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

Commenting on the passage of amendments to the Customs Bill, which commit the government to fully separating the UK from the EU VAT regime, Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:

As the results from our Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) demonstrate, 20% of respondents saw export sales increase in Q2 of 2018. Since this comes at a time of uncertainty due to Brexit, other political and economical factors, we should remain positive about international growth in the coming months.

George Hay Chartered Accountants, which has offices in Biggleswade, Letchworth and Huntingdon, recently handed over a cheque for £1,610 to The Luton and Dunstable NICU Parents Accommodation Appeal.

Streets Chartered Accountants, a leading Top 40 accountancy practice, is pleased to announce the recent acquisition of London and Brighton based entertainment specialist accountancy firm

• Over half of UK businesses did not attempt to access finance in the last year
• One-in-two businesses that did seek finance did so because of cash flow
• Investment intentions are focused on incremental investments

Cranfield School of Management’s MBA has been named as one of the top 20 programmes in the world for entrepreneurship by the Financial Times.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has today published the two-dozen top real-world questions being asked on Brexit by businesses across the UK – and says the government 

Human Resource Management (HRM) courses at the University of Bedfordshire have been given the seal of approval by the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD).

According to ARLA Propertymark, the UK’s professional body for letting agents, a record number of landlords left the rental market during April 2018, despite demand for rental properties increasing.

Commenting on the publication of the NAO report on the Customs Declaration Service (CDS), Anastassia Beliakova, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Do you need a boost in your business before the break for summer?

Business owners generally seek advice because they’re struggling in an area of business or they have a specific issue that’s holding them back. Good business advice can really make a business especially if support is sought early enough to help businesses get on, and stay on, the right track.

BCC: delay roll-out of Making Tax Digital

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has today slightly downgraded its growth expectations for the UK economy, forecasting GDP growth for 2018 at 1.3% (from 1.4%) 

The University of Bedfordshire has teamed up with Luton Council to provide higher apprenticeships for some of their employees.

Commenting on the labour market figures for June 2018, published today by the ONS, Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Following on from our previous post, here we discuss how the UK's apprenticeship levy can benefit business owners.

Are you a business benefiting from the apprenticeship levy?

Perhaps you are an SME with an annual bill of less than £3m. Or perhaps as a business, you have a significant skills gap within the enterprise.

New location provides end-of-rental convenience for customers of Canada's largest temperature controlled healthcare transportation provider

Regardless of size, offering, or sector, businesses have a duty to behave in an environmentally responsible way. 

Chamber business leaders from across the United Kingdom have today written to the Prime Minister calling for a renewed focus on tackling the barriers to growth and investment in the United Kingdom - and a radical plan for action.

Google the term plastic pollution and you’ll be jolted into the horrifying realisation of what un-recycled plastic is doing to our delicate planet. The enormity of the plastic epidemic is having devastating effects on wildlife, the ocean and as a result, us.

Luton Council have built a new skills platform, and are now at a stage to add your organisation (if you wish) on to the system.

The business landscape is notoriously disruptive, volatile and unpredictable. And for businesses to withstand this level of uncertainty, it’s not enough to simply have the best product, the best price, or even the best service.

Machins Solicitors LLP, one of Luton’s most established law firms, will be moving from its Victoria Street office, to new offices on Dunstable Road, Luton.

Foxley Kingham, Luton-based chartered accountants and business advisers, has announced its selected charity partners, who will benefit from a year of fund raising to celebrate the company’s 50th anniversary.

Hilary Chipping has been appointed as Chief Executive, having held the position as acting Chief Executive since January 2018.

With less than a month to go, the GDPR deadline is imminent. If you feel far from readiness, rest assured you’re not alone.

Commenting on the GDP figures for Q1 2018, released  by the ONS, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Peli BioThermal, the global name in temperature controlled packaging, announces it has won the Queen's Award for Enterprise: International Trade 2018.