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

If you’ve been struggling to recruit the right people into your business recently, then you’re not alone. There is a ‘skills shortage’ in the UK, and between January and March 2022, vacancies rose to a record 1,288,000. This also comes against a backdrop of Brexit and a pandemic, both of which have been blamed for labour shortages. Some sectors have received particular attention, for example, the shortage of HGV drivers following the UK’s exit from the EU, and the difficulties in finding hospitality staff since the pandemic.

Did you know that:

• One in 10 firms have been the victim of a cyber-attack in the last year
• More than 50% of businesses believe their exposure to a cyber-attack had increased due to staff working from home
• 80% of companies do not have cyber-security accreditations in place

Beds Chamber members, THSP are delighted to announce that they won the Supplier of the Year award at the National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC) AGM and Awards on Friday 25th March 2022. This is a wonderful accolade for THSP in an industry that they have worked with for the past 30 years.  

Wyboston Lakes Resort is now accredited as a Real Living Wage Employer.

The Resort’s Living Wage commitment will confirm that everyone working there receives a minimum hourly wage

• Proportion of UK exporters reporting increased export sales (29%) was largely unchanged for the 4th quarter running

• Proportion reporting decreased sales historically high at 25%, also little changed since 1 year ago in Q1 2021

• Exporters more likely that non-exporters to expect increases to their prices in coming months

Every business owner will need to deliver a short pitch at some point, which sums up the basics of your business in under a minute. It is a powerful tool and here are our top 5 tips to make sure your pitch hits the right note.

A Bedfordshire PR company has launched a package aimed at helping contractors pitching for work on the Sizewell C project in Suffolk.

April draws near which signals the start of the John Bunyan Community Boat’s cruising season. This year we have a number of new cruises which encompass the delight of cruising with another activity be it dining, learning of the History of Bedford or even Gin.

Wyboston Lakes Resort has promoted Simon McMahon to the position of Director of Operations. He will oversee all the assets at the 400-bedroom Resort, including the recently refurbished Waterfront Hotel, Y Spa, 18-hole golf course and 60,000 sq ft of serviced offices.

Streets Chartered Accountants, a top 40 UK accountancy and advisory practice, are delighted to announce the appointment of experienced banking and advisory specialist, Martyn Shakespear, as its new Head of Banking & Finance.

There are a wide range of benefits when using a commercial property agent, such as Robinson & Hall, to assist you with the disposal of a property, by lease or sale, or when acquiring a property, either as a purchaser or a tenant. We have detailed a number of these key advantages below.

Patrick McGrath brings more than 20 years of cold chain industry experience to the role

Peli BioThermal, the life science industry’s cold chain partner from discovery to distribution, announces Patrick McGrath as its new Director of Sales, Americas.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is urging the Chancellor to take bold and decisive action in his Spring Statement to tackle the escalating cost of doing business crisis.

The benefits of networking are well established. When businesses come together, they can share knowledge, build connections, discover new opportunities and raise their profile. However, this only happens if you approach networking in the right way. Networking is like much else in life: you get out what you put in. But how can you make the most of networking events?

Over the last few months, there has been much talk about rising costs and these are now filtering through to consumers with the UK’s annual inflation rate hitting 5.5% in January. However, this hides the truth of what is happening in some sectors. For example, the wholesale price of gas in January 2022 was almost four times higher than it was in early 2021. Plus, the current horrific situation in Ukraine and the subsequent sanctions against Russia are adding more pressure. Yet it’s not only consumers that are feeling the pinch. Rising costs are also affecting many businesses, with numerous factors contributing to the problem.

We have built Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce on five pillars: growth, grants and funding, export, referrals and introductions, networking and connections, and voice. We believe in giving businesses the support they need, whether that’s through introductions or funding, to grow and expand.

UK economic growth is expected to halve this year amid soaring inflation, major tax rises, and global shocks - including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

April to September will see the familiar sight of the blue and white John Bunyan Community Boat gracing the River Great Ouse in and around Bedford. Over 50,000 passengers have enjoyed cruising on the vessel in the past 9 years on various trips, from Kempston in the West to Great Barford in the East. Manned entirely by volunteers for the benefit of the residents of Bedford and surrounding districts.

Carbon emissions are an increasing concern for businesses and individuals alike. From a legal standpoint, mandatory carbon compliance requirements now apply to many more companies than before – but it is no longer simply a legal issue.

Work on The Farmstead – the community hub at the new Linmere village being created near Houghton Regis - has been completed, with the internal fit-out now under way in preparation for its imminent opening.

• 71% of exporters say EU trade deal is not enabling them to grow or increase sales

• Only 1 in 8 exporters think it is helping them grow or increase sales


• Majority think it has pushed up costs, increased paperwork and delays, and put the UK at a competitive disadvantage.

Commenting on the inflation statistics for January 2022, published today by the Office for National Statistics, Head of Economics at the BCC Suren Thiru, said:

“Rising inflation highlights both the cost-of-living crisis facing households and the uphill struggle for businesses to keep a lid on price rises amid surging cost pressures.

• 73% of firms in a new survey say they are raising prices in response to rising costs

• More than 3 in 5 (62%) cite soaring energy bills as driving factor, rising to 75% for manufacturers

• 63% site increased wage bills as driving prices rises

• British Chambers of Commerce call on the Chancellor to adopt their five-point plan to address these challenges. These include a temporary energy price cap for small businesses and the extension of the financial support announced for households last week to include small firms

The British Chambers of Commerce has warned the Treasury of an impending ‘cost of doing business crisis’. A new survey of more than 1,000 businesses, showed that firms across the country are under intense pressure from a variety of costs. It found that prices were likely to rise as a result, further fuelling the cost-of-living crisis for households.

In response to the new research, BCC Director General, Shevaun Haviland, has written to Chancellor Rishi Sunak warning of the dangers facing firms. The British Chambers of Commerce has outlined a five-point plan, which if implemented, will help businesses to weather the current conditions and keep price rises under control. These measures included a temporary energy price cap for small businesses, extending the Chancellor’s energy bills rebate scheme for households to smaller businesses and delaying the planned National Insurance rise by 1 year.

Survey Results

When firms were asked if their business was facing pressure to raise prices from a variety of sources the results were as follows: 

Pharmacy and Health Clinic, Smarta Healthcare, has a lot to celebrate this National Apprenticeship Week, after gaining a new team member in the form of Pharmacy Services Assistant Apprentice, Hardeep Kaur Sanghera.

Responding to the publication of the Levelling Up White Paper, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:


“This is an important first step in putting local economic prosperity at the heart of Government policy.

Sherington woman celebrates 10 years in business

Jo Wareham, founder of The Little Branding Company, is celebrating ten years in business.

On the second anniversary of Brexit, and with huge lorry queues being reported at Dover last week, the BCC is calling for urgent action to improve trade with Europe.

Thousands of working families in the East of England could be missing out on an opportunity to get up to £2,000 a year to help with the cost of childcare, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding parents, ahead of February half term.

The UK sovereign Land Environment Air Picture Provision (LEAPP) capability, developed by Lockheed Martin UK for the British Army, has its in-service date extended to 2029.

The British Chambers of Commerce is today setting out its manifesto to recruit legions of new UK exporters as its research continues to show poor overseas trade growth:

• In Q4 of 2021, just over a quarter of exporting firms (29%) saw their overseas sales increase

• Almost half (47%) saw no change, and a quarter (24%) reported a decrease

• This is despite substantially more firms reporting improved domestic conditions, with 45% confirming increased UK sales in Q4