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

As 2025 draws to a close, it’s hard to believe how quickly the year has flown!

The current mood among businesses is understandably mixed. Local companies are having to deal with the impact of the recent tough Autumn Budget and navigate current pressures, whilst also preparing to seize the opportunities coming from the significant investment set to flow into our county over the next five years.

Despite the challenging backdrop, there are real reasons to be optimistic about 2026 and beyond.

Local Outlook: preparing for growth

Bedfordshire is on the cusp of one of the most significant periods of economic development in its recent history, with the proposed Universal resort and the continued expansion of London Luton Airport.

To ensure the value of the investment says in the local economy, we’ve established a new Supply Chain Working Group. The aim is to help Bedfordshire firms become “tender ready” and in the strongest position to secure contracts from these developments, so they can benefit from it and the wider uplift it will have across our region.

Regional Influence: speaking with one voice

2025 saw our CEO, Justin Richardson, appointed to the South Midlands Business Board, which plays a vital role in shaping future economic strategy and ensuring that regional priorities align.

Our focus is to help shape the region’s Economic Strategy on how our region competes, the infrastructure we need, and how we align skills, transport and investment across local borders. A central part of this work is devolution, and we are making a strong case that decisions on growth, funding and infrastructure should sit closer to the businesses and communities they affect. We will ensure that Bedfordshire’s priorities are clearly built into the strategy and not diluted by it.

National Voice: Bedfordshire in the policy room

Bedfordshire is being represented nationally through our active involvement in the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Policy Steering Group and the BCC Digital Network advisory board.

The Policy Steering Group shaped the BCC’s budget submission and advising on core issues such as employment regulation, energy and net zero, and the UK’s competitiveness in global markets.

Our leadership in the Digital Network, with a particular emphasis on AI readiness and adoption, is ensuring SMEs have fair access to transformative, advanced technologies.

This means that real-world business pressures faced by Bedfordshire businesses are directly influencing the conversations that shape regulation, policy, tax and trade policy.

Looking Ahead to 2026

We have lots of things coming up in the new year for you:

The insights gathered through our Member Perception Survey are already driving improvements that will continue to roll out throughout 2026, making membership clearer, more connected and more valuable than ever.

2025 saw the launch of NXTGen, our new network for young professionals aged 18-35, and this is only going to get bigger and better in 2026.

And, we’re thrilled to announce the return of the Bedfordshire SME Awards, now in their fourth year! The Awards will launch on 15^th January 2026 at The Bedford College Group and the Awards will take place on 18^th June 2026 at The Marquee in Bedford.

These Awards have become one of the most anticipated events in our business calendar, celebrating the creativity, resilience and ambition that define our local economy.

One Voice, one vision

The golden thread running through all our work, from supply chain readiness to skills and partnerships to policy, is ensuring that Bedfordshire businesses are at the heart of our region’s growth story.

As we look ahead to 2026, the message to our members is clear: stay connected, stay involved and stay ambitious.

The opportunities ahead are immense and together we will make sure Bedfordshire is ready to seize them.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.