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

Businesses in Bedfordshire can now apply for a share of the new £2.5 million Grants4Growth programme – which is being distributed via Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) to companies based in the East of England.

• Annual Consumer Price Inflation was 2.7% in the year to May 2013, up from 2.4% in April
• Annual RPI inflation was 3.1% in May 2013, up from 2.9% in April

“GermanContractors” (www.germancontractors.co.uk) is an online construction directory designed for British construction companies and developers, architects, project planners and specifiers.

On Tuesday 18^th June, more than 180 people will tackle the Millbrook Proving Ground’s second running of the Millbrook Alpine DVD (M.A.D) challenge, a gruelling 5k Alpine and off-road race, to again raise money for Help for Heroes.

 Streets Chartered Accountants, a top 40 UK Accountancy firm, has recruited Gareth Short, a leading sports tax adviser, to spearhead the development of its new dedicated sports tax practice.

The Chamber Awards close for business entries on the 28th June.   Any business entering any of the eight business categories by 21st June 2013 will be entered into a prize draw to win an iPad mini.

Moves to be environmentally sustainable have gained the University of Bedfordshire a First in the People & Planet Green League 2013.

Several initiatives have helped propel the institution to number 20 – a leap of 16 places from last year’s 36 – out of 143 universities in the league, published in The Guardian on Tuesday 11 June.

More than 1.4 million employer PAYE schemes are now reporting to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in real time since the launch of new tax reporting requirements in April.

Lisa Emms has joined Robinson and Hall as  Lettings Assistant.

Business doesn't recognise borders, which is why you should join us for a great event where you can promote your business to like-minded business people from neighbouring areas Milton Keynes, North Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire.

• Manufacturing output in April 2013: -0.2% on the month, -0.5% year on year
• Total industrial production in April 2013: +0.1% on the month, -0.6% year on year

As part of the on-going regeneration of the area and improvement to the road network in Dunstable, Bedfordshire Highways will be carrying out essential road works on Poynters Road.

A new service is being offered to clients of Risk Management Consultancy, THSP, to help them keep up to date with the complex world of Employment Law.  An ‘Employment Safe Newsletter’, published monthly, will focus on changes to Government legislation as well as highlighting possible implications and potential pitfalls of these changes to employers.  

Close to 100 Bedfordshire and Luton businesses completed a survey during Business Continuity Awareness Week this March about how prepared they are if disaster strikes. In a prize draw that accompanied the survey Bedfordshire business Kidatu Ltd won an iPad Mini and a free session with experts from the Bedfordshire and Luton Local Resilience Forum (BLLRF) to develop its Business Continuity Plan.

Do you have employees who find it hard to get to work, education or training due to lack of transport or difficulties with public transport? Wheels2Work is a scheme that helps people in the Central Bedfordshire area (focusing on Houghton Regis, Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard) to get a loan for a bike or scooter, allowing them to get to work and get fit.

Commenting on the new Small and Micro Business Assessment, which has been announced by Michael Fallon today, Dr Adam Marshall, Director of Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:

The e-FM Network of Finance Directors & Specialists have been shortlisted in the FSB Business Awards 2013. The company which provides flexible financial management resource to SMEs up to Finance Director/ Non Executive Director levels will be celebrating this achievement with stakeholders and other successful companies at a prestigious awards dinner on the 6th of June at the Luton Hoo Luxury Hotel.

Local fitness instructor Jackie Neufville and her fitness company Fittville UK Ltd are organising a charity Spin-a-thon consisting of 6 hours of spinning on bikes to raise money for Luton’s homelessness charity NOAH Enterprise. Participants will be spinning for between one hour and potentially the whole day!

A student from Luton is making a great start in the world of engineering, thanks to the generosity of a local company.  

A group aimed at sharing the experiences and concerns of businesses in Dunstable and Houghton Regis was launched at the Holiday Inn Express, Dunstable this week.   Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce held the inaugural meeting of the Dunstable and Houghton Regis Business Group, chaired by Chamber director Richard Cooper of ASA Business Consulting, at the hotel which was recently voted Dunstable Hospitality Venue of the Year 2012.

Having recently completed a £3.5 million facility investment across its two specialist venues, Wyboston Lakes has announced a significant new space for training events, the Willows Conference Suite.

Whether you're new to exporting or an old hand, we can help you. Our Export Documentation team are on hand to process your documents, advise and assist.

Commenting on the labour market statistics, published today by the ONS, David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:

The Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Provider Network are keen to hear views from employers across Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire about 16-24 Youth Unemployment and how you feel about Apprenticeships.

The University of Bedfordshire’s Knowledge Hub has teamed up with Central Bedfordshire Council and Bedford Borough Council to launch an innovative leadership and management training programme aimed at business professionals looking to develop their skills set.

If you want to be be well-connected, then you need our events. Take a look at our events diary, see what's coming up this month and join in.

Chamber Membership brings with it a whole host of benefits aimed at helping you save money, raise your business profile and develop and grow your business.

Commenting on the government’s decisions today on National Minimum Wage rates from 1 October 2013, Dr Adam Marshall, Director of Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

UltraVision CLPL is taking the manufacture of contact lenses to the next level and in support of this has employed Clinical Director, Lynn White MSc FCOptom and Engineering Manager, Nick Stonehouse.  With a strong clinical and manufacturing team, UltraVision is poised for growth and ready to ensure the future development of the next generation of contact lens technology.