Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce Chair Faye Holland has been appointed Partnership Director for the pioneering Cambridge x Manchester collaboration, bringing her extensive experience of the Cambridge innovation ecosystem to the role.
Faye will lead the partnership between two of the UK’s leading innovation cities, helping strengthen collaboration across their research, business and innovation communities.
Alongside her new role, Faye continues as Chair of the Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce, where she works closely with businesses across the region to support growth, skills development and stronger links between industry and innovation.
Faye brings significant experience in the Cambridge innovation cluster. She founded and led communications consultancy cofinitive, which worked at the forefront of innovation communications for a decade before she sold and exited the business at the end of 2025.
She has also served as a Business Board Member for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and has contributed to several organisations supporting technology innovation and sustainable economic growth.
Faye said:
“I’m thrilled to be leading this partnership at a time when collaboration across the UK’s innovation ecosystems has never been more important.
Cambridge and Greater Manchester are two of the UK’s most dynamic innovation ecosystems and by working together we can deliver far greater impact than either could alone. I’m excited to work with partners across both cities to move quickly and define a model for collaboration that could be replicated across the UK.”
Charlotte Horobin, Chief Executive of the Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce, said:
“We are delighted to see our Chair, Faye Holland, appointed to lead this important partnership between Cambridge and Manchester. Faye brings a deep understanding of the Cambridge innovation ecosystem and a strong commitment to collaboration between business, academia and local partners.
This partnership highlights the strength of the UK’s innovation regions and the important role businesses play in driving growth, investment and opportunity. We look forward to seeing the impact this collaboration will deliver.”
The Cambridge x Manchester partnership launched last year and held its inaugural board meetings in Manchester in February 2026.
Driven by the cities’ respective universities and their innovation ecosystem organisations Unit M and Innovate Cambridge, the partnership aims to boost UK economic growth and advance inclusive innovation while supporting national industrial strategy and local growth plans.
The initiative is backed by both cities’ combined authorities and has secured £4.8 million from UKRI Research England over the next three years, alongside additional investment from both universities.
As Partnership Director, Faye will spend time in Cambridge and Manchester and will work closely with both the Unit M and Innovate Cambridge leadership teams to help drive the collaboration forward.
The partnership is designed to connect organisations at every level including universities, local authorities, innovation organisations and businesses. This multi layer collaboration aims to enable ideas, talent, investment and opportunity to flow between the two cities and strengthen the UK’s innovation economy.
To find out more about the partnership, visit: