New Store Manager of Boots at Bedford, Gareth Ecott took centre stage at The Park Inn Bedford to talk to 70 guests about the positives of the town centre.

*Love Bedford website is going up, up and away with more hits by visitors to the town centre than any other website. “It is a great shop window for Bedford”

*Easter footfall in Bedford was UP 4% on last year compared to national town averages which were DOWN 3 %

*July 12th Marks the mission date to smarten up the town ready for summer visitors

*July 24th Love Bedford Day – a showcase for town centre businesses and FREE family fun day

Meanwhile, the Healthy High Streets project to improve investment in the trading environment is underway. Projects include raising the quality of Bedford markets to bring them up the super standards which are already on offer on some stalls. Boots nationally is supporting the Healthy High Streets campaign and locally it is working the the Bedford Business Improvement District (BID) to raise aspirations for the town.

The guest speaker for the event was Joe Nellis Professor of Global Economy at Cranfield University. He told the audience not to believe forecasts by either side because the situation created by the referendum on June 23rd had never before existed. He then went on to go through argument for and against voting to Remain or Leave.

BID breakfasts are exclusively for businesses in the BID zone. Businesses pay a levy to fund the BID which is run by businesses for businesses. It promotes the town centre for the benefit of all under the marketing title Love Bedford  

The next BID breakfast event takes place on 29th September 2016 at 7.30am. To register your interest please contact Karen at karen@lovebedford.co.uk.