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.
Bromsgrove Speaking Coach takes to the TEDx Stage for the Second Time
Bromsgrove-based speaker coach and professional speaker Dave James delivered his second TEDx talk at TEDxWorcester in January 2026, using the world-renowned platform to make the case for human communication in an age increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. The...
Latest Article
Bromsgrove Speaking Coach takes to the TEDx Stage for the Second Time
Bromsgrove-based speaker coach and professional speaker Dave James delivered his second TEDx talk at TEDxWorcester in January 2026, using the world-renowned platform to make the case for human communication in an age increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. The...
Member News
SUTCLIFFE & CO CROWNED SME OF THE YEAR AT SOUTH WEST BUSINESS & COMMUNITY AWARDS
Worcester based Sutcliffe & Co Insurance Brokers, are celebrating being crowned ‘SME of the Year 2026’ at the coveted South West Business & Community Awards. Having been shortlisted in three categories, Employer of the Year, SME of the Year and Outstanding...
Top Insurance Employer Award for Sutcliffe & Co for fourth year running
Sutcliffe & Co Insurance Brokers are celebrating being named a ‘Top Insurance Employer 2026’ by Insurance Business UK (IBUK) Magazine for the fourth year in a row. These established awards highlight excellence within the insurance industry, naming standout...
Patron & Strategic News
McPhillips delivers positive impact at community farm
Three weeks of voluntary work by an award-winning construction firm has transformed a farm project in Hereford that works with and for the community. McPhillips, currently on site in the city delivering the new £10 million Hereford Transport Hub, is committed to...
Crash Simulation Puts Worcester Students at the Heart of Emergency Response
Students from across the University of Worcester took part in a large-scale emergency simulation in the city, working alongside frontline blue light services to respond to a staged multi-vehicle collision. Policing, Medical and Paramedic Science students were involved...
Chamber News
Have Your Say: Herefordshire Council Budget 2026/27 Consultation
Herefordshire Council is inviting residents and businesses to take part in its Budget 2026/27 consultation, giving you the opportunity to have a direct say in how council services are prioritised and where savings may need to be made. The consultation runs from...
Worcestershire celebrates outstanding success at Annual Apprenticeship Awards
Worcestershire celebrated its commitment to developing local talent and skills at the 2025 Worcestershire Apprenticeships Awards on Thursday 13 November. Now in their eleventh year of the Apprenticeships Awards, the 2025 celebrations continued to recognise the amazing...
Our Latest Member
Meet OCM – Your local experts in sustainable IT asset management
As a proud new member of the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, OCM is excited to introduce their team to fellow businesses across the region. Based in Pershore, Jennine, Richard and co have been delivering secure, sustainable and reliable IT...
Meet OCM – Your local experts in sustainable IT asset management
As a proud new member of the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, OCM is excited to introduce their team to fellow businesses across the region. Based in Pershore, Jennine, Richard and co have been delivering secure, sustainable and reliable IT...
Policy News
Business Rates Anxiety Hits Record High
A third of firms (34%) are worried about their business rates, the highest level since 2017. Concern is highest in the hospitality sector (49%), with manufacturing (44%) and logistics (43%) close behind. In 2024, 27% of firms said they had scaled back or...
Few Signs For Optimism In Labour Market
Reacting to the latest labour market data from the ONS published this morning, Patrick Milnes, Head of People and Work Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “The latest data indicate businesses are still not feeling confident about taking on more staff or...
Skills News
Worcester Based Recruitment Firm Sees 60% Growth in Roles
Worcester-based Four Squared Recruitment has achieved a 60% growth in retained recruitment work throughout 2024, providing a much-needed boost to the slowing recruitment market. By prioritising a retained search model and committing to partnerships that go beyond...
Prime Mix Marketing Ltd Wins Prestigious Marketing Consultancy of the Year Award
Prime Mix Marketing Ltd is proud to announce that it has been named the winner of the Marketing Consultancy of the Year award in the Corporate LiveWire Global Awards 2024/25. This prestigious recognition comes after a rigorous selection process, in which over 90,000...
Charity News
Midlands businesses urged to step up for young people facing homelessness with St Basils Hike for Homeless 2026
Businesses across the Midlands are being urged to swap boardrooms for walking boots this summer as St Basils launches Hike for Homeless 2026, a powerful team challenge with real impact for young people facing homelessness. Taking place on Saturday 20 June 2026 at...
WORCESTER STREET SIXES RETURNS TO THE CITY CENTRE THIS JULY
Worcestershire Cricket Foundation is inviting businesses from across the county to take part in Worcester Street Sixes, returning to the heart of the city on Wednesday 15 July 2026. Set across Cathedral Square and Worcester High Street, the event will once again...
Reading the Seismograph: What the BCC’s QES Dashboard can tell us about the looming economic shock
The latest results from the British Chambers of Commerce Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) for Q1 2026 present a familiar picture1. Business confidence remains subdued. Investment intentions are weak. Cost pressures, though no longer accelerating, remain elevated. Firms...
BCC News
Reading the Seismograph: What the BCC’s QES Dashboard can tell us about the looming economic shock
The latest results from the British Chambers of Commerce Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) for Q1 2026 present a familiar picture1. Business confidence remains subdued. Investment intentions are weak. Cost pressures, though no longer accelerating, remain elevated. Firms...
Worcestershire News
Will writing drive to raise funds for Worcestershire Community Foundation
Specialist legal teams at two Worcester law firms are throwing their support behind the Worcestershire Community Foundation through a month-long Will writing initiative. Throughout June, solicitors at City firms Bradley Haynes and HCR Law will be offering to write...
Severn Valley Railway launches short film to celebrate its 60th anniversary
The Severn Valley Railway has released a short promotional film, celebrating its 60th anniversary and marking its involvement with the Railway 200 celebrations that are also taking place in 2025-26. The film features a range of volunteers from across the railway,...
Herefordshire News
Unlocking Marketing Potential with Mailchimp and Salesforce
At Coacto, we specialise in implementing solutions that empower businesses to streamline processes and maximise the power of Salesforce. As a Salesforce implementation partner, we bring together best-in-class tools to enhance customer relationship management (CRM) and...
New Chief Executive aims to Create a Greener Future for Communities in Warwickshire and Worcestershire
The new Chief Executive of a leading woodland creation and conservation charity which is planting one of the largest forests in England is set to be at the forefront of the fight against climate change in communities across Warwickshire and Worcestershire. The Heart...
All Latest News
Apprenticeship Support Events for Worcestershire Employers
Small or medium‑sized employers based in Malvern Hills and Wychavon Districts are being encouraged to attend two upcoming events designed to simplify the latest apprenticeship funding and support available to local businesses. With a range of new financial incentives...
More Help Needed on Business Costs
Responding to measures announced by the Chancellor this lunchtime, Kate Shoesmith, Director of Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “It’s important to remember that the cost of living and the cost of business are two sides of the same coin. “While most of...
Three things your website should be doing
Many small business websites look the part. They have a homepage, a services page, maybe some photos. They load when you type in the address. Job done, right? Not quite. Looking functional and actually working for your business are two very different things. Here are...
While High Streets Struggle, This Business Is Thriving
As household names disappear from high streets, one Worcester business is quietly thriving. The difference? While the location of their work has changed, their values haven’t. Cleaning Technique, a commercial cleaning company celebrating its 40th anniversary,...
Local Children’s Cancer Charity Celebrates 10 Years with Landmark Anniversary Ball
The Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust, based in Upton Snodsbury, Worcestershire, are inviting the local community and businesses to join them in marking a major milestone at their 10th Anniversary Charity Ball. Taking place at Bank House Hotel Spa & Golf Club,...
Plant Fair brings in over £22,000 to St Michael’s
Over 2,000 visitors attended the latest edition of the renowned St Michael’s Hospice Plant Fair. The annual three-day event is set to raise well over £20,000 for the charity, which provides palliative and end-of-life care to families across Herefordshire and its...
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