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

A new grant funding pot of £475,000 has been made available by the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) to help small and medium sized enterprises in Bedfordshire to reduce the energy consumption and carbon emissions of their commercial premises.

A business that has found a way to detect corrosion and prevent leaks in assets such as pipelines through a network of remote sensors has secured a £1m funding round. 

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

Entrepreneurship is indeed a rewarding path. But it isn’t without its risks.

Attempted recruitment in services firms at lowest for 25 years

The British Chambers of Commerce’s quarterly economic survey – the UK’s largest private sector survey of business sentiment, and a lead indicator of UK GDP growth - shows little to be cheerful about as growth flatlines and business confidence weakens.

We live and work in one of the most innovative, fastest growing places in the country.

Located at the centre, between the global brands of Oxford and Cambridge, London and Birmingham, our area is proudly and firmly the Commercialisation Core of the Growth Corridor. 

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.

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.

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.

Hilary Chipping has been appointed as Chief Executive, having held the position as acting Chief Executive since January 2018.

Today marks the one year countdown until the UK officially leaves the EU. And with the Brexit divorce progressing day-by-day, it’s only natural for business owners to feel uncertain about the future.

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.

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?

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.

The Learning Partnership is becoming part of The Bedford College Group. The partnership will help secure community education funding opportunities.

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

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE ACROSS THE BOARD FOR BEDFORDSHIRE BUSINESSES

A new report published  has revealed that Bedfordshire’s top 100 businesses are in much better shape than this time last year, showing excellent growth in profitability with earnings up 13%.

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.

SEMLEP is looking for a new private sector director to join its Board. Applicants will ideally have current experience of running a growing and successful business or social enterprise, be able to commit sufficient time and give leadership to help deliver SEMLEP's objectives.

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. 

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.

TWO eco-friendly business experts are to visit the University of Bedfordshire’s Knowledge Network to discuss the lucrative energy efficient technology market.

Commenting on today’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) interest rate decision, the first under the new Governor Mark Carney, David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:

The Local Enterprise Agency SEMLEP is recruiting for two posts:  Business and Economic Analyst and Head of Business Development.

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.