B4 Cambridge – An introduction to the B4 Community
In this episode of The Business Brunch, B4 ventures beyond Oxfordshire for the first time to introduce two members from Cambridge – Ian Mather and William Rooke.
Ian is the CEO at Cambridge United FC and comments. “On the face of it this a role quite different from my career as a solicitor but many of the skills are transferable. I retired as Head of the 300 strong Cambridge office of Mills & Reeve (UK Law Firm of the Year 2018) in 2018.”
Ian is also Chairman of the board of Trustees of Cambridge Arts Theatre (CAT), one of the most successful regional theatres in the country which brings touring shows of West End quality to Cambridge. CAT also produces its own plays.
Finally, Ian is a Trustee of Cambridge United Community Trust which uses the power of sport to make a difference in the community – working with the able bodied and the disabled from age 3 to 97.
Ian discussed the challenges he has faced at both Cambridge Utd and CAT, both deprived of an audience throughout 2020 and into 2021. Ian also discussed his concerns for transport in Cambridge and the ambitious plans for a network of tunnels under the city which, in his opinion, are crucial to ensure the long term future of Cambridge as a pivotal city for inward investment in the UK.
William Rooke – Partner, Eastern, Carter Jonas
William is an investment and commercial development property specialist who counts the following as his career highlights:
- Land assembly in central Cambridge for 316 room student housing scheme.
- Acquisition of vacant office building in North Cambridge for £1m and subsequent letting and Asset Management to create a £7m investment.
- Securing planning consent and anchor tenants for a £100m industrial development in the Midlands.
William talks about the past year for his team and why there is an under-supply of commercial space for growing businesses in the region which simply can’t work from home.
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