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

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.

Built by businesses, for businesses

BedX has not been created in isolation. It is not a top-down initiative; it has been shaped directly by the business community.

Over the past year, the Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce has listened closely to its members. The feedback was consistent: businesses want clearer visibility of opportunity, better access to supply chains, and practical support to help them compete.

What started as a steering group in mid-2025 has since evolved into something far more significant. Meeting monthly, the group has become one of the most diverse gatherings of businesses in the county. It brings together leaders from construction, logistics, professional services, utilities, manufacturing and more, reflecting the breadth of Bedfordshire’s economy.

Today, BedX is firmly business-led, with the Chamber providing the platform to support and scale it.

A shared ambition for Bedfordshire

At its core, BedX exists to set local businesses up for success.

Bedfordshire is entering a period of major economic change, with a pipeline of investment that has the potential to reshape the region for decades to come.

The proposed Universal development is part of that story, but it is only one element. Alongside it sits a wider landscape of infrastructure, regeneration and commercial growth that will create opportunity across multiple sectors.

BedX ensures that local businesses are not just aware of these opportunities, but are in a position to act on them.

That means helping businesses to:

• Understand where and when opportunities will emerge
• Navigate complex, multi-tiered supply chains
• Build the capability needed to compete
• Connect with the organisations and partners that matter

For most businesses, the opportunity will not sit at the very top of major projects. It will lie deeper in the supply chain, where preparation and positioning make all the difference.

Open, inclusive and value-driven

One of the defining principles behind BedX is inclusivity.

This is not a closed group or a members-only initiative. It is designed to represent and support all 50,000 businesses across Bedfordshire, regardless of size, sector or Chamber membership.

BedX is:

• Business-led and non-political
• Transparent and accessible
• Open to all businesses
• Focused on practical, actionable value

Its role is to act as a central point of connection, bringing together intelligence, opportunities and support in a way that is accessible and actionable.

Put simply, it exists to ensure that no business misses out through lack of awareness or preparation.

Turning opportunity into action

Awareness alone is not enough.

One of the biggest risks for any region experiencing significant inward investment is that local businesses are not ready when opportunities arise. BedX is designed to address that gap, which is why it places such a strong emphasis on readiness.

Through events, workshops and practical tools, it supports businesses to become genuinely bid-ready, from understanding procurement processes through to strengthening capability and visibility.

The focus is clear: move businesses from interest to action, and from action to success.

A stronger collective voice

Just as importantly, BedX provides a clearer, more unified business voice for Bedfordshire.

By bringing together businesses from across all sectors, it builds a stronger understanding of what the local economy needs and where support should be focused. That collective insight is critical to ensure that growth delivers meaningful, local benefit.

Led by experience

The strength of BedX is reflected in the experience of its steering group, which includes:

• Steve Coates (Chair), Advanced Group
• Henry Mayes, Kier Construction
• Stuart Ager, Metro Supply Chain
• Kirsty Maynard, THSP
• Daniel Coyle, Ryebridge Construction
• Jem Maidment, Utilita
• Lorna Leonard, Leonard Business Services
• Afzal Haniffa, Unisnacks
• Amanda Knight, Cognisco

Together, they bring a breadth of experience that reflects both the scale of the opportunity and the realities of delivering within it.

Launching BedX

The official launch of BedX will take place on 28th April, bringing together major project representatives, local stakeholders and businesses from across the county to share insight on what lies ahead and what it means in practice.

It marks an important moment, not just for BedX, but for Bedfordshire as a whole.

As Justin Richardson, CEO of Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, said:

“BedX represents a significant step forward for Bedfordshire’s business community. It reflects what happens when businesses come together with a shared purpose and a clear ambition to make the most of the opportunities ahead.

Our role as a Chamber is to listen, to connect and to support. BedX is a direct result of that approach. It is business-led, inclusive and focused on delivering real value.

As we look ahead to a period of major investment and change, it is essential that Bedfordshire businesses are not just part of the conversation, but fully prepared to benefit from it. BedX will play a central role in making that happen.”

Stronger together

Bedfordshire has the foundations for long-term growth. What matters now is how effectively that opportunity is translated into real outcomes for local businesses.

BedX is a clear step in that direction. It is not just an initiative; it is a movement driven by businesses, shaped by collaboration and focused on ensuring that Bedfordshire is ready for what comes next and turn potential into real opportunity.