News

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

SME businesses encouraged to take advantage of final stages of grant scheme

Businesses across the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership region are being encouraged to take advantage of the final stages of a grant programme run by Cranfield University, in partnership with the University of Bedfordshire and part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

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Velocity Growth Hub to merge with Northamptonshire Growth Hub

A new single business brokerage service will improve support on offer for businesses.

Read More

The connection between Cobbler's Nibble, teacher vacancies and diamonds

Hear from Emma, Julie and Meena, Gary, Wayne and Chris talking about how they've secured investment in their businesses through the expertise of local projects part-funded through European funding.

Read More

Local businesses and trainers join forces in business skills workshops

Starting now until November, Velocity Growth Hub has brought together local business owners and trainers in a programme of new, fully-funded business skills workshops that combine local business knowledge and expert training to give you the best client experience.

Read More

BCC: Credit ‘apathy’ restricting potential growth opportunities for SMEs

• Over half of UK businesses did not attempt to access finance in the last year
• One-in-two businesses that did seek finance did so because of cash flow
• Investment intentions are focused on incremental investments

Read More

Trust is key

Business owners generally seek advice because they’re struggling in an area of business or they have a specific issue that’s holding them back. Good business advice can really make a business especially if support is sought early enough to help businesses get on, and stay on, the right track.

Read More

Now is the best time to aim for growth

With Brexit negotiations and warnings on the impact on growth hitting the headlines regularly, we’d be forgiven in thinking business is in stalemate in deciding on whether or not to invest in growth.

Read More

Key elements of business success

There’s huge variety in what businesses need to do to stay successful. Luckily, there’s a lot of information and business support out there to help. So what are the key elements of success that business owners and directors need to focus on?

Read More

Know Your EBITDA – top tips to get your business investment-ready

Whether you have a business idea, are starting or scaling up your business for rapid growth, equity investment can be a viable source of funding.

Read More

Velocity Growth Hub ERDF Business Growth Workshops

As part of our business support offer, we continue to run the Autumn / winter ERDF business growth workshops.

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NEW VELOCITY GROWTH HUB ERDF BUSINESS GROWTH WORKSHOPS LAUNCHED

As part of our business support offer, we officially launch the Autumn / Winter ERDF business growth workshops.

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The Forest of Marston Vale calls out for votes to bag Tesco cash award

The Forest of Marston Vale is bidding to bag a massive cash boost from the Tesco Bags of Help initiative.
Tesco teamed up with Groundwork to launch its community funding scheme, which sees grants of £4,000, £2,000 and £1,000 – all raised from the 5p bag levy – being awarded to local community projects.

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Chambers of Commerce: Put practicality at the heart of Brexit negotiations

As the Chamber Network gathers in Westminster for the BCC Annual Conference, the British Chambers of Commerce has today  published a business blueprint for the UK government ahead of the upcoming Brexit negotiations.

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Airlander Aiming to reach £1 million on a Record-breaking Crowdfunding

Hybrid Air Vehicles, the Cardington based designer and manufacturer of Airlander, the largest aircraft in the world, has reached a staggering £900,000 equity raise since opening up a crowdfunding round on Crowdcube, UK’s leading equity crowdfunding platform.

Read More

Hybrid Air Vehicles - putting Bedfordshire on the map

2016 will be a momentous year for the future of aviation with the innovative Airlander 10 taking to the British skies for the first time; our pioneering team of experts continues to make ground-breaking progress on a daily basis – most recently attaching the Mission Module to the iconic hull.

Read More

Accessing Finance is a Barrier to Would-Be Exporters

Access to finance is still a barrier to exporting for UK firms, a report by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has found. In its annual International Trade Survey, the BCC found that 60% of potential exporters cite general access to finance as a key factor in their plans to export goods or services.

Read More

Funded Student Placements for Manufacturing & Engineering Companies

Are you a manufacturing or engineering company based in the LU postcode?  If so, would you be interested in a fully funded student working with you with no financial outlay?

Read More

Is a lack of skills costing you business?

The recent growth of jobs in the UK is a great success story. However, in order for this growth to be sustained and to translate into real tangible benefits for business and the economy, there needs to be a real investment in training and skills.

Read More

Velocity Grant Sparks Major Investment for Electronics Firm

axis2

A £50,000 Velocity grant has prompted a £1million investment in pioneering new technologies, propelling a Bedford electronics firm to the forefront of its industry.

Read More

Funded Engineering Insights Programme

The University of Bedfordshire, Careers & Employability Service now have a dedicated placements team in recognition of the fact that work placements offer an unrivalled learning experience for students and an opportunity for employers to establish a tried and tested talent pipeline of the most ambitious undergraduates.

Read More

Chamber Member First Grant Recipient

National Sameday thumb

Delivery and courier business National Sameday in Luton has hired four new employees and safeguarded the jobs of two others thanks to a grant awarded by Velocity Business Support.

Read More

SEMLEP awarded £64.4 million

The South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership, SEMLEP, has today been awarded a Local Growth Deal of £64.4 million investment into the area – set to create over 4,200 new jobs and more than 3,800 new homes by 2020.

Read More

Cable Marks Multi- Million Pound Boost For East of England Businesses

Business Secretary Vince Cable is visiting automotive specialist Millbrook in Bedford today (10 April) as it is announced the company will take a share of £6 million awarded to East of England projects from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund (RGF).

Read More

Multi-Million Pound Boost For Growing Businesses in England

The Government’s Regional Growth Fund will invest £300 million in 50 projects across the country to create tens of thousands of jobs and fuel business expansion, the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced today.

Read More

Grant Alert

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

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Business Grants Available

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.

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Funding Alert

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.

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Youngest Chamber member seeks story crowdfunding

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.

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Business finance system broken

  • 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

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Leadership & Management

The University of Bedfordshire’s Knowledge Hub has teamed up with Central Bedfordshire Council and Bedford Borough Council to rollout an innovative leadership and management training programme.

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SME businesses encouraged to take advantage of final stages of grant scheme

Businesses across the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership region are being encouraged to take advantage of the final stages of a grant programme run by Cranfield University, in partnership with the University of Bedfordshire and part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Read More

Velocity Growth Hub to merge with Northamptonshire Growth Hub

A new single business brokerage service will improve support on offer for businesses.

Read More

The connection between Cobbler's Nibble, teacher vacancies and diamonds

Hear from Emma, Julie and Meena, Gary, Wayne and Chris talking about how they've secured investment in their businesses through the expertise of local projects part-funded through European funding.

Read More

Local businesses and trainers join forces in business skills workshops

Starting now until November, Velocity Growth Hub has brought together local business owners and trainers in a programme of new, fully-funded business skills workshops that combine local business knowledge and expert training to give you the best client experience.

Read More

BCC: Credit ‘apathy’ restricting potential growth opportunities for SMEs

• Over half of UK businesses did not attempt to access finance in the last year
• One-in-two businesses that did seek finance did so because of cash flow
• Investment intentions are focused on incremental investments

Read More

Trust is key

Business owners generally seek advice because they’re struggling in an area of business or they have a specific issue that’s holding them back. Good business advice can really make a business especially if support is sought early enough to help businesses get on, and stay on, the right track.

Read More

Now is the best time to aim for growth

With Brexit negotiations and warnings on the impact on growth hitting the headlines regularly, we’d be forgiven in thinking business is in stalemate in deciding on whether or not to invest in growth.

Read More

Key elements of business success

There’s huge variety in what businesses need to do to stay successful. Luckily, there’s a lot of information and business support out there to help. So what are the key elements of success that business owners and directors need to focus on?

Read More

Know Your EBITDA – top tips to get your business investment-ready

Whether you have a business idea, are starting or scaling up your business for rapid growth, equity investment can be a viable source of funding.

Read More

Velocity Growth Hub ERDF Business Growth Workshops

As part of our business support offer, we continue to run the Autumn / winter ERDF business growth workshops.

Read More

Airlander Aiming to reach £1 million on a Record-breaking Crowdfunding

Hybrid Air Vehicles, the Cardington based designer and manufacturer of Airlander, the largest aircraft in the world, has reached a staggering £900,000 equity raise since opening up a crowdfunding round on Crowdcube, UK’s leading equity crowdfunding platform.

Read More

Hybrid Air Vehicles - putting Bedfordshire on the map

2016 will be a momentous year for the future of aviation with the innovative Airlander 10 taking to the British skies for the first time; our pioneering team of experts continues to make ground-breaking progress on a daily basis – most recently attaching the Mission Module to the iconic hull.

Read More

Accessing Finance is a Barrier to Would-Be Exporters

Access to finance is still a barrier to exporting for UK firms, a report by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has found. In its annual International Trade Survey, the BCC found that 60% of potential exporters cite general access to finance as a key factor in their plans to export goods or services.

Read More

Funded Student Placements for Manufacturing & Engineering Companies

Are you a manufacturing or engineering company based in the LU postcode?  If so, would you be interested in a fully funded student working with you with no financial outlay?

Read More

Is a lack of skills costing you business?

The recent growth of jobs in the UK is a great success story. However, in order for this growth to be sustained and to translate into real tangible benefits for business and the economy, there needs to be a real investment in training and skills.

Read More

Velocity Grant Sparks Major Investment for Electronics Firm

axis2

A £50,000 Velocity grant has prompted a £1million investment in pioneering new technologies, propelling a Bedford electronics firm to the forefront of its industry.

Read More

Funded Engineering Insights Programme

The University of Bedfordshire, Careers & Employability Service now have a dedicated placements team in recognition of the fact that work placements offer an unrivalled learning experience for students and an opportunity for employers to establish a tried and tested talent pipeline of the most ambitious undergraduates.

Read More

Chamber Member First Grant Recipient

National Sameday thumb

Delivery and courier business National Sameday in Luton has hired four new employees and safeguarded the jobs of two others thanks to a grant awarded by Velocity Business Support.

Read More

SEMLEP awarded £64.4 million

The South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership, SEMLEP, has today been awarded a Local Growth Deal of £64.4 million investment into the area – set to create over 4,200 new jobs and more than 3,800 new homes by 2020.

Read More

Cable Marks Multi- Million Pound Boost For East of England Businesses

Business Secretary Vince Cable is visiting automotive specialist Millbrook in Bedford today (10 April) as it is announced the company will take a share of £6 million awarded to East of England projects from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund (RGF).

Read More

Multi-Million Pound Boost For Growing Businesses in England

The Government’s Regional Growth Fund will invest £300 million in 50 projects across the country to create tens of thousands of jobs and fuel business expansion, the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced today.

Read More

Grant Alert

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

Read More

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