Bedford business news
Bedford business news, newest first: openings, closures, awards and jobs across the area.
Top story
Bedfordshire Fire Control: 3 Kempston 999 Call Handlers
Three Bedfordshire Fire Control staff at the Kempston HQ describe 999 calls, floods, a train crash and a decontamination incident in their second week.
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Jobs
Bedford Claimant Count Hits 5,465, Highest Since March 2025
5,465 people in Bedford borough claimed jobless benefits in September, up 205 in a year. Over-50s and 18 to 24s drove the rise; 25 to 49s fell slightly.
Business
Sainsbury's Bedford Distribution Centre Sold to Pension Fund
West Midlands Pension Fund has bought the 462,746 sq ft Sainsbury's depot at Marsh Leys, Kempston. The lease runs to 24 March 2036 and the rent is up 22%.
Universal
Universal Bedford: 23 Firms Named, None From Bedfordshire
Universal has named 23 firms to build its Kempston Hardwick resort. None is registered in Bedfordshire. Who they are, and how local firms can bid.
Business
Bedford Minimum Wage: Two Employers Named Over £5,230
A Goldington Road nursery and a Wyboston software firm are on the government's minimum wage naming list of 3 September, for £5,230.89 owed to 21 workers.
Universal
Universal Bedford: 28,000 jobs, and who polices the site
Ministers met eight councils in Bedford on 20 August. Bedford has no planning power over the Universal site: breaches go to the government, not Borough Hall.
Jobs
Bedford Claimant Count: Under-25s Up 27% in Two Years
Bedford's claimant count has barely moved in two years. Underneath it, claims by 18 to 24 year olds are up 26.7 per cent and the 25 to 49 group is down 6.1 per cent.