The event, held on Thursday 5 March and chaired by Dr Gordon Mellor, Executive Dean of the University of Bedfordshire Business School, saw all five prospective parliamentary candidates face questions about their promises to local businesses should they be elected.

Dr Mellor said: “It is a great honour for the Business School to be involved in this event. It is vital that local businesses owners are able to access vital information about how the parliamentary candidates can help them. It is also an opportunity to tell the candidates about the issues that are important to local businesses and to network with other local business owners.”

Caron Kendall, Development Manager Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, Federation of Small Businesses said: “The event at the University is part of the FSB's campaign #ibacksmallbusiness to ensure candidates hoping to stand in the General Election 2015, know about the challenges facing small businesses.

“Whether they're the Leader of one of the main political parties or an independent candidate, we at the FSB want to be sure that the interests of small businesses are promoted.”