BedfordBID is working closely with award-winning Bedford College to invest in the future of the town centre.

The college is a major provider of customers to the centre as 100s of staff and 1,000s of students pour across the Town Bridge on weekdays to spend.

The college is a major supporter of the Love Bedford gift voucher scheme purchasing £500,00 worth - money which is then guaranteed to be spent locally.

The college is a major BID levy-payer and publically proclaimed its support for the Business Improvement District as a mechanism to benefit businesses.

Now the college has used its links with BedfordBID to direct young people towards seasonal jobs in the town centre – with organisations such as Debenhams. The college Job Shop is a free service to employers who want to recruit staff from the ranks of well-prepared students.

The relationship was celebrated at the Bedford College Achievements Ceremony when BedfordBID was among the sponsors of awards for the best students. Held at the Bedford Corn Exchange, a packed audience of proud families saw a parade of students receiving their awards – and then went out on the town to celebrate afterwards.

Bedford Corn Exchange is a venue for another major annual event in the Bedford College calendar: Hair and Beauty Show which involves sector employers from across the county. The event is a fun-filled evening after which glamourous students and friends hit the high spots in Bedford.

Bedford College is investing in the future of the young people of Bedford and helping to keep the town centre vibrant. Look out for more exciting news in 2015.

*To date £800,000 Love Bedford vouchers have been sold. They are available from the BedfordBID direct for major purchases or from the Bedford Swan Hotel or Tourist Information Centre, both off St Paul’s Square, Bedford.