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

Businesses can encourage staff to travel more sustainably to work thanks to business grants available from Central Bedfordshire’s Travel Choices.

From local standout to national champion: Chamber Awards to put best of British business on the map

• BCC upgrades GDP growth forecasts from 2.7% to 2.8% in 2014 and from 2.4% to 2.5% in 2015
• UK GDP expected to exceed  its pre-recession peak in Q2 2014 – one quarter earlier than we forecast in December
• The first increase in UK interest rates expected in Q3 2015 to 0.75%

• BCC predicts that wage growth will exceed inflation from mid-2014
• The youth unemployment rate is expected to remain almost three times the national average over the forecast period (2014 – 2016)

Confidence at record high among exporters but more support needed to reach £1trillion target, says BCC/DHL report

The Mall, Luton has announced the launch of its eighth annual Retail Factor competition this January. The competition provides small businesses, both start up and established, with the opportunity to trade rent free in The Mall for a three week period. All businesses that don’t already have a permanent presence are invited to apply.

BCC Annual Conference 2014: Ed Balls, Theo Paphitis and Sir John Armitt join business leaders to discuss how to move the economy from Good to Great

BCC Economic Forecast: GDP to surpass pre-recession peak in second half of 2014

Do you have an innovative business idea that supports the environment?

As part of Central Bedfordshire Council’s ‘Travel Choices’ programme, businesses in Dunstable, Houghton Regis and Leighton Buzzard can benefit from a £3,000 grant to improve staff facilities at your premises.

Bedfordshire businesses are urged to act quickly this month as SEMLEP unveils a £10,000 pot of funding designed to help companies reduce their energy costs and leverage additional funding in 2014.

A director who failed to keep proper business records has been convicted of breaches of the money laundering regulations (MLR) involving an estimated £170,000, in the first prosecution of its kind by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

• Retail sales volumes fell 0.7% in October 2013, and were flat in the last three months
• Over the past year retail sales increased by 1.8%
• Annual inflation of goods sold in the retail industry was 0.7% in October, well below total CPI inflation

The Health and Wellbeing Team at Luton Borough Council, in conjuction with Horizon Health Choices Limited, are offering free health checks for your employees aged between 40-74 years.

Commenting on the report published by the National Audit office today, Infrastructure investment: the impact on consumer bills, Adam Marshall, Director of Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

What's it like being an SME in Bedfordshire?  Make your voice heard by taking part in the Quarterly Economic Survey (QES).  The QES is is a highly respected survey of conditions for small and medium sized businesses.   Carried out every quarter by local Chambers on behalf of the British Chambers of Commerce, the survey is consulted by The Treasury and other central government departments.

• In the three months to September 2013, the unemployment rate was 7.6%
• In the three months to September 2013, unemployment fell by 48,000 and employment increased by 177,000
• Youth unemployment (16-24) fell 9,000 in the three months to September, but was still high at 965,000, and the jobless rate was 21%
• The claimant count fell 41,700 between September and October 2013

UKTI have announced a new scheme where young entrepreneurs can apply for help setting up their business in the UK. Successful applicants will receive a 12-month start-up support package including investment, mentoring and logistical help. The scheme is available to final year university students or those who graduated in 2011 or later.

A Luton-based press manufacturer has agreed a £500,000 deal that will see it deliver a ‘world first’ to the South Coast in 2014.

The Government has announced road investment plans including some improvements that the Chamber has lobbied for with partners.

To mark the start of Export Week, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has announced the launch of a new website designed to support businesses at every stage of their export journey. 

Today (Monday) marks the start of national Export Week, designed to celebrate the exporting successes achieved by UK firms, and to encourage more businesses to take their first step towards ‘going global’. Chambers of Commerce are the largest private sector providers of international trade services in the UK, and are committed to helping businesses find new markets and trade the world. 

Branch Line Training is launching a new nationally recognised Fire Risk Assessment NPORS course in the New Year.    The course is designed  to enable individuals carry out fire risk assessments and is aimed at health and safety officers, site managers, supervisors and fire wardens.

Chamber member CHUMS,  a charity which supports bereaved children and their families, has been selected to appear on ITV People's Millions on 26th November at 6pm.  They will be up against another organisation who will also be looking for your votes to win £50,000.

• The UK deficit on trade in goods and services was £3.3bn in September 2013, unchanged from August
• There was a £9.8bn deficit on goods, partly offset by a £6.5bn surplus on services
• The trade deficit in goods and services increased markedly in Q3 2013, largely reflecting a wider goods deficit (down £4.3bn - £3.8bn goods)

Commenting on today’s interest rate decision, announced by the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee, David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:

• Manufacturing output rose 1.2% between August and September 2013, while total production increased by 0.9%
• In the three months to September 2013, manufacturing output rose 0.9% over the previous three months, but when compared with a year earlier, there was only a minimal increase (0.1%)

Office space is available at The Village at Great Marlings in Luton. Spaces from 1, 040-14, 597 square foot are on offer.

The Chamber's youngest member, nine year old Henry Patterson of Not Before Tea,  is seeking crowdfunding to publish six stories linked to his sweetie business.

HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, Helen Nellis, has paid a visit to Prologis Park at Marston Gate as part of her role as business ambassador for Central Bedfordshire.

In the face of intense competition from event and leisure venues across the globe, Wyboston Lakes has won the gold award for ‘Best Integrated Marketing Campaign’ in the prestigious Meetings Industry Marketing Awards (MIMA) 2013.