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

Why do some businesses struggle so much to get off the ground? Or, when they eventually gain some momentum, they plateau and fail to sustain any growth?

Commenting on the Prime Minister's announcement she will seek to extend the Brexit deadline, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:

“The clock is still ticking, and avoiding a messy and disorderly exit from the EU is still the top priority

Some of the world’s greatest leaders, entrepreneurs and thinkers are known to be masters of productivity.

Hearing of their work ethics and the subtle hacks they implemented into their days can teach us a lot about how to manage our own time for maximum productivity.

It may well have seemed the stuff of science fiction when we were growing up, but increasingly we are exposed to robotic technology, machine learning or artificial intelligence (AI) in some form or another in our work and personal lives.

Cranfield University marked the official start of construction of the new £67m Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre (DARTeC) to be built at the Cranfield campus, with a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday 15 March.

A Meet the Buyer event is an unmissable opportunity for your business. Our most recent event, held on the 27th February at Putterridge Bury in Luton is a testament to that statement. 

Luton based chartered accountants, Foxley Kingham, has announced that it has raised £56,123 for local charities over the last year, to mark the 50th Anniversary of the company. The company set itself the challenge of raising £50,000 in February 2018, for 17 local charities chosen by staff and clients.

Building your B2B network takes commitment and persistence, but success comes from the quality of your network over the quantity of contacts.

The uncertainty and frustration gripping the UK right now are palpable.

And as further ambiguity weaves its way through Brexit proceedings and negotiations, the majority of us are still unaware of how to prepare, or provide solutions and definitive advice to our workforces and peers.

What did and did not happen in 2018 and what changes are ahead in the world of planning and development in 2019?

EFM offers practical advice and recommends steps which your company can take to improve your businesses cashflow.

Neville Funeral Service, one of the regions longest established businesses, welcomed over 200 people to a rather special commemorative tree-planting event at the Forest of Marston Vale in Bedfordshire on 24th February.

Bitten the bullet and finally decided to go self-employed?

While we've previously written about how to approach this from a tax perspective, what about building your brand? How about promoting and selling yourself? Networking and identifying potentials customers?

Customs Declaration Service

Q1: I have received an alert from HMRC advising me to prepare for the new Customs Declaration Service (CDS).  I currently export to countries outside the EU, can you tell me more about CDS and tell me when this new service will affect my exports?