November Newsletter 2019

Bedford i-Worx – Bedford Commercial Park

High quality business units sized between 1200-1700 sq ft are now available.  This recently completed development is located on Bedford Commercial Park alongside the A421, 1 mile from the Marsh Leys Junction and 3 miles from the Marston Moretaine Junction accessed via Bedford Road (the old A421).  This strategic location is 7 miles (10 minutes) east of M1 J13 and 12 miles west of the A1 Black Cat Roundabout. 

The i-Worx is a new, high-quality cluster of 12 advanced technology and engineering workshop units with onsite dedicated space for development, an educational workshop, serving the schools and education communities of Bedford.  The scheme is part of the council owned i-Brand, which includes other facilities around Bedford, such as the i-Lab Innovation Centre, i-Kan Business Incubation Centre, i-Hub office premises and i-Create studio.  The i-brand vision has been very successful in supporting local, high-value businesses to thrive and grow.

The scheme is part funded by Bedford Borough Council and South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) and has a focus to attract occupiers with businesses within sustainable, high-value sectors.

For details contact – Patrick Lyons   Patrick.Lyons@bedford.gov.uk    Tel : 01234 276255

New Businesses in Bedford

The Arcade in Bedford has welcomed a brand new retailer. Anorak is a new ladies independent fashion store that stocks fresh and unique worldwide brands with a focus on quality minimal classics and edgy, vintage-style pieces. They offer a variety of, clothing, shoes, jewellery and accessories, check them out in-store or on-line.

“It’s time to make a change” is the philosophy of Bedford's first bulk and refill shop called The Store. It recently opened in St Cuthbert’s Arcade on St Cuthberts’s Street. By bringing in your own containers and bags, you buy your food and household items without their normal single-use plastic. Most of the products are dispensed so you simply weigh, fill and pay. Join Bedford’s zero waste revolution and make the switch to more responsible buying.

Skills Consultation

Bedford Borough Council is consulting on a new Skills Plan. The All Age Skills Plan aims to ensure that residents have the opportunity to access quality local jobs and that the Borough is a good place to work. 

Changes to the economy in the near future means we need to ensure that everyone invests in the right skills that will be desirable. This means we work towards the aim that no one, regardless of skills level, is left behind.

The Skills Plan is structured into three pillars:  

·         Partner Cooperation;

·         Raise Aspirations, Celebrate Achievement; and

·         Develop the Future Workforce.

We want feedback from businesses so that those who know the job market best are informing and supporting our ideas and approach. The need to invest in current skills and prepare for future developments requires employer feedback and to be aware of changes in technologies and required skills. 

Please follow the link below that will take you to the relevant web page where feedback can be left.  Deadline for responses is Friday 29th November 2019.

https://www.bedford.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/have-your-say/consultations/all-age-skills/

UKRI Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centres

Following on from the UKRI Circular Economy workshops in June 2019, UKRI has now made £22.5m available to support five Circular Economy Centres for up to four years (at 80% FEC).  These Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centres will conduct interdisciplinary research that accelerates understanding and solutions to enable circularity of a resource flow involving materials, material systems, products and/or services.

A circular economy is one where we keep resources in use for as long as possible, extract the maximum value from them whilst in use, then recover and regenerate products and materials at the end of each service life. A rapid transition to a more circular economy offers the UK potential for sustainable growth and prosperity.  UKRI welcomes and encourages applications led by and involving any discipline.

Applicants must:

·         submit an Intent to Submit by 16.00 on 19 November 2019 via the website form.

·         submit an outline proposal by 16.00 on 05 December 2019 via Je-S.

For further details follow the link : https://epsrc.ukri.org/funding/calls/ukri-interdisciplinary-circular-economy-centres/

GBN November Seminar – Safeguarding against Environmental Emergencies

20th November 8.00 - 10.30am Forest Centre, Marston Moretaine

In light of the climate change crisis and its likely effects, businesses need to be looking not only at how to lessen their contribution to climate change but also how to prepare for it. Dr Margaret Rooney will be leading this seminar, where we will be looking at issues such as global heating and cooling, supply chain, transport, etc.

To book a place, please respond to Janevarley@LIVE.CO.UK while they transition from the old website to the new one. This seminar is free to GBN members. Non-members are welcome to attend at a cost of £35 +VAT per delegate.