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

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Quarterly Economic Survey – Britain’s largest and most authoritative private sector business survey, based on over 8,500 responses from firms in Q1 2016 – suggests that growth in the UK economy continued to soften in the first quarter, with most key survey indicators either static or decreasing.

Hybrid Air Vehicles, the Cardington based designer and manufacturer of Airlander, the largest aircraft in the world, has reached a staggering £900,000 equity raise since opening up a crowdfunding round on Crowdcube, UK’s leading equity crowdfunding platform.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has today downgraded its UK GDP growth forecast, from 2.5% to 2.2% in 2016, and from 2.5% to 2.3% in 2017; for 2018, included for the first time in the forecast, GDP growth of 2.4% is predicted.

• BCC launches report on ways to boost the number of women entering well-paid, science & technology and engineering careers on International Women’s Day
• Findings based on BCC and Government Equalities Office scheme that worked with more than 1,400 female pupils, 38 businesses and 37 schools across England

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and others in the UK, including Safety Groups UK (SGUK) have been actively working in recent years to raise awareness that the number of people suffering from work related illness is considerable:  approximately 1.2 million people in the last year. 

We have just been informed that the Rotary Bandstand for Luton Charitable Trust has won planning permission to build its proposed new 21st century bandstand in Grade II Listed Wardown Park.

• Businesspeople paying close attention to debate on UK’s membership of the EU - but say it has had little material impact on business to date
• ‘Remain’ camp ahead two-to-one amongst business voters, but significant divisions exist on size and export lines
• Renegotiated deal for the UK unlikely to change voting intentions of two in three business leaders.

2016 will be a momentous year for the future of aviation with the innovative Airlander 10 taking to the British skies for the first time; our pioneering team of experts continues to make ground-breaking progress on a daily basis – most recently attaching the Mission Module to the iconic hull.

WordPress and DDoS attacks

During the first few weeks of the year, the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) cyber unit has a seen a dramatic increase in the number of WordPress sites being both targeted and used as bots in other attacks, as part of sustained assaults on business servers by way of WordPress Pingback DDoS tactics.

After a year that included a number of wasted opportunities, John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, calls on ministers to make 2016 a year of action, with the ultimate aim of putting the UK economy on a strong and more sustainable footing.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has today downgraded its UK GDP growth forecast, from 2.6% to 2.4% in 2015, from 2.7% to 2.5% in 2016, and from 2.7% to 2.5% in 2017.

In a full response to the Autumn Statement and Spending Review, Cheryl Smart MBE, Chief Executive said:

‘I found it great as I didn’t have much idea what to do but I have lots of ideas now’

Two-thirds of businesses (69%) believe that secondary schools are not effective at preparing young people for work, according to a major new UK-wide survey of over 3,500 business and education leaders published today by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), just hours before the latest national employment figures are published.

We’ve identified that your business is affected by P272. This new legislation is a change to the way your bill is calculated and a great opportunity to control your costs.

Chambers of Commerce across the UK are participating in a government funded project - Your Future. Bedfordshire Chamber will be holding two of these events on 19th November 2015 at Kings House, Bedford and 25th February 2016 at UK Centre for Carnival Arts, Luton from 9am to 4pm.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has upgraded its UK GDP growth forecast for the next three years, from 2.3% to 2.6% in 2015, 2.6% to 2.7% in 2016, and 2.6% to 2.7% in 2017. The principal driver for the leading business group’s forecast upgrade is stronger than previously expected growth in both the UK’s service sector and consumer spending.

Access to finance is still a barrier to exporting for UK firms, a report by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has found. In its annual International Trade Survey, the BCC found that 60% of potential exporters cite general access to finance as a key factor in their plans to export goods or services.

To coincide with the start of the new school term, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has unveiled an ambitious plan to put thousands of young people in England directly in touch with local businesses, to improve the quality of careers advice they receive.

Are you a manufacturing or engineering company based in the LU postcode?  If so, would you be interested in a fully funded student working with you with no financial outlay?

The recent growth of jobs in the UK is a great success story. However, in order for this growth to be sustained and to translate into real tangible benefits for business and the economy, there needs to be a real investment in training and skills.

A £50,000 Velocity grant has prompted a £1million investment in pioneering new technologies, propelling a Bedford electronics firm to the forefront of its industry.

The Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce is delighted to announce that the fourth British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) International Trade Conference will take place on 3 November 2015, at the Grand Connaught Rooms, in London

The UK government has taken a number of positive steps to support British business in the first parliamentary session since the election - but there are some areas of serious concern that remain unaddressed, says the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), one of the UK's largest and most influential business groups.

The Chancellor has delivered the first all Conservative budget since 1996 and seems to have provided a balance that seeks to eliminate the deficit but also maintain the stimulus to support a growing economy.

• The BCC's economic survey for Q2 2015 indicates continued UK economic growth, but highlights sharp differences between manufacturing and services.
• In services, the results remain broadly positive and signal growth.
• But in manufacturing, virtually all the key national balances recorded declines.

Currency expert, Moneycorp, offers an insight into the fast moving world of foreign exchange.

Ahead of the Chancellor’s Budget announcement on Wednesday 8 July, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is urging the government to commit to rebuilding Britain’s infrastructure, bringing to an end our ‘make-do and mend’ culture.

The University of Bedfordshire, Careers & Employability Service now have a dedicated placements team in recognition of the fact that work placements offer an unrivalled learning experience for students and an opportunity for employers to establish a tried and tested talent pipeline of the most ambitious undergraduates.

The British Chambers of Commerce has downgraded its UK GDP growth forecast for 2015 from 2.7% to 2.3%, following weaker than expected growth at the start of the year. However, the BCC believes the slowdown is temporary and the prospects over the medium term remain steady, with GDP growth predicted to be 2.6% in 2016 and 2017.