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

Local Planning Authorities across the country have been progressing Local Plan preparations to ensure that they meet the Government’s end of March deadline for submission of Local Plans to the Secretary of State and thereby retain control of their housing figures. 

Central Bedfordshire Council has now published its preferred options for the new Local Plan, which will cover the period from 2015 to 2035.

Central Bedfordshire Council has published its Procurement Pipeline.  The document is a forward look at the goods and services Central Bedfordshire Council intends to procure over the coming years. The Procurement Pipeline covers procurement over £10,000 in value.

Bedford College is proposing to open a brand new Technical Academy in September 2015 focusing on specialist technical training in science, service and creative technologies.

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.

PopUp Dunstable is part of PopUp Britain, a national campaign that supports Britain's most promising retail entrepreneurs by providing access to sought-after High Street spaces so small businesses can trial physical retail without the long-term financial commitment, whilst raising their brand profile and carrying out market research. Four brilliant new businesses will share the space for a fortnight before a new group move in for the next fortnight, and so on until Christmas.

Could your business work with universities to a greater degree?   Central Bedfordshire Council is asking managers of local businesses to take part in a survey which begins on 19th August 2013.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Are you, or do you know, a young person interested in a career in science, engineering or design?   The University Technical College of Central Bedfordshire is holding a Careers and Open Day on Saturday 26th January between 10am-4pm where you can learn more about Year 10 options and progression routes available through the UTC.

Central Bedfordshire University Technical College opened in September 2012 to a Post 16 cohort, and will welcome its first Year 10 students in September 2013.

A fully-funded programme, supported by the European Social Fund in partnership with Central Bedfordshire Council and Bedford Borough Council, is being offered by the University of Bedfordshire. Skills for Growth offers organisations operating in Bedfordshire the opportunity to develop their employees' leadership and management skills.

Over the past couple of months Central Bedfordshire College has built up a strong relationship with Morrisons PLC and the Job Centre Plus.  This has resulted in a worthwhile initiative to train and recruit local people to the new Morrisons store which will open shortly in Houghton Regis.