The impact of COVID-19 has already disrupted the economy nationally and beyond. We’ve looked at the economic impact, trends and and analysis of the UK economy and the impact of the coronavirus locally.
View Central Bedfordshire COVID-19 data snapshot reports
Local economic information and policy
We monitor the local economy and provide reports to provide an evidence base for local decision-making and develop local policy to support economic growth.
Two-year review of the Economic Strategy’s Implementation Plan
Our two-year review of the Economic Strategy’s Implementation Plan 2022–2023 and 2023–2024 (PDF), is a comprehensive assessment of our service areas’ deliveries of the objectives set out in our Economic Strategy and our Economic Implementation Plan which were both adopted in 2021.
The Economic Implementation plan is the framework for how we intend to deliver the objectives set out in the Economic Strategy, categorised under 6 themes:
- Skills for the Future
- Making Strategic Relationships Work for Central Bedfordshire
- Supporting our Businesses
- Investing in Infrastructure
- Embedding our Council in our Local Economy
- Creating Sustainable Places for the Future
This two-year review highlights how our service areas have delivered against our local economic objectives in the financial years of 2022–2023 and 2023–2024 and sets our economic goals for 2024–2025.
Labour market information
Use SEMLEP's labour market information to make crucial decisions for your business.
Economic Insight
The purpose of this document is to provide a detailed analysis of the performance of Central Bedfordshire’s economy and it will primarily be used as the baseline data to inform the council’s new Economic Strategy. The Economic Insight not only presents a snap-shot of Central Bedfordshire’s economy, but also provides analysis and information on ‘why it matters’. It provides comparisons with the performance of neighbouring authorities and with national and regional trends. The Economic Insight will be refreshed annually so that the data is kept up-to-date.
Previous economic assessments
Previous Local Economic Assessments and Economic Insights monitored the local economic conditions, the factors influencing economic growth, and key performance indicators.
Local Economic Assessments are produced annually:
View previous economic assessments
Quarterly Economic Monitoring Reports
Our Economic Monitoring Reports are produced each quarter to provide regular, easy to access information on the national and local economy.
View Quarterly Economic Monitoring Reports
Business survey
The South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) brings together businesses, local authorities and educational institutions in partnership to determine local economic priorities and undertake activities to drive economic growth and the creation of jobs in their local area. It covers an area made up of 6 local authorities that are home to over 77,000 businesses.
This report presents the findings from the 2021 SEMLEP business survey for Central Bedfordshire, one of SEMLEP’s constituent local authorities. The report is designed to identify the economic challenges and opportunities facing businesses in the South East Midlands and Central Bedfordshire, and help inform and shape the economic strategy and activities.
Specific issues covered by the survey are:
- quality of the local area as a business location
- business support
- business performance
- employment, skills and training
- innovation
- reducing carbon and targeting net-zero
- inclusivity
- perceptions about SEMLEP
View the report from our 2021 business survey.