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

After a long and distinguished career with the Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, Cheryl will be retiring at the end of September. 

Cheryl has worked tirelessly for the Bedfordshire Chamber for almost thirty years. She has been a great advocate for Bedfordshire Businesses and demonstrated her expertise and skill in export matters by being the leader of several trade missions around the world. 

Nick Willis, Senior Partner at George Hay Chartered Accountants, achieved a significant milestone recently, having celebrated 40 years’ service on 15th August.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), in partnership with DHL, today publishes its latest Quarterly International Trade Outlook, which shows that while many exporters continue to put in a solid performance, wider economic factors are a cause of concern.

Commenting on the inflation statistics for July 2017, released today by the ONS, Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Commenting on the proposed Data Protection Bill, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Central Bedfordshire Council has now published its preferred options for the new Local Plan, which will cover the period from 2015 to 2035.

• Opel and Vauxhall to be operated as true iconic German and British brands
• New performance plan to be presented in 100 days: to generate a positive operational free cash flow by 2020 as well as an operating margin of 2% by 2020 and 6% by 2026
• Four new team members to join the leadership team

A new online tax forum and dedicated webchat service for small businesses and the self-employed is being launched today by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). A new online tax forum and dedicated webchat service for small businesses and the self-employed is being launched today by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

The Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce and Biggleswade United Football Club are delighted to announce the formation of a business partnership.

Center Parcs has strengthened its corporate events team with the appointment of Liz Pilling as Corporate Events Commercial Manager.

Chicheley Hall’s staff recently voted for their charity of the year and the overwhelming response was for Willen Hospice, a local Charity who provide care to adults with life limiting illnesses.

Woodfines Solicitors are proud to announce our new Commercial Property solicitor, Suzanne Folbigg at our Milton Keynes office. Suzanne comes with over 6 years’ experience of commercial property and agricultural transactions gained at prominent national and international firms. 

In support of the ‘Help Great Britain work well’ strategy, HSE and the Chambers of Commerce are planning a campaign to create greater awareness of how local exhaust ventilation (LEV) can prevent ill health. 

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has published its Quarterly Economic Survey – the UK’s largest and most authoritative private-sector business survey. Based on the responses of over 7,700 businesses in Q2 2017, the results for both sectors indicate that the UK economy grew at a subdued rate in the second quarter of 2017.

April this year saw the arrival of new business rates. So what does this mean?

Peli BioThermal Invited to Monarch’s Reception for Queen’s Award for Innovation

Ben Halstead, Partner in charge of Streets Chartered Accountants’ Bedford (Wyboston Lakes) office has become a member of the firm’s central partnership.

The project is the result of the collaboration with UWE Bristol and Oxfam

Cranfield University is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Helen Atkinson CBE, FREng as Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of School of Aerospace, Transport Systems and Manufacturing. She will join Cranfield on 1 September.

Center Parcs Conferences & Events has revealed it has refreshed its popular teambuilding packages, while also launching an activity-only package.

June 26, 2017 (Winnipeg, MB) – Richardson International Limited has expanded its oat milling business with the acquisition of European Oat Millers. The acquisition closed on June 15, 2017.

The Forest of Marston Vale is bidding to bag a massive cash boost from the Tesco Bags of Help initiative.
Tesco teamed up with Groundwork to launch its community funding scheme, which sees grants of £4,000, £2,000 and £1,000 – all raised from the 5p bag levy – being awarded to local community projects.

Congratulations go to Andrew Jenkinson, Partner & Rural Surveyor at Robinson & Hall for being shortlisted for the ‘Farm Adviser of the Year’ at the prestigious Farmers Weekly Awards 2017.

Colworth Park, a science park which offers a collaborative environment for its occupiers to share and develop new ideas, is home to a new cybersecurity venture – Colworth Solutions.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has today (Monday) slightly upgraded its UK growth forecast for 2017 from 1.4% to 1.5%. Its expectations for growth in 2018 and 2019 remain unchanged at 1.3% and 1.5% respectively.

Commenting on the Queen’s Speech, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:

“It’s never too late to become a reservist” says 44 year old Mark Farrant from Bedford. The Police Inspector with Bedfordshire Police joined the Royal Air Force Police (3 Tactical Police Squadron) just under two years ago and hasn’t looked back since.

30 year-old Adam Kent spends his working day analysing, auditing and reporting on a portfolio of nineteen thousand trucks for Mercedes-Benz. But when he’s not behind his desk he takes on a second equally responsible role in the Army Reserve.

On the day negotiations begin on the UK's departure from the European Union, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Commenting on the General Election, Cheryl Smart MBE, Chief Executive of the Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, said: