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

Streets Chartered Accountants is delighted to announce that the widely acclaimed tax specialist Andrew Cockman has joined its practice.

Nothing does a successful business justice like the recognition, publicity, and exposure of a high-profile award win. But there are hundreds of awards out there, and you can’t enter them all – so which do you choose?

If you’re a Bedfordshire business, the SME Bedfordshire Business Awards are surely a clear contender, but perhaps for more reasons now than you were previously aware of. Because this respected event, in its seventh year, is now completely organised and run by us at the Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce directly.

National healthcare charity Sue Ryder is set to explore the theme of grief with a sensory garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024.

Joe Nellis, Professor of Global Economy at Cranfield University’s School of Management, has been awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in King Charles III’s New Year Honours List. The CBE has been awarded in recognition of Joe’s contributions to higher education, economics, business, and charity.

EVOLVE is a membership based organisation. A Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation initiative launched in 2018 by Chair Viviane Vayssieres.

Last year EVOLVE awarded bursaries worth £16,000, helping women to retrain, upskill and start a business.

Wyboston Lakes Resort has signed the Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge, joining more than 600 leading conference and events industry organisations worldwide since its launch at Cop26 in signing it or expressing their support for the campaign.

One of Bedfordshire’s largest employer shares its community spirit story. As part of its community outreach efforts, giving back to the local community in which it operates, and where a large number of its employee population lives, Lockheed Martin UK’s Ampthill site has a dedicated STEM outreach, and local volunteering and charity / fundraising programme that is focused around making a difference to the lives of others.

Since the dawn of time, humans have formed groups, communities, societies, tribes. It helped them pool and trade resources, approach each other for help, and protect themselves against difficult conditions and predators.

And it’s really no different for businesses. Did you know, for example, that over 50,000 businesses in the UK are members of the British Chambers of Commerce, through their local Chamber (of which we at Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce are one)?

For Surinder Arora, Founder and Chairman of the Arora Group, the project to upgrade and improve Luton Hoo – the hotel, golf, and spa complex with a stunning 18^th century manor house at its heart – is much more than business as usual.

Driving through the gates for the first time, Surinder felt something that, even with his vast experience in the property and hotel sector, he’d never felt before – an immediate sense that the place was, as he puts it, “very special”. And so he bought it - as seen.

•    Gold Award for outreach scheme. 
•    Further Silver Award for outstanding Engineer. 
•    Finalists in three more categories, only weeks after winning a National Transport Award. 

•    Almost half (49%) of businesses say current customs checks and declarations are a barrier to exporting. This rises to 62% for manufacturers
 
•    Taxes and duties, due to tariffs, are the next biggest stumbling block for two fifths (40%) of firms.
 
•    Regulations, such as product certification, cause problems for a similar proportion of businesses (38%)

Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with Central Bedfordshire Council, is proud to announce the launch of a targeted support programme aimed at assisting businesses engaged in, or aspiring to engage in, international trade.

Bedford Radio, the new local radio station for Bedford, formally opened its new studio on Thursday, 23rd November 2023.

Caraline Eating Disorder Services, a long-established charity dedicated to providing support and treatment for individuals living with eating disorders, proudly announces that it has received two prestigious Luton & Bedfordshire Community Awards in recognition of its outstanding contributions and commitment to the well-being of the community.

On 22nd November, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt made his Autumn Statement to Parliament – and despite the challenges of the past three years there were positives in it for businesses in our county.

Here’s our overview of what you need to know, the changes and the continuities you should expect, how you will benefit from them, and other developments you need to be aware of.

Company celebrates Chamber of Commerce award achievement 

Peli BioThermal, the life science industry’s partner from discovery to distribution, is celebrating a double award win success linked to the prestigious British Chamber of Commerce.

Wyboston Lakes Resort is proud to announce its ranking at 49th place in the prestigious UK's 100 Best Large Companies to Work For 2023.  

The SME Bedfordshire Business Awards is coming to town again for its seventh year running – and this high-profile celebration of successful businesses in the local area now has a stronger connection to us here at Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce than ever before.

•    Bus operator nominated for UK Bus Awards. 
•    News comes on the back of second awards victory. 
•    Wider group receives 46 individual nominations.

Future support for businesses and economic prosperity across the region has been assured this week following a recent agreement by six councils.

 
•       Safety technology wins first category of the night.
•       Prestigious awards presented by Jeremy Vine in their 20th year.
•       Stagecoach East finalists in two further categories.
 
Stagecoach East has been announced as a winner at the highly prestigious National Transport Awards 2023.

Wyboston Lakes Resort is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Bedford Prison, aiming to reintegrate prison leavers into the workplace and society at large.

Autumn is upon us and for many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the UK, this time of year is turning out to be distinctly growth-focused – more spring than autumn, you might say!

In fact, according to recent research from business finance provider Novuna, 7 in 10 UK small firms are making growth plans, and in some sectors growth planning in the SME space has hit a three-year high.

Gina goes upwards

Well-known in Beds, Northants and MK for representing The Bedford College Group (TBCG) with employers, Gina Bubbins now has a new role within the region’s number one apprenticeships and training organisation.

At Leighton Buzzard-based Jam Crackers, the team understands that IT is a critical business tool, and that businesses shouldn’t have to worry about how it works – just that it does.

In fact, the business was named – by CEO Richard Latimer’s brother and co-founder – with exactly this objective in mind: “If your IT’s in a jam, we’ll crack it.”

Here at the Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, we know that cash flow is one of the top concerns for our members.  With late customer payments, seasonal slowdowns, weak invoicing and collection processes, it is a common challenge that has a significant impact on a business.

The Bedford College Group has taken part in a pioneering partnership with STEMpower Ethiopia to share engineering skills in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The countdown to a superb event for businesses across Bedfordshire to reach, engage and connect continues… Your Business Expo Bedford is coming to town in November.

“Rethink the skies” – this is what Bedford-based Hybrid Air Vehicles vows to do with its innovative multi-function aircraft, Airlander. They plan a future with no jets, no pistons, no kerosene, no exhaust pollution. And not a conventional wing in sight!

There’s a saying in business: bad cash flow sinks more companies than weak order books - and it’s as true today as ever.

Cash flow supports everything from everyday operations, to investment in equipment and technology, to shareholder dividends and loan repayments. Quite simply, without adequate cash flow, your business can’t function.