I can’t believe where this year has gone! As we head into winter, the mood among business is understandably mixed: on one side, another seemingly tough Budget looms on the horizon; on the other, significant investment is set to flow into the area over the next five years. Local firms are having to navigate the pressures of the here and now while positioning themselves to seize the opportunities just around the corner.
Yet, despite that backdrop, there are real reasons for optimism.
Locally: preparing for growth, not just reacting to it
The level of investment coming into Bedfordshire over the next five years is significant, driven in particular by the planned Universal Studios resort and the expansion of London Luton Airport. To make sure that value stays in the local economy, we have established a new Supply Chain Working Group. The aim is straightforward: to make sure Bedfordshire companies – from construction and logistics through to hospitality and professional services – are ‘tender ready’ and in the strongest possible position to secure contracts from these major programmes of investment.
We’ve also been learning from elsewhere. I met with the Frisco Chamber of Commerce in Texas to understand how they prepared their local supply chain for the opening of Universal’s resort there: what standards were expected, how procurement was handled, and how they mobilised local SMEs early. That intelligence is already informing our approach here as we position Bedfordshire companies to benefit from the Universal opportunity and from the wider uplift it will have across our region.
Regionally: speaking with one voice for the region
Earlier in the year I was honoured to be appointed to the South Midlands Business Board, which was established to advise the South Midlands Authorities on business matters relating to economic growth and development. Created as part of the new partnership of leaders across the South Midlands, the board plays an important role in shaping future economic strategy and ensuring that regional priorities align with the needs and opportunities of businesses across the region.
Our focus is to help shape the region’s economic strategy: setting out how the region competes, what infrastructure we need, and how we align skills, transport and investment across local boundaries in a way that gives investors confidence.
A major part of that discussion is devolution. We are making the case that decisions on growth, infrastructure and funding should sit closer to the businesses and communities they affect, not with distant departments. The Chamber is ensuring Bedfordshire’s priorities, including airport-led growth, logistics, advanced manufacturing and the visitor economy, are clearly built into that regional plan and not lost in it.
Nationally: in the policy room
At national level we are representing Bedfordshire through the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Policy Steering Group and the BCC Digital Network advisory group. 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 overall competitiveness in international markets.
Our leadership role in the Digital Network – with a particular focus on AI adoption – is about giving smaller and medium-sized businesses a fair route into advanced technology, ensuring they are not left behind when it comes to global competitiveness.
This national role matters. It means Bedfordshire’s real-world business pressures are being fed directly into the conversations that shape regulation, policy, tax and trade policy.
Looking ahead to 2026
The insights gathered through our Member Perception Survey are already informing tangible 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, so get ready for bigger and better things in the new year.
We’re also thrilled to announce the return of the Bedfordshire SME Awards, now in their fourth year. The awards will launch at The Bedford College Group on January 15, 2026, with the main event taking place on June 18 at The Marquee, 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.
The golden thread running through all our work, from supply chain readiness to skills and partnerships to policy, is simple: ensuring that Bedfordshire businesses are at the heart of our region’s growth story.
So, as we look ahead to 2026, my message to every local business is this: stay connected, stay involved and stay ambitious. The opportunities ahead are immense and together we will make sure Bedfordshire is ready to seize them.
Merry Christmas.
Find out more about Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce at www.chamber-business.com or call 01582 522448.
CEO
Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce
