They vow to talk up Bedfordshire benefit

Ian Pryce CBE, chief executive of Bedford College and separately, David Tooley, editor of Business Monthly, have agreed to do their bit to promote Bedfordshire as a superior destination for business.

The Business Ambassador scheme is administered by Luton-based Bedfordshire and Luton Chamber of Commerce.

Its driving force Rod J Calvert OBE, welcomed both new ambassadors to the role.

He said the scheme is to encourage leaders of industry to promote the county as a superior destination for business.

Having been chief executive of Bedford College, which has a campus in Luton, for more than a decade and overseen its growth to 18,000 students under an outstanding Ofsted banner, Mr Pryce believes he knows what business leaders want from a community: a skilled and trained workforce, which can support the aims of the ambassador scheme.

The ambassador scheme aims to encourage start-ups, expansion, relocation, inward investment, co-operation between businesses, and partnership working between public and private sectors.

Mr Pryce added: “I will be only too happy to talk to people in Bedfordshire and outside of the county about how this is a great place to do business. We have great young people here who are ready to be the next generation of quality employees and entrepreneurs.”

The Business Ambassador scheme is promoted and backed by Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton Borough Councils.

Mr Tooley, who has been a resident near Dunstable for most of his life, said: “I love this part of the world and if there’s anything I can do through Business Monthly or through meeting business leaders to bring more wealth and jobs to Bedfordshire then I will be delighted to do my bit.”