News

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

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

Sod Cutting Ceremony marks the official start of i-Worx construction

Works officially began on the i-Worx project following the sod-cutting ceremony on the 16th April. 

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

BCC: Tackle broken business rates system, Chancellor

Ahead of the Budget on November 22, the British Chambers of Commerce is urging the Chancellor to provide respite for businesses in every corner of the country by freezing business rates for the next two years.

Read More

BCC Budget Submission

Ahead of the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget on November 22, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is urging the government to take immediate action to halt the expected 3.9% increase in business rates valuations next year, as part of a bold Budget that seeks to boost the UK’s productivity.

Read More

BCC forecast: Fall in sterling failing to lift UK growth

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has today slightly downgraded its medium-term outlook for the UK economy over the next few years. While the BCC has slightly upgraded its UK growth forecast for 2017 from 1.5% to 1.6%, its growth expectations for 2018 and 2019 have been cut from 1.3% to 1.2%, and 1.5% to 1.4% respectively.

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BCC Economic Forecast: UK growth upgraded for 2017 but to remain flat in the medium-term

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has today upgraded its UK GDP growth forecast for 2017 from 1.1% to 1.4%. However, it has downgraded its expectations slightly for 2018 from 1.4% to 1.3%, and published its first forecast for 2019 of 1.5% growth.

Read More

BCC Quarterly Economic Survey: businesses start New Year in solid health

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) today publishes its Quarterly Economic Survey – the UK’s largest and most authoritative private sector business survey. 

Read More

First ever London Luton Airport (LLA) Jobs and Careers Fair

How local people are benefitting from business investment.

lla-blog

Bedfordshire is on a roll at the moment. From the Airlander project at Cardington to progress in plans for a new stadium for the Hatters, there is a real sense of economic momentum across the region.

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

Global Headwinds and Uncertainty Slow UK Growth in 2016

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has today downgraded its UK GDP growth forecast, from 2.5% to 2.2% in 2016, and from 2.5% to 2.3% in 2017; for 2018, included for the first time in the forecast, GDP growth of 2.4% is predicted.

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Chamber gives full reaction to Chancellor’s Spending Review

In a full response to the Autumn Statement and Spending Review, Cheryl Smart MBE, Chief Executive said:

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Strong service sector and consumer spending drive UK growth upgrade

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has upgraded its UK GDP growth forecast for the next three years, from 2.3% to 2.6% in 2015, 2.6% to 2.7% in 2016, and 2.6% to 2.7% in 2017. The principal driver for the leading business group’s forecast upgrade is stronger than previously expected growth in both the UK’s service sector and consumer spending.

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BCC to ministers: a positive start, but much more to do

The UK government has taken a number of positive steps to support British business in the first parliamentary session since the election - but there are some areas of serious concern that remain unaddressed, says the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), one of the UK's largest and most influential business groups.

Read More

BCC Economic Survey: Growth continues, but pace slackens in Q1 2015

  • BCC’s Quarterly Economic Survey is the first major economic indicator of the year, and is closely watched by the Bank of England and the Treasury.
  • Manufacturing and services firms reported somewhat weaker Q1 results in most areas (including exports, domestic markets and investment), but this follows very strong findings in Q4 2014.
Read More

UKTI: New help for young entrepreneurs

UKTI have announced a new scheme where young entrepreneurs can apply for help setting up their business in the UK. Successful applicants will receive a 12-month start-up support package including investment, mentoring and logistical help. The scheme is available to final year university students or those who graduated in 2011 or later.

Read More

BCC: Changes to visa system show UK open to investment

Commenting on the Chancellor's announcement to simply and streamline visa applications, Dr Adam Marshall, Director of Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Read More

BCC on Osborne speech

Commenting on the speech made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the Conservative Party Conference today (Monday), John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Read More

BCC: Ed Miliband's speech

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:

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

Sod Cutting Ceremony marks the official start of i-Worx construction

Works officially began on the i-Worx project following the sod-cutting ceremony on the 16th April. 

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

BCC: Tackle broken business rates system, Chancellor

Ahead of the Budget on November 22, the British Chambers of Commerce is urging the Chancellor to provide respite for businesses in every corner of the country by freezing business rates for the next two years.

Read More

BCC Budget Submission

Ahead of the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget on November 22, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is urging the government to take immediate action to halt the expected 3.9% increase in business rates valuations next year, as part of a bold Budget that seeks to boost the UK’s productivity.

Read More

BCC forecast: Fall in sterling failing to lift UK growth

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has today slightly downgraded its medium-term outlook for the UK economy over the next few years. While the BCC has slightly upgraded its UK growth forecast for 2017 from 1.5% to 1.6%, its growth expectations for 2018 and 2019 have been cut from 1.3% to 1.2%, and 1.5% to 1.4% respectively.

Read More

BCC Economic Forecast: UK growth upgraded for 2017 but to remain flat in the medium-term

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has today upgraded its UK GDP growth forecast for 2017 from 1.1% to 1.4%. However, it has downgraded its expectations slightly for 2018 from 1.4% to 1.3%, and published its first forecast for 2019 of 1.5% growth.

Read More

BCC Quarterly Economic Survey: businesses start New Year in solid health

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) today publishes its Quarterly Economic Survey – the UK’s largest and most authoritative private sector business survey. 

Read More

First ever London Luton Airport (LLA) Jobs and Careers Fair

How local people are benefitting from business investment.

lla-blog

Bedfordshire is on a roll at the moment. From the Airlander project at Cardington to progress in plans for a new stadium for the Hatters, there is a real sense of economic momentum across the region.

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

BCC to ministers: a positive start, but much more to do

The UK government has taken a number of positive steps to support British business in the first parliamentary session since the election - but there are some areas of serious concern that remain unaddressed, says the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), one of the UK's largest and most influential business groups.

Read More

BCC Economic Survey: Growth continues, but pace slackens in Q1 2015

  • BCC’s Quarterly Economic Survey is the first major economic indicator of the year, and is closely watched by the Bank of England and the Treasury.
  • Manufacturing and services firms reported somewhat weaker Q1 results in most areas (including exports, domestic markets and investment), but this follows very strong findings in Q4 2014.
Read More

UKTI: New help for young entrepreneurs

UKTI have announced a new scheme where young entrepreneurs can apply for help setting up their business in the UK. Successful applicants will receive a 12-month start-up support package including investment, mentoring and logistical help. The scheme is available to final year university students or those who graduated in 2011 or later.

Read More

BCC: Changes to visa system show UK open to investment

Commenting on the Chancellor's announcement to simply and streamline visa applications, Dr Adam Marshall, Director of Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Read More

BCC on Osborne speech

Commenting on the speech made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the Conservative Party Conference today (Monday), John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Read More

BCC: Ed Miliband's speech

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:

Read More

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