Welcome

May I firstly thank you for expressing your interest in this exciting role within Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA). The Authority is facing both a challenging and critical time in its evolution, as it responds to the needs of an ever demanding external environment. To address these challenges, it is especially important that we have the best person to lead the organisation through these times of complexity and opportunity. You will work with both staff and partner authorities that make up the Combined Authority, to deliver real positive change for residents, communities and businesses in the region.

The environment within which this role operates is complex, with partnership work being key to all that is being delivered. This is not surprising considering that the CA itself is made up of seven Councils, working collectively to deliver added value to the residents and businesses of the CPCA area. With this in mind the Chief Executive will be expected to not only enhance our current relationships, but build on these, ensuring everything we do is in partnership with our constituent local authorities.

In addition to the above you will also be responsible for leading our team, in delivering the Mayors and CA Board’s vision. Turning these aspirations into real delivery, whilst ensuring we are financially secure, performance-focused, agile and maintaining our overall organisational heaThe successful candidate will be a key player in the region, ensuring that we deliver for residents, and partners and further enhances the CPCA reputation across the UK. We are looking for someone who will be able to provide organisational leadership within a challenging context and progress our improvement journey. As a strategic leader they will drive consensus and empower individuals and teams to fulfil their potential.

I understand that for many, working for a Mayoral Combined Authority will be a new venture and not quite like any other. However for the right candidate, we provide a real opportunity to deliver real change for the CPCA and to contribute to something wider with a regional and national economic significance.

If you are interested in these roles, I would encourage you to contact our retained recruitment consultants at Penna: Kelly Ridley on 07709 512415 email: kelly.ridley@penna.com, Julie Towers on 07764 791 736 or email: julie.towers@penna.com or Pete John on 07701 305 617 or email: pete.john@penna.com who are supporting the campaign.

I look forward to receiving your application and hopefully discussing the opportunities and challenges facing us. Good luck.

Dear candidate

Thank you for your interest in the role of Chief Executive at the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA).

This role is a fantastic opportunity for the right candidate to help build the future of our world-famous and world-class region into the next decade and help shape the shared future of our residents.

Across the seven local authority areas that make up the CPCA, (Cambridge City Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council, Fenland District Council, Huntingdonshire District Council, Peterborough City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council), and we have an exceptional place, with diverse local communities, huge economic strengths, even greater potential if we can harness benefits for all parts. We also have high-quality staff and people across the partner organisations. This is supported by partnership working across the region and further strengthening this is a key to greater delivery and achievement. We look forward to candidates showing how they will enhance partnership working across our region, working with the Local Authorities that make up the CPCA and our businesses to build real economic growth.

We’ve seen our universities, already sector-leading in aspects of their research and development, act as major investors. The recent completion and opening to students of the new University of Peterborough, is key to continuing to develop our educational offering across the region, UK and internationally, filling a Higher Education gap to the north of the region. Overall, one of our biggest challenges is to reduce the gap in income, deprivation, skill levels and health inequality between, and within, different areas in the region.

Despite good progress, we need to tackle longstanding and deep-seated socio-economic challenges that impact on our wider economy. Prosperity across the region is distributed too unevenly and we are determined to address this inequality and build opportunity.

Despite good progress, we need to tackle longstanding and deep-seated socio-economic challenges that impact on our wider economy. Prosperity across the region is distributed too unevenly and we are determined to address this inequality and build opportunity.

We are looking for a Chief Executive with the highest ambition, able to make a real positive contribution to the CPCA region by working with partners across the area to address the issues identified above. If successful you’ll also build and inspire your team to excel.

To meet this huge and exciting challenge, I’m looking for a candidate who will channel all their experience, talent, energy and ideas into their work, as we continue to evolve the CPCA and the wider region.