Central Bedfordshire Council is celebrating the significant impact of £330,000 in UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) government funding, which has delivered targeted support including mentoring, training, and expert guidance for business managers and owners, helping them turn their ambitions into reality during a challenging economic climate.

The results so far speak for themselves:

• 60 enterprises received 12 hours or more of non-financial support.
• 33 potential entrepreneurs assisted to become enterprise ready.
• 39 new enterprises were created as a result of the programme.
• 55 jobs generated, providing new opportunities for residents.

These figures represent current totals and with 150 to 200 businesses still participating, we anticipate that by March 2026 many of these outputs will more than double, further strengthening resilience and growth across the region.

Watch the short video to hear directly from attendees of the Cranfield University business conference, held in November 2025, as they share how this investment has made a real difference to their businesses.

This government funding investment has significantly strengthened the local economy by helping businesses grow, expand, and build resilience during challenging times. The funding has enabled individuals to gain the confidence and skills needed to start new enterprises, develop their companies, and increase their export potential. It has also supported job creation across the area, with inspiring personal stories demonstrating the real impact of this support, from first‑time business founders to established companies expanding, exporting, and hiring locally.

What is UKSPF

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is providing £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. It is positioned as the UK replacement for the European Structural and Investment Programme.   

Central Bedfordshire Council has been allocated £3.55M from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (formerly known as DHLUC) UKSPF programme which is being delivered alongside their £1.06M allocation from DEFRA’s Rural England Prosperity Fund.   

The primary goal of the UKSPF is to build pride in place and increase life chances across the UK.