Growth in Peterborough businesses welcomed

New figures show that there were 1,295 business start-ups last year, bringing the total number of companies in the city to an impressive 7,160.

That’s really good news, and shows that our efforts alongside our colleagues at Opportunity Peterborough to position Peterborough as a great place to do business is paying off.

I see evidence of this frequently, and only last week Coloplast opened a new £9 million distribution centre which is a huge vote of confidence in the city.

Another city-based company operating globally, Photocentric Limited, has just been awarded £1.8 million by the Combined Authority to create a flagship UK centre for 3D printing excellence.

I showed the Mayor of the Combined Authority, James Palmer, around the company, which designs and manufactures 3D printers and resins. We were both impressed at the level of expertise on show, and the innovation taking place in our city.

Photocentric was founded in 2002 at Workspace House in Woodston with just one employee. Today, 18 years later, it employs 145 people in the city and 40 more in its US subsidiary in Phoenix, Arizona, with a current turnover of £11m. Photocentric has ambitious plans to double its turnover in 2020, exploiting its unique 3D printing technology.

We are at a crucial stage in Peterborough’s growth – we’re regenerating many key sites across the city centre including Northminster, the railway station and North Westgate and the new university is on track for a 2022 opening. Therefore, it’s important we continue to support businesses and position Peterborough as a premier location in the UK for ambitious businesses.

Opportunity Peterborough offers free of charge guidance, signposting and connections with knowledge and research centres for local businesses. For more information, visit www.opportunitypeterborough.co.uk

On the subject of Opportunity Peterborough, it’s hot off the press that they’ve been awarded £715,000, subject to state aid approval, to set up a smart manufacturing association as a joint venture with the Combined Authority. Manufacturing is one of the city’s biggest sectors - we’re home to giants like Caterpillar Perkins and Baker Perkins as well as smaller cutting- edge firms like Photocentric and Radical Sports Cars.

The association will help the sector stay at the cutting edge and really drive forward innovation. It’s an important part of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough economy too - manufacturing accounted for 13% of our area’s economic growth between 2010 and 2017.

We have a new CCTV control room in Peterborough which we’ve set up in partnership with Fenland District Council, which will deliver savings for both councils.

It’s a sight to behold with its digital video wall of 12 large LED screens which allows officers to monitor footage from across Peterborough and Fenland 24/7.

Having this improved facility will support the detection and reduction of crime and disorder, as well as reducing the fear of crime within our camera zones. We’re also keen to expand our service and generate income for both councils by offering to provide CCTV coverage for local businesses and organisations.

By the time this column goes to print, our first ever Climate Action Day will have passed. You might have seen that I pledged to be vegan for the day, but I have gone one step further and agreed to reduce my meat intake too.

We had lots of residents and organisations pledging their support for the environment on Wednesday, and making simple changes which collectively could make a big difference to the health of our planet.

But we cannot save the planet by making changes for one day – please think about what you can do indefinitely to reduce your carbon footprint, whether it’s using a reusable cup for your coffees, turning off lights or reducing the heating thermostat at home, or using your car less. Collectively we can all make a big difference.