Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough visits Inspire Education Group to Discuss Future Skills and Collaboration

Inspire Education Group (IEG) was delighted to welcome the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Paul Bristow, to Peterborough College this week.

The purpose of the visit was to discuss how collaboration between IEG, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, and employers can help shape the future of education and skills in Peterborough, ensuring that young people and adults have the opportunities they need to succeed while supporting the region's prosperity.

During the meeting, the Mayor and IEG’s executive team discussed IEG’s ambitious plans for campus development and the next phase of its estates master plan, which will ensure facilities continue to meet the needs of students, employers and the wider community.

As part of the visit, Mayor Paul Bristow visited the new Centre for Green Technology – a £13.5M investment* launched in May 2025. The CGT is a flagship example of IEG’s mission to create campuses of the future, providing training in sustainable construction, retrofit, engineering and electric vehicle technologies. It demonstrates how investment in education directly benefits students, employers and the wider community.

The Mayor also dropped into a live lesson, where he saw students and lecturers in action, experiencing first-hand how employer-led curriculum design is preparing learners for the jobs of the future.

IEG launched the Centre for Green Technology in May 2025. From left to right: Sam Carling MP, David Pennell, Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, Andrew Pakes MP, Paul Bristow

Rachel Nicholls, CEO of Inspire Education Group, said:

“IEG is looking ahead at how we can continue working together to meet the skills needs of our region. We share the Combined Authority’s commitment to ensuring local people can access high-quality education and training that leads to real opportunities. By collaborating with local authorities and employers, we can build on the success of the Centre for Green Technology and ensure our campuses continue to serve the needs of Peterborough.”

Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Paul Bristow, said:

"It’s fantastic to see how investment in places like the Centre for Green Technology is already making a difference, preparing young people and adults for the jobs of tomorrow. The Combined Authority is proud to have invested in this state-of-the-art facility, which is a great example of how we can deliver real impact through partnership working. Collaboration between education, local government and employers is key, and I’m committed to supporting that joined-up approach across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough." 

*The £13.5 million project was partly funded by the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA), with £2.471 million from the Transforming Cities Fund, £400,000 from the Local Growth Fund, £1.9 million from Peterborough City Council via the Towns Fund, and the Department for Education’s Local Skills Improvement Fund (£1.42 million). IEG's contribution to the project was £8.3M, with £5.5M from the DFE capital loan scheme and £2.8M from IEG's capital reserves.