Latest updates and stories from Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce and its Members

The proportion of firms planning to increase investment has fallen to its lowest level since the pandemic, according to the latest British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Quarterly Economic Survey. The UK’s largest independent business sentiment survey also shows confidence weakened in Q2, with fewer firms increasing sales and inflation re-emerging as the leading concern.

For Lorna Leonard, helping businesses grow has always been about much more than finance.

As Founder and Managing Director of Leonard Business Services, she has spent more than a decade supporting business owners, helping them make better decisions, build stronger foundations and plan confidently for the future.

A new Administration must back business if it wants the UK to prosper, Director General of the BCC, Shevaun Haviland, is set to warn.  

At the BCC’s Global Annual Conference, Haviland will outline how successive governments have hobbled Britain’s business prospects and the three drivers of growth through which the damage can be fixed. 

She will urge the next Prime Minister to resist the temptation to pile costs on business, if they want the economy to deliver the growth needed to fund wider priorities. 


On Economic Growth

Haviland is expected to highlight how delivering growth is the only answer to the UK’s persistent tax, borrowing and spending challenge, saying:  

 “The difficult truth is, whoever leads the UK, the primary challenge remains the same – delivering growth.  

“Outside of the pandemic rebound, UK growth has flatlined year after year. And this economic malaise is nothing new or attributable to the policies of a single government.  

“Despite all our strengths, we are failing to fulfil our potential. Businesses can feel it and voters can feel it too.” 

On Business Confidence  

Emphasising the importance of business confidence, Haviland will say:    

“We have the ambition, the ideas, the talent. Why aren’t we delivering more growth as a nation?  

“Our research gives a clear answer – it is a lack of confidence.  

“Weak confidence reduces appetite for risk, which reduces investment, which hampers growth, which knocks confidence further.  

“And this circular crisis of confidence is now shackling ambition. Blocking the actions needed to invest,  innovate and trade.  

“And whoever sits in No10, or the Treasury, needs to understand that.  

“Businesses can only deliver growth, if the environment they operate in gives them the confidence  to act. And that is where political leadership can make all the difference.” 

On Policy and Costs 

Addressing the cost of doing business in the UK, Haviland is expected to say: 

“A cost of doing business crisis is now suppressing the very growth we want to see. Over the last decade policy choices have made the reality of doing business even tougher. 

“Government imposed costs on your average SME have risen by more than 70 per cent in just 10 years. 

“At a time of huge economic shocks and global headwinds, successive UK governments have chosen to pile more and more cost on companies. That is no way to run an economy. 

“So, if we want to see growth - our political leaders must reduce the burdens on business.  

“Taxing businesses more, would be a road to ruin. The quickest way to destroy the fragile confidence that we have left. You must back businesses, not tax them, if you want to see growth. 

“Great care is also needed to prevent the Employment Rights Act, having a similar confidence crushing effect. We need to find a mix that works for all. That means coming together. Government, unions and business and accepting that there will need to be compromises to make this package workable. Ensuring rights – but also employment.” 

Also speaking at the conference will be Robert Begbie, CEO, Commercial and Institutional at NatWest – the BCC’s headline partner for the event. 

Looking ahead to the day, he said: 

“Growth and confidence must be at the centre of the UK’s economic agenda. The UK does not lack ambition or ideas — the challenge is scaling them into globally competitive businesses. As the UK’s largest bank for business, we see first-hand the opportunity to turn resilience into momentum — bringing together ideas, capital, policy and technology where growth happens.  

“By supporting businesses from start-up through to scale, and helping create the right conditions for investment, we can unlock confidence, remove barriers to action, and drive sustainable growth across the UK.” 

We were delighted to welcome Bedfordshire's business community to The Marquee, Bedford yesterday for the SME Bedfordshire Business Awards 2026.

One of the highlights of the Bedfordshire business calendar, the Awards brought together businesses, entrepreneurs, employers, charities and community organisations from across the county for an evening dedicated to celebrating success.

Global supply chains have rarely felt more exposed. Over the past decade, UK businesses have faced Brexit, the pandemic, energy shocks, wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, tariff volatility and wider geopolitical uncertainty. For many firms, supply chain disruption is no longer occasional, but part of the everyday operating environment.

With the SME Bedfordshire Business Awards 2026 taking place next month, we are proud to reveal this year’s finalists. Following another exceptional year of entries, the shortlist reflects the strength, ambition and resilience that continues to define Bedfordshire’s business community.

More than 400 businesses from across Bedfordshire came together at King’s House in Bedford for the official launch of BedX – Bedfordshire Opportunity Exchange, a new business-led initiative designed to help local companies prepare for and engage with a significant pipeline of regional investment.

Responding to the latest Bank of England interest rate decision, David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce said: 

“Holding the interest rate at 3.75% was the sensible call given the current geopolitical situation. The MPC is right to emphasise that monetary policy can not address the root cause of this shock - rising global energy prices. However, the Bank signals that future rate rises are possible if the conflict persists.

There is a clear shift happening across Bedfordshire. Businesses are looking ahead and asking a simple question: how do we make sure we are ready to take advantage of what’s coming next?

That question is exactly what led to the creation of BedX.

Responding to the latest inflation data, published this morning by the Office for National Statistics, David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce said: 

“Today's 3.3% inflation figure for March is an early signal that the Iran conflict is feeding through into official data and impacting the UK economy.  

From launching a business in the wake of redundancy to building a growing facilities management company rooted in purpose, people and community, Right FM’s journey is anything but ordinary.

Founded in early 2023 by Venesa Coodien and her business partner Stuart Robertson, Right FM has quickly established itself as a flexible, values-led provider of facilities management and compliance services across Bedfordshire and beyond. But for Venesa, success has never just been about growth - it has always been about doing things the right way.

A new report on a pioneering scheme for business-led skills planning in England has identified a pressing need to better engage Generation Z with the workplace.   


The analysis of Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) found they have engaged thousands of people and employers in the training and education that firms desperately need.   
 

There’s one thing we see time and again across Bedfordshire’s business community and that is that growth is stronger when it’s connected.

At Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, one of our most important roles is bringing businesses together to benefit from access to skills, infrastructure, advice and opportunity.

The proportion of businesses reporting increased export orders sits at 25% in Q1 2026, compared with 31% in Q2 2018    

There is a big split relating to the size of the business, with 23% of SMEs reporting increased orders, compared to 38% of larger firms. 

Services exporters also appear to be struggling with 23% reporting increased orders, against 29% for manufacturers. 

Employment law is changing and businesses across Bedfordshire will need to prepare.

The Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces a range of reforms that will gradually come into force between 2026 and 2027. These changes will affect areas from sick pay and parental leave to unfair dismissal rights and workplace protections.

Responding to the latest inflation data, published this morning by the Office for National Statistics, Stuart Morrison, Research Manager at the British Chambers of Commerce said: 

“For businesses across the UK, today’s inflation data represents the calm before the storm. 

The latest British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) economic forecast suggests slow growth in 2026, higher inflation due to the Middle East crisis, and rising unemployment as the labour market softens.  

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has warned that removing the UK’s tariff exemption for low value imports could risk pushing up prices, harming small businesses and reducing trade intensity.  

For nearly two decades, Emma Smith has been helping businesses bring their brands to life through promotional products and corporate gifts. As the founder of Creative Merchandise, she has built a trusted client base by combining industry expertise with a refreshingly personal approach to service.

For many organisations, branded merchandise and corporate gifts sit in the “nice-to-have” category, until you need them quickly, your event deadline moves, or a delivery goes wrong and someone has to fix it fast.

That’s where Emma Smith, Founder of Creative Merchandise, comes in.

The Chancellor's Spring Statement, delivered today, was not a Budget - there were no major new tax or spending announcements. Instead, it offered an updated set of economic forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) and a clear message of stability and security from the Chancellor. For businesses in Bedfordshire, the picture is one of modest near-term challenges, cautious longer-term improvement, and significant uncertainty that has yet to be fully accounted for

For the Aegis Group of Companies, growth has never been simply about getting bigger - it’s been about ambition, innovation, and purpose. What began as a single security and facilities management business has evolved into a diverse group of brands operating across multiple sectors and international markets.

Today, Aegis is driving forward with a clear vision: to deliver exceptional service, nurture talent, and make a positive impact both locally and globally.

The British Chambers of Commerce is urging the government to adopt its six-point plan to support UK exporters as the US President’s new 15 per cent tariff kicks in.  

There’s just one month left to enter the SME Bedfordshire Business Awards 2026, with entries closing on 13^th March. If you’ve been thinking about entering, now is the moment to take action.

If you’ve achieved growth, driven innovation, shown resilience, made a meaningful community impact, or developed an outstanding team, this is your opportunity to be recognised.

Your business belongs in the spotlight.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Business Council has met with the Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary, Steve Reed MP, to call for planning reform to deliver growth.  

Students from Bedford College, part of The Bedford College Group, gained hands-on business experience by hosting the Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce Networking Meeting at Bedford College, as part of a special Student Takeover initiative delivered in partnership with the Chamber to kick off National Apprenticeship Week activities across the Group.

A new report from the British Chambers of Commerce is calling for the government to reform the apprenticeship system to make it fit for the 21st Century. 

As the UK celebrates National Apprenticeships Week, it finds that the current framework is too rigid, lacks clarity, neglects higher-level skills and is failing to meet the needs of business.  

By February, the business mood for the year usually becomes clearer. The optimism of January settles into the practical realities of order books, wage bills and investment decisions.

And for many Bedfordshire businesses in 2026, the picture is mixed. Inflation has eased from recent highs and interest rates are starting to come down, but confidence remains fragile after a year of policy shocks, global trade headwinds and rapid technology change.

For over 42 years, Wenta has been helping to transform the lives of entrepreneurs, start-ups and small businesses.  As one of the UK’s largest not-for-profit enterprise agencies, Wenta’s mission is simple but powerful: inclusive support making it easier and greener to start and run a successful business.

We spoke with Jennifer Condon, Director of Services and Engagement at Wenta, to explore how their work delivers real client benefits, what sets their offer apart, and how ambitious plans around innovation, sustainability and new spaces such as The DomeWorks will shape the future of business support.

In new survey data, the percentage of businesses reporting increased export orders has fallen to 21% in Q4 2025, compared with 31% in Q2 2018
 
A further 50% report no change, while 28% report a decrease 

Smaller and medium sized businesses have been hit much harder than larger firms, with just 19% of SMEs reporting increased orders, compared with 39% of firms with more than 250 employees

After nearly 30 years specialising in capital allowances and tax relief, Louise Barth, Founder of Barth Consulting, has become a trusted advisor to businesses looking to protect cashflow and keep more money in their organisations – at a time when every pound matters.

Louise began her career as a chartered surveyor, working on major construction projects including Vauxhall Motors and specialist London schemes such as the Science Museum. It was during these early years that she first encountered capital allowances; an area few people understood at the time.