During the 2024 General Election, CFH Print UK solutions provided hassle-free electoral communications for Bedford Borough Council and their residents. The reliability and trusted expertise of the team was especially prominent.
Bedford Borough Council are the local authority for the Borough of Bedford, divided into three parliamentary constituencies following revisions in 2023, these being Bedford, North Bedfordshire and Mid Bedfordshire.
The Returning Officer for Bedford Borough is responsible for two of the constituencies, Bedford and North Bedfordshire. The dedicated council electoral services team are tasked with overseeing every aspect of a successful election campaign within the borough, managing the complete output of print and digital communications relating to electoral activities.
Print requirements for this purpose include poll cards, postal vote packs and ballot papers.
The elections team at Bedford oversee parliamentary elections, police and crime commissioner elections, local elections and neighbourhood planning referendums alongside their regular print partner, CFH Print UK. On this occasion, the elections team were fully aware that a General Election was on the horizon, at the very latest projected to take place before the end of January 2025.
The council were in safe hands with CFH as their dedicated long-term elections print company. Trusted by Bedford’s Electoral Services team, CFH are long-term members of the Association of Electoral Administrators, with a track record of assisting in-house electoral services teams.
The General Election was announced on the 22nd of May 2024, and with polling day set to take place six weeks later on Thursday 4th July 2024, a quick turnaround was necessary. Adequate preparations were of course made by CFH Print UK in advance, to simplify the entire process. With a keen eye on developments and announcements, paper stocks were acquired, and meetings were pre-scheduled, so a clear approach was already in place.
CFH had a good understanding of Bedford Borough Council’s requirements at this stage, as well as a thorough knowledge of how the team like to operate, due in large part to a unique relationship which had formed over several years.
Around five years ago, Bedford were using a different print communications supplier, but as the council’s Democratic and Electoral Services Manager had a favourable experience with CFH previously while working at a different local authority, the decision was made to partner with CFH Print UK. This partnership is still thriving half a decade later, and personal relationships have developed across multiple councils, particularly between Bedford’s Democratic and Electoral Services Manager and CFH elections expert Nicki Newburn.
Bedford were keen to stress that although the snap General Election didn’t pose any direct issues, it did mean that there were additional pressures, which CFH were happy to address. Managing the entire process in-house, which removes a certain amount of risk, the CFH team had discussed deadlines with the council in advance and agreed a clear roadmap for the whole period.
With the process agreed upon, an initial elections questionnaire was sent immediately to confirm requirements. This included the number of ordinary, postal and proxy poll cards required by Bedford, as well as an indication of volume for postal packs and ballot books. The form allows for additional information to be communicated, including interest in attending one of our secure sites for postal checks.
For the 2024 General Election period, Bedford Borough Council were keen to utilise the one-piece mailer, an all-in-one postal pack option which contains crucial voter information in one document, instead of across multiple sheets. The council found this product a useful option for the election period, reducing overall output and ensuring residents have all the information they require in one place.
Following verification of the required volumes, an order confirmation was issued to line up with information from the initial questionnaire, providing the details the client required in one dedicated space. With proofs produced, Bedford were diligent in their process, which involved checking proofs online, and double checking together with the CFH elections teams. Always thorough, the documents were then printed as required at secure facilities.
With processes followed during this time-critical stage, Bedford were keen to highlight that CFH were more than happy to address issues head-on, clarifying problems as soon as they occurred and acting reactively. The way in which both parties work together is efficient, and an existing relationship means everyone knows how each individual member of the respective teams likes to work.
Praising the work of the wider CFH elections team, more specifically Caroline Linton and Enza Zucconi, Bedford Borough Council reflected on a busy, but ultimately successful General Election period in collaboration with CFH. With knowledge and organisation setting CFH as the favoured election print providers, the team have been described as ‘detail-oriented’ and ‘knowledgeable’, doing a fantastic job of organising processes well in advance, and sticking to the timescales agreed in a punctual and clear manner.
Bedford’s Democratic & Electoral Services Manager highlighted the benefit of CFH organising everything in-house instead of outsourcing, in contrast to other arrangements that can be adopted by other print providers, which can result in a greater margin of error. When minor issues do occur, all problems are very quickly clarified. The entire team understand elections inside out and leave no stone unturned when it comes to meeting expectations while the stakes are high.
Putting the entire General Election period into perspective, CFH Print UK were able to print and send 127,858 poll cards on behalf of Bedford Borough Council, as well as a grand total of 28,408 postal vote packs. In terms of ballot papers, CFH supplied over 249,000 overall, all packed and posted with time to spare.
Following the conclusion of the 2024 General Election period, representatives from Bedford Borough Council arranged to meet Nicki and newly appointed Senior Relationship Manager Liz Philpot in person, an enjoyable and insightful meeting which further strengthened the relationship between both parties. Discussing the collaboration moving forward, Bedford praised the processes and professional knowledge exhibited by CFH elections staff - and anticipate further successful election campaigns in the future.
Although their processes and quality of product also stand out, from my experience, the people are what really enables strong effective working relationships between Bedford and CFH Print UK. Nicki, Enza and Caroline are organised, knowledgeable and friendly.
I have worked with them across different local authorities, and they always go the extra mile to ensure print requirements are met during the busiest periods. Myself and my team also appreciate how CFH organise all printing in-house, which can ensure less errors and mistakes.
Democratic & Electoral Services Manager,
Bedford Borough Council
