post

More than 350 business, education and civic leaders celebrated the city’s business achievements at  Peterborough’s premier networking events.

The 2026 Peterborough Bondholder Dinner returned to Peterborough Cathedral last night (4 June), with business leaders and delegates enjoying an evening in one of the city’s most stunning historic buildings.

The annual black tie event was organised by Peterborough City Council’s Economic Development Team.

The attendees heard speeches from Peterborough City Council leader Cllr Shabina Qayyum; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Mayor Paul Bristow, Andrew Pakes MP for Peterborough and Patrick Boyle from headline sponsors MPB Structures.

The other sponsors were partner sponsors Greenwoods, ARU Peterborough and MHA Accountants; and drinks sponsor Price Bailey.

In her speech to attendees Cllr Qayyum spoke about the “resilience, ambition and collaborative spirit” that gives Peterborough’s business community its dynamism.

She highlighted:

• the creation of the new Growth Board and the creation of Peterborough’s new Tourist Board;
• the success of the recent UKREiiF forum;
• successes in securing funding from Central Government for the new £13.5 million Centre for Green Technology at Peterborough College;
• £50m Government funding for the Peterborough Station;
• £20m towards the cost of the Swimming/Sports and Leisure Centre, as well as £40m over 10 years for Paston, Gunthorpe and Welland, Orton Malborne and Goldhay.

She said: “The challenges of recent years have tested us all, but Peterborough is not a city just to sit back and wait for change to happen. Here, through collaboration, determination and innovation we will find new ways to succeed to transform our city.

“Peterborough is open for business and we continue to streamline and simplify our processes, making it easier for you to invest and grow here in our city.

“Let’s continue to collaborate, let’s continue to innovate, and let’s make sure that when people talk about forward-thinking cities in the UK, Peterborough is at the top of that list.”