Bedford Business Newsletter June 2019

Bedford Link

Developers of Bedford Link on the A428/A421, London Metric & Graftongate have recently announced that unit 4 has been let to Workstories, a well-established furniture wholesaler that curates quality commercial furniture. 

The 31,000 sq ft space has been let on a 15-year lease, demonstrating the appeal of the modern development and its perfect location between the A1 and M1. As part of the Bedford Link scheme, the recently built, 49,000 sq ft unit 5 is available for lease while plots 1 and 2 offer build to suit opportunities with an unrivalled specification. 

Please see website for further information: www.bedfordlinklogisticspark.com  

Midlands Engine Investment Fund

SEMLEP is part of the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF): a £250 million fund available to SME’s based in the South East Midlands area. 

The fund, established by British Business Bank, aims to support fast-growth businesses looking to expand into new markets and boost productivity. The MEIF is the result of collaboration between the British Business Bank, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and 10 Local Enterprise Partnerships, including SEMLEP. 

Current finance options available, include small business loans valued between £25,000 and £150,000.  Debt finance worth between £100,000 and £1.5million individual placements.

For more information, about the fund, visit www.meif.co.uk  

B&M Riverside Drive

B&M the UK wide variety retailer continues its expansion with a brand new store in Bedford now open, creating 60 new jobs. The store was officially opened by Mayor Dave Hodgson.

Located on Riverfield Drive, selling a wide range of branded goods, including toys, food & drink, homeware, pet products, health & beauty, seasonal, as well as an in-store garden centre.

In a struggling sector, B&M is still flourishing with more than 560 stores and 28,000 employees and is currently investing in technology to support further store expansion, new warehouse management and voice picking systems.

Bedford i-Worx

i-Worx is an exciting new 16,000 sq ft development, based on Bedford Commercial Park, and strategically located alongside the A421, 7 miles to the M1 and 12 miles to the A1.

The 45-acre mixed-use development provides industrial, distribution and business space in an attractive landscaped park environment.

With construction of i-Worx due to complete in September 2019, the unique offering from Bedford Borough Council will deliver a high-specification cluster of 12 workshop units. This will also include on-site dedicated space for an educational workshop to support businesses and schools and education communities of Bedford.

i-Worx will focus on securing business tenants within the high-performance technology and engineering sectors to create a high-value cluster, enabling businesses to thrive and grow. For further details, please contact: patrick.lyons@bedford.gov.uk