entral Bedfordshire Council have set up few businesses support programmes which are funded through Central Government to support our local businesses as we recover from the pandemic:
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 (LEAN SIX SIGMA) 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.
In addition to these programmes, you can also apply for funded support through the Green Business Network’s free Membership scheme and newly launched Green Connectors programme, an exclusive networking group for businesses offering green products and services.
If you have not already signed up to the Council’s Let’s Talk Business Newsletter then please do so, as this provides you with regular bulletins/alerts on the latest news, events and funding. Follow us on Linkedin or Twitter.
