People Power Makes Business Great – Let’s Work Together

Across the country, thousands of businesses are members of a Chamber of Commerce. Why? Because the Chamber is renowned the world over for helping foster connections and enabling local businesses to thrive and grow.

• Connects you with a large network of businesses.

• Provides you with unrivalled access to help, support, and advice to grow your business.

• Opens new business opportunities for you in local, national and international markets.

• Ensures your views are heard within Government and other policy makers.

Our role is to ensure that, working together, we create connections within our ever-growing network and become an enabler for business growth – after all, business is done better together.

“The Chamber is not only there to give support of local connections and guidance on export and trade, but go above and beyond to help us nurture business collaborations that results in business growth.” prize for success at a Dragon’s Den-style pitching competition hosted by the University of Bedfordshire, part of its involvement in the national Pathways4Recovery initiative, which aims to give economically inactive and unemployed people with the opportunity to pursue their entrepreneurial ambitions by removing financial barriers.

Ms Mason (inset) was one of a group of entrepreneurs given the opportunity to share their business ideas and practise their pitching skills in front of a panel of judges including NatWest Business regional ecosystem manager Debbie Lewis (main picture) and Mohammad Azam, senior lecturer and MBA portfolio lead at the University of Bedfordshire.

Alumnus Andy Kirtland took second place for his work founding the social and sporting enterprise Neurodiversity Inspire.

The university supports start-ups and businesses through the national research & Innovation Service. RIS Pathways project manager Chris Fox said:

“It was brilliant to host this event which was dedicated to celebrating the remarkable participants of the University of Bedfordshire’s Pathways4Recovery initiative. Luton’s outstanding achievement in attracting start-up ventures and for sustaining a thriving ecosystem of independent and sustainable businesses is testament to the collaborative efforts between the university and our regional partners.”

Council wins £2m support package

Hundreds of Central Bedfordshire businesses are set to benefit from £2 million worth of free, specialist advice on start-up and growth, innovation, developing trade and export and decarbonisation.

Central Bedfordshire Council has secured funding from the the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund to deliver business support across the area, alongside skills development and investment in town centres.

Part of the package, to be delivered by the University of Bedfordshire, will see businesses receive innovation and technological support to improve productivity.

Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce is offering support on exports. WENTA will work with start-ups.

Cllr Mary Walsh, executive member for planning and development, said: “Businesses in Central Bedfordshire have tremendous potential for growth. This new support will give a further boost to the local economy, attracting inward investment and creating jobs for local people.”