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

• Manufacturing output in August 2013 was -1.2% on the month, -0.2% on the year
• In the three months to August 2013, manufacturing output rose by 1.2% compared with the previous three months
• The UK deficit on trade in goods and services was £3.3bn in August, compared with a deficit of £3.4bn in July
• There was a deficit of £9.6bn on goods, partly offset by an surplus of £6.3bn on services

Do you have an innovative business idea that supports the environment?  The Incuba Business Support and Learning Centre, being opened in Dunstable by Central Bedfordshire Council, is running a  Green Business and Innovation Competition.

Commenting on Prime Minister David Cameron's speech at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Tom Edwards, Commissioning Editor, Factual Features and Formats, has commissioned Twofour to produce a third series of hit BBC TWO series Alex Polizzi - The Fixer.

• Total business lending (loans and overdrafts) fell by £3.8bn in August 2013, the largest fall since December 2012
• SME lending fell by £0.7bn in August 2013

As the Conservative Party Conference gets underway in Manchester, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is today (Monday) issuing a clear message to the Prime Minister and his colleagues to ‘get moving’ on the delivery of pro-growth policies that will benefit the nation as a whole.

As the UK’s international hub airport, Heathrow connects businesses across the country to crucial growth markets.   For 16 years, Heathrow Business Summit (formerly Heathrow Meet the Buyer) Heathrow has been enabling business to be done through annual business summits. To date, it has helped businesses win around £90 million in new business. 

Commenting on the  speech by the Labour Party leader, the Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:

Businesses based in the Luton area are set to benefit from a free* University of Bedfordshire five-day course leading to an internationally recognised project management qualification.

Commenting on Business Secretary Vince Cable’s speech at the Liberal Democrat Party Conference, John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:

The University of Bedfordshire's award winning Careers and Recruitment Services provides a professional agency style solution for business recruitment needs that enables you to recruit quality staff, free of charge!

Commenting on the MPC decision, announced today by the Bank of England, David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Commenting on the publication of an independent review of infrastructure by Sir John Armitt, chairman of the Olympic Development Authority, Dr Adam Marshall, Director of Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said;

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

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

• BCC’s Quarterly Economic Survey for Q2 2013 shows further progress, with most key balances stronger than in Q1 2013.
• Service export deliveries balance rose to +36%,  the highest level since the survey began in 1989
• UK business remains resilient, and confidence is rising, despite most balances remaining below their pre-recession levels in 2007

In an open letter to Mark Carney, who takes over as Bank of England Governor today. BCC Director General, John Longworth, urges him to do more to ensure a stable business environment, which will help to secure the UK’s future competitiveness. 

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

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.

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:

What does singer Adele have in common with Flitwick based fuel card business i-fuelcards Ltd? The answer is they’ve both trademarked their names. Nigel Webb, Business Development Manager at i-fuelcards Ltd, knew that in a competitive market it was essential to protect a brand that was establishing a great reputation. 

From October 2013 all newly built commercial property completed between 1st October 2013 and 30th September 2016 will be exempt from empty property rates for the first 18 months (up to the state aids limit).

• BCC’s Quarterly Economic Survey for Q1 2013 shows progress, with almost all major balances improving compared with Q4 2012. 
• British businesses are resilient, but many balances are still below pre-recession levels and growth remains too low.

• John Longworth: “These results provide a glimpse of the as-yet-distant sunlit uplands of recovery. Businesses up and down the country are working hard to drive the economy, create jobs and export, but they cannot accelerate this process alone.”

Tax cheats who become insolvent to dodge their companies’ tax obligations face up to five years’ scrutiny from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Do you own your own company?   Do you need to attract more customers?  Would you benefit from some marketing advice?  A new documentary series about SMEs wants to hear from you.

Commenting on the Chancellor’s Budget speech, John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

If you've ever complained about conditions for business and felt no one's listening, now is your opportunity to be heard.  The British Chambers of Commerce Quarterly Economic Survey is a highly respected snapshot of conditions for business but the BCC don't do it alone.  They need your input to help them present the most accurate picture in a survey which is taken very seriously by central government and the Bank of England and is reported widely in the press.

Two thirds of Bedfordshire businesses have no plan in place should they suffer a major catastrophe like fire, flooding or severe weather, research released by the Bedfordshire and Luton Local Resilience Forum (BLLRF) has found. This means their competitors could profit from their problems if disaster struck. However help is at hand during Business Continuity Awareness Week (18-22 March 2013) and creating a plan is simple and quick and would help local companies to keep in business and protect jobs.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has been officially named as a Business Superbrand in an influential annual survey that identifies the UK’s strongest business-to-business brands. Independently co-ordinated by The Centre for Brand Analysis, the annual Business Superbrands survey considers thousands of brands that are judged by both an Expert Council and over 1,900 individual business professionals from across the UK.