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

The 2025 SME Bedfordshire Business Awards are shaping up to steal the crown of the 2024 Awards - which were themselves the most successful of the Awards programmes to date.

But they wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our sponsors, so in this piece we’re going to make sure they get the recognition they deserve!

Headline Sponsor - Essential Workwear

Dunstable-based Essential Workwear (essentialworkwear.com) is a local success story with a national and international trading presence. From customised facemasks, to hi-vis jackets, smart office shirts, and much more besides, Essential’s products make you a living advert for your brand.

As previous Award winners, Founder George Georgiou says that “the Awards are definitely the best choice for our business to position itself as the go-to supplier of personalised workwear in the region!”

Platinum Sponsors: Aegis Support Services and Jaltek

Aegis (aegissupportservices.com) provides security, facilities management, and training services, and operates across England, Wales, and Scotland.

Qadeer Qureshi, CEO of the Aegis group of companies, said “Being a Platinum Partner gives us the platform and channels to let local businesses know we have these Awards in the county, and urge them to enter, and to build some valuable relationships along the way.”

Jaltek (jaltek.com) is the region’s premier manufacturer and designer of electronic components for multiple industries internationally. Business Manager Steve Blythe says the company is “excited about the awards” and is looking forward to “banging the drum for Luton.”

Gold Sponsors: dedicated and diverse

We have no fewer than 13 local organisations of all sizes and types lending their support to the Awards as Gold Sponsors, and it’s thrilling to see this breadth of engagement.

The Gold Sponsors include:

• ADA Cosmetics (ada-cosmetics.com)
  A leading global manufacturer of high-quality hotel cosmetics and innovative dispenser solutions
• Austin & Carnley Solicitors (austinandcarnley.co.uk)
  A local law firm with experts in Conveyancing, Wills & Trusts, Employment, Commercial Property, Family, Probate, Dispute Resolution, Motoring and Criminal Defence
• Bartham Press (barthampress.com)
  A renowned litho press printer based in Luton
• FKCA Limited (fkca.co.uk)
  A Luton-based firm of experienced chartered accountants and business advisers
• Liebherr GB Limited (liebherr.com/en-gb/)
  A family-owned company that is a world leader in manufacturing construction equipment, refrigeration and freezing products, and others
• London Luton Airport (london-luton.co.uk)
  The region’s premier flight hub, connecting businesses and travellers throughout the world
• Luton Council (luton.gov.uk)
  Provider of vital local government services that foster community growth and development
• Quest Employment (questemployment.co.uk)
  Experts in recruitment, connecting talent with opportunities across warehouse, commercial, technical, and food production industries
• Resourceful People Group
  Specialists in transformation HR consultancy, helping organisations achieve strategic change
• RSP UK (rsp-uk.co.uk)
  Suppliers of premium construction equipment to the building and infrastructure sectors
• Talk UK Telecom (talkuktelecom.co.uk)
  A trusted business partner. offering tailored mobile, landline, and data solutions
• The Bedford College Group (bedfordcollegegroup.ac.uk)
  The largest provider of further and higher education in the South East Midlands, offering a wide range of courses
• Wenta (wenta.co.uk)
  A not-for-profit social enterprise offering free, impartial business advice, skills training, and flexible workspace solutions
• Wrest Park Business Centre (wrestparkenterprise.co.uk)
  Flexible workspace solutions, including serviced offices, virtual and coworking spaces, meeting rooms and business units

 Sector Sponsors and Partners

Alongside the Headline, Platinum and Gold sponsors, we’re also delighted to have the support of:

• Charity Partner: Working Options (workingoptions.org.uk) – Helping young people find their career
• Media Partner: Business2Business (business2businesslimited.com) –Specialist skills and employment support
• Print Sponsor: Treacle Factory (treaclefactory.co.uk) – Design, print and digital marketing services to help businesses promote themselves

 You’ve got to be in it to win it!

If you’ve got a success story to tell, we’re very keen to hear from you. You can enter up to three of the Awards’ 21 categories online at www.bedfordshireawards.co.uk

Entries are open now, and you need to ensure all completed submissions, including any required supporting information, are in by 21^st March 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