As we step into a new year, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the accomplishments of the past 12 months and set our sights on the opportunities ahead in 2025.
At Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, this moment of reflection is just as important for us as it is for the businesses we serve. So, let’s take a look back at the recent past and venture a look forward at what’s to come!
SME Business Awards: a powerful publicity platform
No round-up of 2024 could be complete without mention of the SME Bedfordshire Business Awards!
This event shone a spotlight on around 40 winners, and the increased exposure it brought to local businesses was already, for us, a triumph.
But when we reviewed the numbers, there was even more to celebrate—2024 saw the highest number of entries ever, setting the stage for the 2025 Awards to be an even more thrilling showcase of what we can achieve together.
Driving business beyond borders
Drawing on the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), we successfully delivered, with Central Bedfordshire Council, an export readiness support programme in 2024.
It’s helped businesses taking their first steps towards trading outside their borders, as well as more experienced exporters looking to move into new markets.
All this was in addition to the ongoing activities of our Global Trade team, who in 2024 onboarded many new exporters, contributing to a real increase in the value of exports within the Chambers’ membership and in the wider region.
Tackling tough times together
Nobody can pretend that 2024 wasn’t without its challenges – a late-in-the-day, business-unfriendly budget amongst them.
But what resounds strongly in the Chamber’s metrics in 2024 is a palpable sense, amongst businesses, of the importance of being part of something bigger when you’re battling downside.
So, in addition to a healthy influx of new members, we also achieved an incredible member retention figure – one of the highest, in fact, in the national Chamber network.
Attendance at all Chamber events was also well up on the previous year, showing that the Chamber is a place of vibrancy and interaction – a catalyst for businesses to thrive and grow.
What can you expect from the Chamber in 2025?
Looking forward to next year, we’re already pretty eager and energised, with positive prospects and tentative green lights on the horizon.
The Universal Studios proposal to turn the old Stewartby brickworks into a theme park, and the London Luton airport expansion plans, for example, are both close to the final decision stage (at the time of writing!).
From our point of view, 2025 will also be the year of launches and rollouts, as we drive several projects forward to improve the member experience.
Amongst these will be a next-generation Chamber network for young professionals, the expansion of our artificial intelligence (AI) platform to unearth deeper prospects and synergies between members, and, around April, the go-live of our manufacturing and engineering sector group.
Clearly, the next SME Awards are also front of mind, as we continue to raise the bar on getting our outstanding local businesses and innovators known in the county and its communities. The launch event is on the 15th January. Don’t miss it!
We’ll also be expanding our Strategic Partners in membership – we have an exciting new partnership to unveil at the end of January, so keep a close eye on our announcements!
And our key metrics for 2025? Continuing to grow our peer networks, supporting businesses to engage with new opportunities - not just locally, but also nationally and internationally - building more extensive connections, and raising both our and our members’ profile still higher.
All in a year’s work for the team here!
We look forward to working with you in 2025.
For more information on becoming a Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce member, call our friendly team on 01582 522448, or visit www.chamber-business.com
