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

Apprenticeship grants are available via the National Apprenticeship Service to support businesses to recruit new 16-24 year olds as apprentices.    Employers have until December 2014 to claim up to ten grants of £1.5 k each (subject to eligibility and availability, grant applications are considered on a first come first served basis).

Families and business people from the Bedfordshire area are invited to an event to mark the 30th anniversary of one of the region’s most successful businesses. Wyboston Lakes Conference and Leisure Centre, close to St Neots, is holding a varied and exciting family fun day on Sunday 1st September from 1 p.m.

Ever felt like telling the government what it’s really like being in business in 2015?

These days she definitely wears the trousers but when Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce’s Chief Executive Cheryl Smart MBE joined Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce 25 years ago female staff were forbidden from wearing them.

• Quarterly GDP growth in Q2 2013, revised up from 0.6% to 0.7%
• All the main sectors of the economy show positive growth in Q2
• Business investment rose 0.9%, and there was a particularly large rise in investment in dwellings (13.3%)
• There was a significant improvement in the net trade position, with exports rising 3.6% on the quarter and imports by 2.5%

Commenting on today’s GCSE results, John Wastnage, Employment and Skills Adviser at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:

Are you a PA or Secretary, Manager or Boss? Are you prepared to lift the lid on your experiences at work?

Could your business work with universities to a greater degree?   Central Bedfordshire Council is asking managers of local businesses to take part in a survey which begins on 19th August 2013.

Luton Borough Council is organising a public procurement MEET THE BUYER event to take place on Thursday 5th November at the Knowledge Hub, University of Bedfordshire, Putteridge Bury, Luton. The event is designed to encourage local businesses to engage with the public sector.

Commenting on today’s A-Level results, John Wastnage, Employment and Skills Adviser at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:

• In the three months to June 2013, unemployment fell by 4,000, and employment rose by 69,000, compared with the previous quarter
• Long term unemployment is up, with further increases in the number of those unemployed for more than one year and two years
• Youth unemployment has risen by 15,000 in the three months to June, and now stands at 973,000
• In July 2013 the claimant count fell by 29,200, compared with June

Ahead of A-Level results, the BCC calls for greater contact between young people and business to help pupils make better informed career choices. The business organisation set all MPs the challenge of finding first hand from employers what prevents them from hiring young people.

EV driving visitors to the Cenex Low Carbon Vehicle 2013 event will again be offered free recharging while they browse the show, thanks to APT Controls and the Source East Network which operates across the East of England.

Executive Councillors today recommended that Central Bedfordshire Council pledge £5.18m in support of the East West Rail Scheme.

The UK’s first entirely electric pay-per-use car club has arrived in Luton. E-Car Club has been designed to provide local businesses and the wider community with the convenience and flexibility of full-sized electric cars and vans without the high cost of owning them. And all with the lowest emissions in the market today.

BIS are giving businesses the opportunity to raise particular issues that they would like to see addressed in upcoming trade negotiations between the European Union and the United States. To help guide your feedback they  have provided a short questionnaire.

The University of Bedfordshire's Knowledge Hub is offering a fully funded training opportunity aimed at creative, manufacturing, engineering, airport, aerospace and IT sector SMEs in Luton.

Manufacturing output in June 2013: +1.9% on the month, +2.0% on the year
Total industrial production: +1.1% on the month, +1.2% on the year

As a part of the EXHUME project  composites manufacturers are being invited  to take part in the Waste Mapping Workshop.

The workshop offer creation of process models that show material flows in a composites factory and highlight material usage and scrap generation that will allow identifying opportunities for material reuse within/across sectors.

A survey of more than 4,500 businesses released today  by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) shows that the number of exporting firms continues to increase. The survey also shows that those who ‘think global’, either because they have previously worked abroad or they collaborate with international partners in business, are far more likely to export than those with little international experience.

• GDP growth in Q2 2013: +0.6% on the quarter, +1.4% on the year
• Services growth is +0.6% on the quarter, +2.1% on the year
• Manufacturing growth is +0.4% on the quarter, -0.9% on the year
• Construction output is +0.9% on the quarter, -1.0% on the year

An EU regulation taskforce led by Business Innovation and Skills Minister Michael Fallon is looking for UK firms to help identify unnecessary EU regulations. The taskforce is asking businesses of all sizes and within all sectors to submit evidence of European rules and regulations that create unnecessary barriers to competitiveness,  including barriers to:

Is your shop regularly targeted by thieves?  Are light-fingered customers crippling your business?  Would you like some FREE professional help to deter shoplifters once and for all?

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is delighted to announce that the second International Trade Conference will take place on October 17 2013 at Central Hall, Westminster. Bringing together some of the UK’s high growth exporters, business leaders and leading policy makers the Conference will provide insight on the challenges and opportunities of trading internationally.

Related Bedfordshire and Luton is a local independent charity entirely devoted to building stronger relationships. They are seeking to recruit a Board Member who is self-motivated and forward thinking to help drive their organisation.

According to the Met Office we are currently at a Level 2 Heatwave Alert, which means that a Heatwave is forecast. For the East of England there is an 80% of Heatwave temperatures being reached.

Sandy based health and safety and employment law consultancy THSP is pleased to announce the appointment of Glen London as it expands its support for clients for Employment Relations and Employment Law advice.

Commenting on the announcement of the new framework for delivery of traineeships by Skills Minister Matthew Hancock, Dr Adam Marshall, Director of Policy and External Affairs at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Commenting on the options for a third runway outlined by Heathrow Airport today, Dr Adam Marshall, Director of Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Engineers at Millbrook Proving Ground, one of Europe’s leading locations for testing and developing every type of land vehicle, from motorcycles and passenger cars to heavy commercial, military and agricultural vehicles, will be showcasing their PEMS (Portable Emissions Measurement System) capability at LCV2013.