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

Bedfordshire has real opportunities for growth, but local businesses need the confidence to take advantage of them.

We speak to businesses across the county every day, and we know there is no shortage of ambition. Firms want to recruit, invest, expand and win new work, but rising costs and uncertainty are making it harder to take those next steps.

With the Budget approaching, our message to government is simple: give businesses the breathing space they need to grow.

Bedfordshire businesses are ready to invest

There is a lot happening across our county. Major investment and development are creating opportunities for local businesses, while our location, connectivity and diverse business base give Bedfordshire plenty to build on. We want to see more of that investment translate into contracts, jobs and growth for businesses based here, but opportunity alone is not enough.

Businesses need to be in a position to respond, whether that means recruiting additional people to deliver a new contract, investing in equipment, developing new skills or increasing capacity. Right now, the cost of making those decisions remains a concern for many firms.

Our analysis shows that domestic policy costs facing a typical SME have increased by more than 70% over the past decade, with around a quarter of that increase coming since the 2024 Budget. It is perhaps not surprising, then, that only 17% of SMEs in our latest economic survey said they were planning to increase investment this quarter - the lowest level since the pandemic.

For Bedfordshire, we need to see that confidence return so businesses are ready to invest when opportunities arise.

Give businesses room to grow

There are practical steps government can take, starting with the cost of employing people. We regularly hear about skills and recruitment challenges from businesses across Bedfordshire, so reducing employer National Insurance contributions for under-25s could help businesses bring new talent into their teams while creating more opportunities for young people starting their careers.

Energy and business rates are another priority. These are significant costs that businesses have limited control over, and reducing that pressure would give firms more flexibility to put money into other areas of their business.

We also want to see better, locally delivered export support. Bedfordshire has many businesses with products, services and expertise that can compete internationally, but for an SME, taking that first step into a new overseas market can be difficult. The right support can help businesses understand where the opportunities are and give them the confidence to pursue them.

We need to be able to plan ahead

Alongside action on immediate costs, businesses need more certainty about what lies ahead. If you are considering new premises, recruiting people or investing in equipment, you need to know that the numbers will still make sense further down the line, and constant changes to costs and policy make that difficult.

We want government to look beyond individual Budgets and give businesses a clearer long-term picture, particularly around taxation, skills, productivity and public investment.

This is particularly important here in Bedfordshire. If we want local firms to make the most of the investment coming into our county, we need to be able to prepare for it now, building the capacity, skills and resources needed to compete.

Your voice matters

As Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, we have an important role to play in making sure the experiences of businesses here are reflected in the national conversation. Through the British Chambers of Commerce network, we can take what our members tell us directly to policymakers, which is why hearing from businesses across the county matters.

If something is holding your business back, talk to us. We want to know what is getting in the way of your plans. Are employment costs affecting recruitment? Are business rates or energy costs making it harder to invest? Would better export support help you reach new markets? These conversations help us build a clearer picture of what Bedfordshire businesses need and allow us to make a stronger case for change.

There is real ambition across our county and significant opportunity ahead, and we want the Budget to create the conditions that allow Bedfordshire businesses to make the most of it.

To find out more about Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce and how we support local businesses, visit chamber-business.com or call 01582 522448.