Business Direction Online
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Introducing Business Direction Online, your one stop shop for all local and industry news.
Business Direction Online is updated daily, bringing you news from across Herefordshire & Worcestershire. Explore our Members exciting and important updates and keep up to date with any Chamber news.
If you’re a Chamber Member, you can submit your latest news stories free of charge and promote updates to local business professionals. Contact our Marketing team for more information.
Growing Hope This Christmas: How Local Businesses Can Support WMRSASC’s Purple Leaf Project
This December, WMRSASC is inviting local businesses to support the Purple Leaf Project – Tree of Hope at Worcester Cathedral. Each hand-painted purple leaf represents solidarity, strength, and a message of hope for survivors of sexual violence — and every donation...
Latest Article
Growing Hope This Christmas: How Local Businesses Can Support WMRSASC’s Purple Leaf Project
This December, WMRSASC is inviting local businesses to support the Purple Leaf Project – Tree of Hope at Worcester Cathedral. Each hand-painted purple leaf represents solidarity, strength, and a message of hope for survivors of sexual violence — and every donation...
Member News
Triple heritage awards shortlisting for the Severn Valley Railway
The Severn Valley Railway is celebrating after being shortlisted in three categories of the Heritage Railway Association Annual Awards 2026, the biggest and most respected accolades in the heritage rail sector. The SVR has been named as a finalist for: • The Rolling...
Ballards LLP steers sale of Harrold Jones Services to Ventro Group
In the image L-R : James Maynell – Partner Ballards LLP, Hashim Hafeez – Associate Director Ballards LLP and Rich Grover – Corporate Finance Partner Ballards LLP Ballards LLP has advised Harrold Jones Services (HJS) on its sale to Ventro Group,...
Patron & Strategic News
Autumn Budget 2025: Your detailed summary
Rachel Reeves’s second Budget boosts welfare spending paid for through stealth tax rises, and taxes on property, savings and dividends. Income tax rates remain unchanged, but frozen thresholds for a further three years and wealth-focused levies do the heavy lifting. ...
County Council launches new Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy
Worcestershire County Council has published its new Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure (EVCI) Strategy, setting out plans to expand access to charging facilities across the county. The strategy follows a countywide engagement exercise where residents and...
Chamber News
Welcome New Members August
Warm welcome to our newest Members who joined throughout July. ActionCOACH Worcester – The help you need to grow your business. Agility Fleet – Agility Fleet is a national provider of vehicle funding and fleet management, specialising in the SME market....
Dozens of Students Dressed to Impress Thanks to Kind Community Donations
An initiative to help university students dress the part for interviews and placements has proven a huge success. Placements are a big part of courses at the University of Worcester, and students often enter environments where they’re required to dress smartly....
Our Latest Member
Welcome to our New Members – March 2025
Our warmest welcome to our new members – AJB Sports in Education – Sports Coaching company proudly working Pre Schools and Primary schools, running Girls Football, Childrens Birthday Parties and Childrens Holiday Camps in Worcester. With an innovative...
Welcome to our New Members – March 2025
Our warmest welcome to our new members – AJB Sports in Education – Sports Coaching company proudly working Pre Schools and Primary schools, running Girls Football, Childrens Birthday Parties and Childrens Holiday Camps in Worcester. With an innovative...
Policy News
Rising Real Wages Pile On More Pressure
Responding to the latest labour market data, published by the ONS this morning, Jane Gratton, Deputy Director Public Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “The ONS data suggests that the jobs market is continuing to loosen as unemployment rises, vacancies...
Business Still Sceptical On Employment Rights Bill
One third (33%) of businesses, in a BCC survey, think the current trade union proposals in the Employment Rights Bill would have a negative impact Only 2% of these firms think these proposals would be positive 79% of firms don’t feel the impact of new government...
Skills News
Coacto Team Members Excel with Salesforce Certifications
We are thrilled to announce that two of our talented team members at Coacto, Jessica Hargreaves and Laura Hardwick, have recently achieved significant milestones in their professional development by earning Salesforce certifications. Jessica Hargreaves has...
Boost Recruitment and Retention with ISO 9001
ISO 9001 is known internationally for helping businesses consistently meet customer requirements but is less known for its other benefits like supporting recruitment and retention. Local ISO experts at ISO Quality Services highlight five ways ISO 9001 could help you...
Charity News
Midlands Air Ambulance Charity receives £13,000 donation from Hereford’s KGD Industrial Services
Midlands Air Ambulance Charity is flying high after a generous donation of £13,000, following the success of a lively charity dinner held by Hereford’s own, KGD Industrial Services. KGD Industrial Services, which specialises in designing and manufacturing process...
Vennture Appoints Safeguarding Expert to Drive Innovation Amid Sector Pressures
Ex-Police Safeguarding Leader Joins Vennture as New COO Herefordshire charity Vennture has appointed Jon Roberts as its new Chief Operating Officer, effective 1 August 2025. Jon, a father of four from North Herefordshire, brings 30 years of policing experience,...
Firms Seek Certainty As US-China Trade Talks Loom
Assessing the mood of business ahead of President Trump’s discussions with China’s President XI this week, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy, said: “Businesses will be watching these talks very closely in the hope of divining some certainty on the direction of travel...
BCC News
Firms Seek Certainty As US-China Trade Talks Loom
Assessing the mood of business ahead of President Trump’s discussions with China’s President XI this week, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy, said: “Businesses will be watching these talks very closely in the hope of divining some certainty on the direction of travel...
Worcestershire News
Severn Valley Railway in Discussions with Insurers over landslip
The Severn Valley Railway is currently in discussions with insurers about repairs for its significant landslip at Mor Brook bridge. The embankment failure happened in late January and has forced the closure of the northernmost section of the line. ‘We’ve had several...
Third visitor announced for Severn Valley Railway’s Spring Diesel Festival
Organisers have confirmed that a pair of HST powercars will join the guest line-up at the Severn Valley Railway’s Spring Diesel Festival. Nos 43480 and 43468 from Rail Adventure will appear at the four-day event, which takes place between 15 and 18 May. The HST...
Herefordshire News
Herefordshire Ludlow and North Shropshire College’s Path to Net Zero
Educational institutions play a key role in promoting sustainable energy resources. Herefordshire Ludlow and North Shropshire College’s Low Carbon Technology Training Centre showcases this approach by offering specialised courses in renewable technologies, which for a...
Wye Valley Brewery Empower Business School Alumni Witnessing Sustainability in Action
Wye Valley Brewery recently hosted the University of Worcester Business School’s alumni for an exclusive event, with a special emphasis on sustainability. The event was designed to inspire and support local business leaders who have completed the ‘Help to Grow:...
All Latest News
Sluggish Economy Demands Strong Business Support
Reacting to the latest GDP data published this morning by the ONS, Stuart Morrison, Research Manager at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “With a backdrop of weak business and investment confidence, sluggish Q3 growth of just 0.1% is unsurprising. “But the data...
Severn Valley Railway – Black Friday Special Offer
Save 20% on Santa’s Steam Specials Tickets! You’ll need to hurry, this offer starts today (Friday 21 November) and ends at 4pm on Wednesday 26 November 2025. Santa’s Steam Specials tickets include: Private compartment or reserved table in a historic...
Grandparents given expert advice to ensure contact with grandchildren after marriage breakdowns
Grandparents worried about the lack of contact with their grandchildren following marriage breakdowns are being given legal advice to help repair relationships. Leading Worcestershire law firm mfg Solicitors has warned that grandparents do not have an automatic legal...
UK Cyber Resilience Bill 2025: Preparing for a New Era of Accountability
The UK Cyber Resilience Bill 2025 took its first reading in Parliament in November, marking one of the most significant shifts in UK cyber regulation for years. Although still progressing, the direction is clear: organisations will soon face tougher expectations...
Building Supply Chain Resilience: What Local Businesses Need to Know
Ransomware cyber attacks are rising in both frequency and sophistication, and recent high-profile incidents across the manufacturing, aviation and retail sectors have demonstrated the scale of disruption that can be caused when a supplier is breached. For businesses...
University Writing Advisor Nominated for Prestigious Author’s Award
An award-winning author who advises students at the University of Worcester on their writing has been nominated for one of the most prestigious awards in children’s literature. Liz Hyder, one of the University’s Royal Literary Fund Writers in Residence, is in the...
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