Opportunity Peterborough

He is keen to stress that they are not simply about trying to attract new business to the city.

We recognise that actually the biggest client base for us is Peterborough’s indigenous businesses. We have 5,000-plus companies here, and they are the life- blood of the city. Obviously if there’s anything that’s stopping them from growing – or indeed causing them to decline – they should contact us

As their impressive roster of recent successes shows (see separate panel) they can make a material difference, and clearly have found favour with many well-established businesses who are not necessarily easy to impress. In Neil Darwin’s view, it helps that they are a business themselves  associated with, but separate from, Peterborough City Council.

We’re a business working with businesses. That’s the ethos we want to carry forward, to have more traction with the private sector. We have an independent board made up of predominantly private sector leaders in the city, chaired by John Bridge, also CEO of the Chamber of Commerce. That independence works, because people like to do business with business. Also on the board we’ve got the leader and the deputy leader of the council, so we’re equally well-placed to work closely with council departments. What we try to capture is the best of both worlds

So, what does the future hold for Opportunity Peterborough?

We recently announced a formal collaborative working relationship with UK CEED – the UK Centre for Economic and Environmental Development. This will bring the complementary strengths of the two organisations closer together, building on existing collaboration. It will maximise the potential for innovation and economic development in ‘green growth in Peterborough. It will also enhance Peterborough’s reputation for environmental enterprise, bringing new investment and jobs to the city, and, through UK CEED’s national and international links, will generate more opportunities and leads for city businesses

Neil’s view is that the biggest problem Peterborough faces is the way it is perceived – a perception he is keen to change. “I think our reputation holds us back, actually. If you’re a business looking to move, Peterborough is a fantastic option. It’s cost effective, we have a great workforce able to do a range of jobs and we have a really strong, easily accessible, catchment area. The ingredients are right – but sometimes we seem to either not appear on people’s radar or have a negative reputation that I think is unfair on the city.” Time and again, when talking to people in the business community, Neil has found the real experience of businesses coming to the city to be the exact opposite of that image.

Once businesses are here and working, they know it’s the best place they’ve ever been

That image may not change overnight – but ultimately what will wash it away will be the clear and demonstrable success of individual Peterborough businesses. And that, maybe, is where Opportunity Peterborough can help.