Business

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Bedford’s diverse economy includes manufacturing, retail, hospitality, and service industries. The town has a highly skilled and educated workforce, with a strong focus on science and technology.

Excellent transport links to major cities like London, Cambridge, and Milton Keynes, and the town’s growing population, have helped Bedford’s develop a diverse economy. The successful businesses in the area range from healthcare services, hospitality, and retail to businesses that capitalise on Bedford’s strengths in science and technology, such as biotech or software development.

In recent years, businesses that rely on logistics, fulfilment & distribution have been making use of Bedford’s location.

Midland Road shop’s sale of counterfeit ‘nail polish’ vodka was a one-off, licensing hearing is told

Councillors have been called on to review the alcohol licence of a Bedford shop that sold a bottle of counterfeit vodka to a customer who later felt ill and complained that it tasted of nail polish...

Council to support hospitality businesses with outdoor seating licences

To support hospitality venues in Bedford, the council has confirmed it will cover the cost of temporary pavement licences ahead of 12 April, the earliest date that outdoor venues can reopen under the...

Bedfordians chosen among Nat West Bank’s IWD 100 inspiring women

In celebration of International Women’s Day yesterday, Nat West Bank have revealed their  top 100 women in the region, featuring some prominent female business owners from Bedford...

£2.7m of business support grants land in accounts this week

The Government's business support grants will automatically be paid Bedford's businesses that are set to remain closed for the remainder of this financial year...

COMPETITION: Win a virtual escape room session with Don’t Get Locked In

A year ago, Don’t Get Locked In Escape Rooms opened their doors in Allhallows. Little did they know that within a couple of months, the global Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic would force them to shut...

Bedford firm begins new year with very special delivery of 15 tonne machine

Bedford-based Midas Pattern Company began 2021 in style, becoming one of only a handful of companies in the region to take delivery of the enormous HAAS CNC machining centre...

“I face abuse almost everyday” says Bedford shopkeeper over mask enforcement

On the day that over 65 leading retailers and industry bodies have written to the Prime Minister calling on him to take urgent action to tackle violence and abuse towards retail workers, one Bedford shopkeeper says she faces abuse almost every day...

Two Bedford Borough aerospace businesses handed £30 million for “ambitious projects”

Two Bedford Borough businesses have been handed £30.2 million by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to support ambitious aerospace projects. The funding is part of a wider £84.6...

Last chance to apply for Chancellor’s Christmas support grants for wet-led pubs

Bedford Borough Council has issued a reminder that this Sunday (31 January) is the deadline for pubs to apply for a Christmas Support Grant. Pubs, along with restaurants, non-essential retail businesses and hairdressers...

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