BUSINESSES in and around Peterborough are being encouraged to “Think Peterborough” with the launch of a new education partnership in the city.

Think Peterborough is a collaboration between Anglia Ruskin University, University Centre Peterborough and Peterborough Regional College to provide a range of accredited staff development courses.

Offering qualifications ranging from NVQs through to Masters Degrees, Think Peterborough can equip local businesses – and their employees – with the skills to prosper.

Think Peterborough’s courses have been designed to meet the requirements of a variety of organisations operating across the private, public and third sectors. Each can be delivered online, face-to-face, on campus in Peterborough or in the workplace.

Spanning Peterborough and the surrounding region – including Huntingdon, Fenland and Stamford – the Think Peterborough partnership is dedicated to helping the region meet its aspirations by providing top-quality education for business.

Jon Bouffler, director of learning and development services at Anglia Ruskin, said, “Think Peterborough exists as a gateway to the kind of staff development solutions that can change businesses for the better.

“Businesses led and supported by motivated, educated staff are better equipped to thrive themselves and to respond to the challenges of today’s economic landscape.

“Think Peterborough is designed for Peterborough, by Peterborough. That means we specialise in areas of strategic importance for the region, and if we don’t already have a course that meets your precise organisational needs, we offer a bespoke solution to develop exactly that.”

Liz Knight, academic director at University Centre Peterborough, said, “Each Think Peterborough partner is fully committed to the delivery of education to the region’s businesses, and having worked with many well-known organisations already, there is no doubting the calibre of the courses on offer.

“This kind of offering can be of huge benefit to businesses in Peterborough and the surrounding region – and, by extension, to the area as a whole.

“Think Peterborough can help make our city stronger through education – and the time is right to get things moving.”

Brian Redshaw, vice principal of Peterborough Regional College, said, “Think Peterborough partners are focused on supporting economic growth. Our aim is to support both existing and future workforce development in Peterborough and the surrounding areas.”

Think Peterborough will be formally launched at the Peterborough Bondholder Breakfast at The Marriott Hotel, Peterborough Business Park, on Thursday, 7 February (7.30-9am) www.opportunitypeterborough.co.uk/events/

To find out more about Think Peterborough, visit http://thinkpeterborough.anglia.ac.uk/ or call 0845 196 6709.