News

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

MHA MacIntyre Hudson adopts Baker Tilly International brand identity to reflect global capabilities

MHA MacIntyre Hudson is adopting the brand identity and ethos of Baker Tilly International, the top-10 global accountancy network with 126 members firms. The new brand look and feel will also be used by all members of the UK MHA network.

Read More

6 reasons your business might not be growing

Why do some businesses struggle so much to get off the ground? Or, when they eventually gain some momentum, they plateau and fail to sustain any growth?

The first years for any business can be testing, draining, and exhausting. Seasoned entrepreneurs as well new business owners face innumerable challenges with growth.
Read More

BCC: Business communities still have little sense of Brexit destination

Commenting on the Prime Minister's announcement she will seek to extend the Brexit deadline, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:

“The clock is still ticking, and avoiding a messy and disorderly exit from the EU is still the top priority

Read More

Why should I use a planning consultant when applying for planning permission?

Robinson & Hall, Land and Property Professionals, often receive planning jobs whereby the individual has attempted to apply for planning themselves and they now require our help. Abel Bunu, Senior Planner at Robinson & Hall, explains why it is important to use a planning consultant from the outset when applying for planning permission. 
Read More

Productivity hacks from the world's greatest leaders

Some of the world’s greatest leaders, entrepreneurs and thinkers are known to be masters of productivity.

Hearing of their work ethics and the subtle hacks they implemented into their days can teach us a lot about how to manage our own time for maximum productivity.

Read More

George Hay Chartered Accountants host 26th Annual Quiz

On Tuesday 19th March, George Hay Chartered Accountants hosted their 26th Annual Quiz at the John O’Gaunt Golf Club Nr. Potton.

A number of local businesses, including solicitors, banks and professional networking groups, came together to compete for the sought-after George Hay Jubilee Shield.
Read More

High Sheriff Plants trees to mark opening of new woodland


The Forest of Marston Vale recently hosted the planting of 10 trees to celebrate and commemorate the year of public service given by the outgoing High Sheriff of Bedfordshire, Julian Polhill. Joining the celebration were Meryl Dolling, the High Sheriff in nomination and Nick Webb, Chief Executive of the Forest of Marston Vale Trust.

Read More

SME businesses encouraged to take advantage of final stages of grant scheme

Businesses across the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership region are being encouraged to take advantage of the final stages of a grant programme run by Cranfield University, in partnership with the University of Bedfordshire and part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Read More

Robotic assistance in the workplace: a feared or welcomed inevitability?

It may well have seemed the stuff of science fiction when we were growing up, but increasingly we are exposed to robotic technology, machine learning or artificial intelligence (AI) in some form or another in our work and personal lives.

Read More

BCC comments on inflation figures

Commenting on the inflation statistics for February 2019, published today by the Office for National Statistics, Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

“Inflation picked-up for the first time since August 2018, with rising prices across a range of items including
Read More

Aviation industry’s digital future gets underway

Cranfield University marked the official start of construction of the new £67m Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre (DARTeC) to be built at the Cranfield campus, with a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday 15 March.

Read More

BCC Forecast: UK economy to falter further as Brexit uncertainty bites

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has today slightly downgraded its growth expectations for the UK economy, forecasting growth of just 1.2% in 2019 (down from 1.3%), which if realised would be the weakest growth in a decade. 
Read More

Successes from this year's Meet the Buyer event

A Meet the Buyer event is an unmissable opportunity for your business. Our most recent event, held on the 27th February at Putterridge Bury in Luton is a testament to that statement. 

Read More

Foxley Kingham Anniversary Foundation raises over £56,000 for local charities

Luton based chartered accountants, Foxley Kingham, has announced that it has raised £56,123 for local charities over the last year, to mark the 50th Anniversary of the company. The company set itself the challenge of raising £50,000 in February 2018, for 17 local charities chosen by staff and clients.

Read More

Five-yearly electrical installation checks on private rented housing will be mandatory

Lettings fees is a much talked about subject in the House of Lords. So, it’s no surprise that the Tenant Fees Bill had its third reading.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has announced that five-year electrical installation checks on private rented housing in England will be mandatory.

Read More

BCC comments on Article 50 vote: Businesses still in the danger zone

Commenting on the parliamentary vote on extending Article 50, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

“While most businesses will support an extension to Article 50 to avert the prospect of a messy and disorderly exit on the March 29th,
Read More

Go green for trees

Thursday 21st March is the United Nations’ International Day of Forests - the annual day to celebrate trees and all the wonderful benefits they give us. This year’s theme is Forests and Education, promoting the fact that you’re never too young to learn about trees and about how all of us need to protect our trees, woodlands and forests for future generations.

Read More

Auction buying and selling ‘unaffected’ by Brexit, says Auction House

Despite reports of doom and gloom in the property market, the latest Auction House figures suggest that buying and selling through regional auctions has not been affected by Brexit.

Read More

BCC comments on Spring Statement

Commenting on the Spring Statement, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

“The Chancellor is right to warn of the risks that a messy and disorderly exit on March 29th would pose for the economy. Westminster must heed the fact that businesses and government agencies are simply not ready for such an abrupt change,
Read More

BCC comments on no-deal Brexit vote

Commenting on the Parliamentary vote on the motion to rule out leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Read More

How to grow your B2B network

Building your B2B network takes commitment and persistence, but success comes from the quality of your network over the quantity of contacts.

Read More

BCC: UK economy continuing to slow under weight of Brexit uncertainty

Commenting on the latest UK GDP and trade statistics, published today by the ONS, Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:
“Although there was an increase in GDP growth between December and January,
Read More

BCC research highlights need to delay Making Tax Digital

With just weeks to go before its planned introduction, new research suggests nearly one in five businesses above the VAT threshold still know little or nothing about Making Tax Digital, according to the British Chambers of Commerce.

Read More

BCC launches Chamber Business Awards at London Stock Exchange

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) today launches its flagship Chamber Business Awards at London Stock Exchange. Northcoders, last year’s winner of the ‘Business of the Year’ award has the honour of opening trading at the London Stock Exchange.

Read More

Tenant fees are to be banned on 1st June

Lettings fees is a much talked about subject in the House of Lords. So it’s no surprise that the Tenant Fees Bill had its third reading.

Read More

Preparing your business for Brexit

The uncertainty and frustration gripping the UK right now are palpable.

And as further ambiguity weaves its way through Brexit proceedings and negotiations, the majority of us are still unaware of how to prepare, or provide solutions and definitive advice to our workforces and peers.

Read More

The world of planning and development – 2018 and what to expect in 2019

What did and did not happen in 2018 and what changes are ahead in the world of planning and development in 2019?

Read More

10 ways to improve your businesses cashflow

EFM offers practical advice and recommends steps which your company can take to improve your businesses cashflow.

Read More

Community Gathers for Commemorative Tree-Planting Event

Neville Funeral Service, one of the regions longest established businesses, welcomed over 200 people to a rather special commemorative tree-planting event at the Forest of Marston Vale in Bedfordshire on 24th February.

Read More

Starting up - a guide for the newly self-employed

Bitten the bullet and finally decided to go self-employed?

While we've previously written about how to approach this from a tax perspective, what about building your brand? How about promoting and selling yourself? Networking and identifying potentials customers?

Read More

MHA MacIntyre Hudson adopts Baker Tilly International brand identity to reflect global capabilities

MHA MacIntyre Hudson is adopting the brand identity and ethos of Baker Tilly International, the top-10 global accountancy network with 126 members firms. The new brand look and feel will also be used by all members of the UK MHA network.

Read More

6 reasons your business might not be growing

Why do some businesses struggle so much to get off the ground? Or, when they eventually gain some momentum, they plateau and fail to sustain any growth?

The first years for any business can be testing, draining, and exhausting. Seasoned entrepreneurs as well new business owners face innumerable challenges with growth.
Read More

BCC: Business communities still have little sense of Brexit destination

Commenting on the Prime Minister's announcement she will seek to extend the Brexit deadline, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:

“The clock is still ticking, and avoiding a messy and disorderly exit from the EU is still the top priority

Read More

Why should I use a planning consultant when applying for planning permission?

Robinson & Hall, Land and Property Professionals, often receive planning jobs whereby the individual has attempted to apply for planning themselves and they now require our help. Abel Bunu, Senior Planner at Robinson & Hall, explains why it is important to use a planning consultant from the outset when applying for planning permission. 
Read More

Productivity hacks from the world's greatest leaders

Some of the world’s greatest leaders, entrepreneurs and thinkers are known to be masters of productivity.

Hearing of their work ethics and the subtle hacks they implemented into their days can teach us a lot about how to manage our own time for maximum productivity.

Read More

George Hay Chartered Accountants host 26th Annual Quiz

On Tuesday 19th March, George Hay Chartered Accountants hosted their 26th Annual Quiz at the John O’Gaunt Golf Club Nr. Potton.

A number of local businesses, including solicitors, banks and professional networking groups, came together to compete for the sought-after George Hay Jubilee Shield.
Read More

High Sheriff Plants trees to mark opening of new woodland


The Forest of Marston Vale recently hosted the planting of 10 trees to celebrate and commemorate the year of public service given by the outgoing High Sheriff of Bedfordshire, Julian Polhill. Joining the celebration were Meryl Dolling, the High Sheriff in nomination and Nick Webb, Chief Executive of the Forest of Marston Vale Trust.

Read More

SME businesses encouraged to take advantage of final stages of grant scheme

Businesses across the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership region are being encouraged to take advantage of the final stages of a grant programme run by Cranfield University, in partnership with the University of Bedfordshire and part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Read More

Robotic assistance in the workplace: a feared or welcomed inevitability?

It may well have seemed the stuff of science fiction when we were growing up, but increasingly we are exposed to robotic technology, machine learning or artificial intelligence (AI) in some form or another in our work and personal lives.

Read More

BCC comments on inflation figures

Commenting on the inflation statistics for February 2019, published today by the Office for National Statistics, Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

“Inflation picked-up for the first time since August 2018, with rising prices across a range of items including
Read More

Foxley Kingham Anniversary Foundation raises over £56,000 for local charities

Luton based chartered accountants, Foxley Kingham, has announced that it has raised £56,123 for local charities over the last year, to mark the 50th Anniversary of the company. The company set itself the challenge of raising £50,000 in February 2018, for 17 local charities chosen by staff and clients.

Read More

Five-yearly electrical installation checks on private rented housing will be mandatory

Lettings fees is a much talked about subject in the House of Lords. So, it’s no surprise that the Tenant Fees Bill had its third reading.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has announced that five-year electrical installation checks on private rented housing in England will be mandatory.

Read More

BCC comments on Article 50 vote: Businesses still in the danger zone

Commenting on the parliamentary vote on extending Article 50, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

“While most businesses will support an extension to Article 50 to avert the prospect of a messy and disorderly exit on the March 29th,
Read More

Go green for trees

Thursday 21st March is the United Nations’ International Day of Forests - the annual day to celebrate trees and all the wonderful benefits they give us. This year’s theme is Forests and Education, promoting the fact that you’re never too young to learn about trees and about how all of us need to protect our trees, woodlands and forests for future generations.

Read More

Auction buying and selling ‘unaffected’ by Brexit, says Auction House

Despite reports of doom and gloom in the property market, the latest Auction House figures suggest that buying and selling through regional auctions has not been affected by Brexit.

Read More

BCC comments on Spring Statement

Commenting on the Spring Statement, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

“The Chancellor is right to warn of the risks that a messy and disorderly exit on March 29th would pose for the economy. Westminster must heed the fact that businesses and government agencies are simply not ready for such an abrupt change,
Read More

BCC comments on no-deal Brexit vote

Commenting on the Parliamentary vote on the motion to rule out leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Read More

How to grow your B2B network

Building your B2B network takes commitment and persistence, but success comes from the quality of your network over the quantity of contacts.

Read More

BCC: UK economy continuing to slow under weight of Brexit uncertainty

Commenting on the latest UK GDP and trade statistics, published today by the ONS, Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:
“Although there was an increase in GDP growth between December and January,
Read More

BCC research highlights need to delay Making Tax Digital

With just weeks to go before its planned introduction, new research suggests nearly one in five businesses above the VAT threshold still know little or nothing about Making Tax Digital, according to the British Chambers of Commerce.

Read More

BCC launches Chamber Business Awards at London Stock Exchange

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) today launches its flagship Chamber Business Awards at London Stock Exchange. Northcoders, last year’s winner of the ‘Business of the Year’ award has the honour of opening trading at the London Stock Exchange.

Read More

Tenant fees are to be banned on 1st June

Lettings fees is a much talked about subject in the House of Lords. So it’s no surprise that the Tenant Fees Bill had its third reading.

Read More

Sign up to our eNewsletter