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

For Lorna Leonard, helping businesses grow has always been about much more than finance.

As Founder and Managing Director of Leonard Business Services, she has spent more than a decade supporting business owners, helping them make better decisions, build stronger foundations and plan confidently for the future.

What began as a freelance consultancy has evolved into a trusted business support partner for organisations across Bedfordshire and the UK. Yet despite the company's growth, Lorna remains driven by the same principle that inspired her to launch the business in the first place: becoming a genuine extension of her clients' teams.

"We succeed when our customers succeed," she says. "That's always been the way we've approached things."

Building something different

Born and raised in Sandy, Bedfordshire, Lorna's roots in the county run deep. After building a successful career in senior finance and operational leadership roles, including positions that combined Finance Director and Deputy CEO responsibilities, she saw an opportunity to create something different.

Drawing on her experience working with both large organisations and growing businesses, she recognised that many smaller companies needed more than a traditional accountancy service. They needed access to commercial expertise, strategic guidance and operational support, without the cost of building an in-house finance department.

"I built the business around what I would have wanted myself when I was sitting on the other side of the table," she explains.

That vision became Leonard Business Services.

Fourteen years on, the business has grown into a trusted partner for organisations across the UK, supporting clients across a wide range of sectors with everything from bookkeeping and financial management to board-level strategic support. However, rather than seeing themselves as an external supplier, the team works alongside clients as a genuine business partner.

"We become part of the leadership team and help businesses make better decisions," says Lorna. "It's about understanding where a business wants to go and helping them get there."

More than numbers

While finance sits at the heart of the business, Leonard Business Services has built its reputation on offering far more than financial reporting.

The team works closely with founders, directors and leadership teams, helping businesses navigate growth, improve processes, manage stakeholders and prepare for future opportunities.

Many clients begin as single businesses before expanding into group structures, bringing new reporting requirements and operational challenges. Supporting companies through these periods of growth has become one of the firm's key strengths.

"We're very commercially focused," says Lorna. "Finance should help drive decisions, not simply record what has already happened."

This commercial mindset is reflected in the team's approach and experience. Many members of the Leonard Business Services team have previously run businesses themselves, bringing practical operational knowledge alongside financial expertise.

"Our people understand the realities of running a business," says Lorna. "They've often experienced the same challenges our clients are facing."

The firm's reputation has also been recognised nationally, with Leonard Business Services regularly shortlisted at the prestigious Accountancy Excellence Awards, including categories recognising customer service and finance leadership.

A business built on relationships

One of the principles that has shaped Leonard Business Services from the beginning is the belief that clients should never feel as though they are working with an external supplier.

Instead, the team aims to become a genuine extension of the businesses they support, providing practical advice, trusted expertise and hands-on support whenever it is needed.

Over the years, this approach has helped Leonard Business Services build long-term relationships with clients and a trusted network of specialist partners who can support businesses across areas such as quality management, health and safety, compliance and business improvement.

Looking ahead, Lorna plans to continue strengthening these connections, creating a trusted network of experts that clients can turn to as their businesses grow.

"People ask us for recommendations all the time," she explains. "Being able to connect them with people you trust and who share your values is incredibly important."

Championing Bedfordshire's future through BedX

Alongside running Leonard Business Services, Lorna has become heavily involved in BedX, the business-led initiative helping organisations understand and access the opportunities being created through Bedfordshire's significant economic growth and investment plans.

A key member of the steering group for over a year, Lorna has become one of its strongest advocates.

"Bedfordshire has been the poor relation for a long time," she says. "We've got some incredibly successful counties around us, but now it's our time."

At the heart of Lorna's involvement with BedX is a desire to ensure businesses of all sizes can benefit from the opportunities ahead, whether they are a small independent business, a growing SME or a larger organisation looking to expand.

"There is so much happening across the county, but it can feel overwhelming," she explains. "One of the aims of BedX is to help businesses understand what opportunities are available and where they can go for trusted information and support."

Recent initiatives have focused on areas including tender readiness, supply chain opportunities and helping businesses better understand and demonstrate social value.

"Many smaller businesses are already creating social value every day without even realising it," says Lorna. "We're trying to help people recognise the positive impact they're already having and show them how they can build on that."

Finding value through the Chamber

Lorna has been a member of Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce for several years and believes membership has played an important role in helping her build meaningful connections across the county.

"It has been one of the best investments we've made," she says. "The people genuinely care about helping businesses succeed."

Having been involved with several business support organisations over the years, Lorna believes Bedfordshire Chamber stands out because of its collaborative culture and willingness to connect businesses with the right people.

"It feels personal," she explains. "People want to help each other and that's incredibly valuable."

For Lorna, those relationships often extend beyond business opportunities, creating a supportive community of people who genuinely want to see each other succeed.

Supporting the charities that support our communities

While business growth and economic development are important, supporting local communities remains a priority for Lorna, particularly organisations working with some of the most vulnerable people in society.

Leonard Business Services actively supports SMART, the Bedford-based charity that helps people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity.

For Lorna, the work carried out by organisations like SMART often goes unseen but delivers an enormous impact.

"These charities are doing things many of us wouldn't have the courage to do ourselves," she says. "They're supporting people when they need it most."

As Bedfordshire enters what many believe will be a transformational period of growth, she hopes businesses will continue to remember the role local charities play within the wider community.

"Growth is exciting and there are huge opportunities ahead," she says. "But we also need to make sure we support the organisations that are helping people every single day."

She believes many local charities are facing increasing pressures at a time when demand for their services continues to grow and hopes the wider business community will consider how it can help, whether through fundraising, sponsorship, volunteering or practical support.

Looking ahead

With major investment, regeneration and economic growth planned across Bedfordshire over the coming years, Lorna believes there has never been a more exciting time to be part of the county's business community.

For Leonard Business Services, the focus is on continuing to grow alongside its clients, expanding its network of trusted partners and helping more businesses navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

"We've still got a lot we want to achieve," she says. "But everything comes back to helping businesses succeed. If our clients are growing, creating jobs and making a positive impact, then we're doing our job properly."

With Bedfordshire entering an exciting new chapter, Leonard Business Services is well positioned to continue supporting the businesses driving that growth, helping them build stronger, more resilient and more successful organisations for the future.

Find out more

To learn more about Leonard Business Services and how the team supports growing businesses with finance, operations and strategic business partnering, visit www.leonardbusiness.co.uk.

To find out more about Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce membership, visit chamber-business.com or call 01582 522448.