framework for the development of the sub-regional economic strategy produced by the GCP, which highlights the priorities and challenges specific to the Greater Cambridge area.

EEDA contributes funding, both towards the running of the GCP itself but also to the projects that the GCP commissions or supports. The GCP supports organisations in drawing down funding from EEDA

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