Wider Business Support for Central Bedfordshire

As part of its wider Coronavirus advice and support, Central Bedfordshire Council has sent out a summary of the wider support that’s available for businesses in the region.

In particular, they are highlighting some of the partnerships they have formed with local organisations to support businesses. These are listed as follows:

• Cranfield School of Management: we are working in partnership with Cranfield School of Management to offer 90 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) the opportunity to apply for a scholarship place on Cranfield’s leading businesses growth courses Ready for Scale and Business Growth Programme.
• Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce: we are working in partnership with the Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce to support businesses trading or wanting to trade internationally. We’ll do this by delivering a comprehensive package of global trade services – for example, helping businesses overcome barriers to trade and adopting a global mindset. To find out more, businesses can visit Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce’s website, call 01582 522448 or email export@chamber-business.com.
• University of Bedfordshire: we are working in partnership with the University of Bedfordshire to support the Central Bedfordshire Productivity Programme which aims to help local businesses. Benefits of the programme include new product and process ideas, routes to new funding and inward investment. To find out more, businesses can visit the University of Bedfordshire’s website or email centralbeds.productivity@beds.ac.uk.
• South-East Midlands Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP): we are working in partnership with SEMLEP to deliver a staggered 12-hour business support and mentoring programme to help businesses impacted by coronavirus continue to trade, adapt, diversify and grow. There will also be an opportunity to access a grant of between £1,000 to £3,000 that businesses on the programme can spend on specialist professional support from the local business community. To find out more, businesses can visit the SEMLEP website.

More details of the support available from Central Bedfordshire Council can be found here.

Not in Central Bedfordshire? Many local councils have equivalent pages set up and schemes operating. If you haven’t already been studying your local authority’s site, now could be a really good time to do so. Government support is winding down, so the local partnerships could be a great way to bolster your cash, skills or local links over the coming months.

Do please let us know if you find anything that’s particularly helpful so we can pass on the good news!