The University of Bedfordshire has always enjoyed close links with the Luton community and now contributes a staggering £250 million to the local economy.

That is the figure University Vice Chancellor Professor Les Ebdon CBE stressed at a high level business leaders event recently attended by key figures from the county.

Professor Ebdon was one of two key speakers at the Bedfordshire and Luton Chamber of Commerce event at The Inn in Woburn addressing an audience of some 70 business leaders.

He said: “The University enjoys close links with the community in Bedford, Luton and the wider region and values our relationships with local groups covering a wide range of interests from sport, music and the arts to culture, education and business.

“In six years we have gone from a £38 million turnover to an institution with a £105 million turnover and our annual contribution to the local economy stands at £250 million.

“It’s an important contribution to an area where a high number of ethnic minority groups and Eastern European countries are represented in a growing and diverse population.

“We will continue to build and nurture our relationships with the local community because we know they are vital to the success of the region and higher education generally.”

The lunch was the first in a series of similar events due to take place in the coming months.

A spokesperson from the Chamber of Commerce said: “Feedback from the lunch was brilliant and we hope to arrange another event in March.”