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

As we approach the end of the year, many small business owners will be thinking about their goals and challenges for 2020.

Christmas is a time for giving, so maybe consider giving something back to the environment is the message from local charity and Community Forest, the Forest of Marston Vale. The Charity has launched a Christmas fundraising appeal, Give Back to Trees this Christmas, asking people to help them plant more trees.

• £35 million fund to boost rural productivity and create local jobs
• Grants of up to £750,000 to fuel investment in rural enterprises
• Scheme has already created over 3,700 jobs in local communities

The pressure to become more eco-friendly as a business and as an individual comes from all directions: employees, the media, the government, clients and customers.

There has been much controversy around the planned government changes to IR35, the legislation meant to prevent employees from passing themselves off as freelancers in order to avoid tax.

If you have old hard disc drives, USB sticks or mobile phones in drawers or cupboards you most certainly do. With the new GDPR regulations you need to ensure that this data is tightly controlled.

Running a small business can be incredibly rewarding. In the early days, every step is celebrated; the launch of your product or service, your website going live, your first paying customer, your first hire. And as you continue to raise your profile and expand your customer base, the more fulfilling it becomes.

Whether you’re a sole trader or a small, medium or large business, joining a local network or organisation designed to support businesses like yours is a big decision. No one wants to spend money on a membership that won’t help their business.

The Disability Resource Centre was very pleased to accept the Disability Smart Award (which was sponsored by Jo Cross Photography) at The Dunstable and Houghton Regis Business & Community Awards.

A business that has found a way to detect corrosion and prevent leaks in assets such as pipelines through a network of remote sensors has secured a £1m funding round. 

Winning new business is essential for growth, and in the early days as a small business, gaining just a handful more new customers can make a big difference.

Streets Law has been set up as the dedicated legal services practice of Streets Chartered Accountants, a top 40 UK accountancy firm. The move is one that is certainly pioneering for a mid-tier multi regional firm like Streets.

Wyboston Lakes Resort is partnering with the Princes Trust ‘Get into’ programme to help the next generation of aspiring hospitality and events professionals become ‘job ready’.

A multi-million pound speculative development of 23 units – the first of its kind in Bedford for more than 20 years – is open for business after reaching practical completion.

Shaun Armstrong is the founder of Mubsta Business Photography, a Bedford-based company that provides professional photography services to businesses, projects and organisations.

As the owner of a small business, growing your company is always high up on your agenda. From building a sales funnel to tracking competitor activity, you’ll constantly be thinking about the necessary steps required to grow your business.

Last year, when I was 32 I took the youngest member of my team to a client meeting and within 37 seconds Laurie made me feel eighty-four. On the desk in front of us was what Laurie described as a 3D printed “save icon”- It was in fact a floppy disk. 

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and Bibby Financial Services (BFS) have revealed that uncertainty around Brexit, tariffs and exchange rate volatility

It’s a common misconception that exporting is only for large companies with thousands of staff, but the truth is no business is too small to trade overseas.

Louisa Watson, Director of Marketing at Wyboston Lakes Resort is to feature in the first Women to Watch in Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure Index 2019.

The British Chambers of Commerce’s Quarterly Economic Survey – now in its thirtieth year as the largest UK private sector survey of business sentiment and a leading indicator of UK GDP growth

The world-renowned Monarch Airlines Engineering Training Academy facilities at London Luton Airport have been purchased from the joint administrators at KPMG, by British School of Aviation (BSA).

Dunstable-based Spicer & Co are finalists in this year’s annual Best Business Women Awards.

HSBC UK has launched a £250m lending fund to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes, as part of its commitment to help businesses realise their ambitions for growthand navigate Brexit.

As an entrepreneur or small business, you’re always on the hunt for new business opportunities. Being able to spot these opportunities is essential for growth, especially in today’s business environment.

Referrals can be incredibly powerful for your small business - they are the simplest and most consistent way to grow your customer base.

Just as good cash flow keeps a business afloat, poor cash flow can sink it. Poor cash flow is a big reason why one in every four businesses don’t make it past the first year. And why more than half don’t survive past the fifth.

Essential, a family owned and operated business supplying branded apparel and corporate clothing from Dunstable, has been crowned one of the winners in the East of England heats of the Chamber Business Awards 2019.

The Best Business Women Awards have announced their finalists for 2019. The business world is full of talented and dedicated female entrepreneurs who not only run successful businesses but,

The onboarding process is one of the most important parts of an employee’s experience and it sets a precedent for what they can expect from their new employer. You only get one chance to make a great first impression and for new employees the first few weeks are critical.