Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, Dr. Nik Johnson Officially Opened New Social Enterprise Hub in Papworth Everard.
The highly anticipated opening of The Printworks at Papworth Everard took place on the 30th January 2025, with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Dr. Nik Johnson, Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough. Supported by Social Enterprise East of England (SEEE), owned by Allia Ltd and operated by Function 5 CIC, this dynamic new social enterprise hub marks a major milestone for the village of Papworth Everard.
Social Enterprise East of England (SEEE) is a regional membership organisation supporting the third sector and affiliated with Social Enterprise UK. SEEE has supported Allia and Function 5 as the project developed over the last 18 months; advising the charity owner and new social enterprise operator as they refined their offering and social impact ambitions.
The Printworks has now been transformed into a vibrant community space featuring a café, microbrewery, and pizzeria, providing a lively social hub for residents. It also offers a dedicated workspace for social entrepreneurs and small businesses, with facilities such as meeting rooms and collaboration spaces.
Supporting Local Social Enterprise and Community
Developed by Allia with the support of £600,000 in grant funding from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority’s (CPCA) Market Towns programme, the project aims to boost social entrepreneurship and strengthen the local economy. The grant, awarded through Social Enterprise East of England (SEEE), underscores the region’s commitment to grassroots development and sustainable community growth.
This project is also part-funded (£32,555) by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund provided by the South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC).
SEEE is working with the CPCA in supporting three diverse social enterprises in Cambridgeshire looking to expand their social impact through a social enterprise hub building, with all three projects due to complete spring 2025. The other two social enterprise hubs due to open are REMO Eco hub in March and People and Animals CIC based at Wisbech Community Farm.
SEEE’s Managing Director Deb Lee is now looking to other local authorities, partners and social enterprises across the East who are keen to work with SEEE to deliver similar innovative social enterprise hubs for communities.
“We are thrilled to see The Printworks become a reality. This project demonstrates how the power of social enterprise can create lasting change that strengthens communities.”
Deb Lee, Managing Director of SEEE
The official opening ceremony included speeches from Tim Jones (Chairman of Allia Group), David Broach (Director of Allia Future Business Centres), Millie Calver (Co Director of Function 5, CIC) and Dr. Nik Johnson, Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough. Guests were able to sample food and drink along with a tour of the newly refurbished facilities.
“It is an honour to officially open The Printworks Social Enterprise Hub. This building is a shining example of how people-focused initiatives can transform our market towns and rural communities, fostering resilience and sustainable growth.”
Dr. Nik Johnson, Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough
“The Printworks represents a new beginning for Papworth Everard, offering opportunities for local entrepreneurs and social enterprises to thrive. We are honoured to have Mayor Dr. Nik Johnson officially open the space, marking the start of this exciting journey.”
David Broach, Director of Allia Future Business Centres
“We are thrilled to take on the operation of The Printworks and bring this incredible vision to life. Our goal is to create a welcoming and vibrant space where the community can gather, connect, and thrive, while also providing the support and resources social enterprises need to succeed. The Printworks will be more than just a hub for business—it will be the heart of Papworth Everard’s community life.”
Millie Calver, Co-Director, Function 5 CIC
Honouring History, Building for the Future
The Printworks, originally built in 1929, was once used by the Papworth Trust to provide therapeutic employment for recovering TB patients. Following its closure in the mid-1990s, the building has stood as a symbol of the community’s history. Its revitalization reconnects the past with a promising future for local residents and businesses.
For further details about The Printworks and Function 5 CIC, visit their website here or for latest offerings, bookings and opening times follow their social media pages e.g. via Facebook
Notes:
Social Enterprise East of England (SEEE) supports social enterprises across the East to grow, communicate and demonstrate their social impact. SEEE offers joint membership with Social Enterprise UK and its members are from diverse sectors covering Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. SEEE offers networking, events and news updates to keep members informed and also runs the Cambridgeshire Social Enterprise Place network which encourages Cambridgeshire social ventures to come together to learn from each other, support each other and help make the local social economy stronger.
SEEE contact: Jane Thompson, Membership and Marketing Manager admin@seee.co.uk 07704 858862
Allia have been at the forefront of impact innovation for 25 years. Since 1999, with initiatives across the UK that include housing, cleantech and social innovation, Allia has helped thousands of impact ventures, small businesses and social enterprises to develop and scale, creating thousands of jobs, and transforming communities, resulting in positive impact for people, place and planet.
Allia calls this amplifying impact. We want to help those organisations that create genuine impact to do more, do better and on a greater scale – to create jobs that benefit the local community as well as solutions that benefit individuals’ lives and the planet.
Allia Future Business Centres offers flexible workspace and a vibrant community for small businesses who are creating change. Allia Impact runs free business support programmes and innovative funded projects. Together, they are dedicated to supporting businesses to thrive, grow and create jobs, so that they can make a positive impact on their community, as well as addressing social and environmental global challenges.
www.futurebusinesscentre.co.uk | hello@futurebusinesscentre.co.uk
CPCA Market Towns Programme (Phase 2) – Supporting Social Enterprises in Rural Areas
In July 2020, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) allocated £13.1m capital investment to mobilise eleven market town masterplans to support interventions in each of CPCA’s main market towns and to act as a funding catalyst to securing additional investment. This £2.5m fund is a continuation of that effort to tackle the long-standing challenges surrounding market towns over the next 2 years, with a particular focus on strengthening local communities and supporting the Social Enterprise ecosystem. The Programme looks to build on the first Market towns funding but with a particular focus on targeting this capital spending on people-based initiatives – including community owned businesses, social enterprises, and educational support.
CPCA contact: jane.spence@cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk
UK Shared Prosperity Fund
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus