Business Direction Online
Latest News
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.

Summer family fun at the Severn Valley Railway
With the long weeks of the school summer holidays almost here, the Severn Valley Railway is getting ready to make sure everyone can enjoy a fun-packed day out to remember. At The Engine House, Highley, a brand-new family activity is on offer free of charge to those...
Latest Article
Summer family fun at the Severn Valley Railway
With the long weeks of the school summer holidays almost here, the Severn Valley Railway is getting ready to make sure everyone can enjoy a fun-packed day out to remember. At The Engine House, Highley, a brand-new family activity is on offer free of charge to those...
Member News
‘Scots Guardsman’ to replace ‘Tornado’ at the SVR’s Railway 200: Trains through the Ages event
The Severn Valley Railway has confirmed that LMS 46115 ‘Scots Guardsman’ will appear at its Railway 200: Trains though the Ages event on 5 and 6 July, as a replacement for 60163 ‘Tornado’. Jonathan ‘Gus’ Dunster, the SVR’s managing director said: ‘As one door closes,...
15 Herefordshire businesses sign the Armed Forces Covenant at NMITE’s Military to Business event, supported by UK Government
Fifteen Herefordshire businesses signed the armed forces covenant today at NMITE’s sixth annual Military to Business Showcase. The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families,...
Patron & Strategic News
Driving business growth through low-cost digital marketing solutions
Marketing is a powerful, accessible tool for driving business growth. By adopting a strategic and measured approach, you can expand your reach, build brand awareness, and attract and retain customers. IAB UK shared, 81% of UK SMEs consider digital advertising crucial...
Venues ordered to prepare following new terrorism law
Venue owners and operators are being urged to prepare for new terrorism laws being introduced following the devastating Manchester Arena bombings and ever-growing threat of terror attacks. The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, otherwise known as ‘Martyn’s...
Chamber News
Herefordshire and Worcestershire’s Biggest Business Exhibition Draws a Record Crowd
On Thursday 10th October 2024, the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Hewett Recruitment, hosted their annual Business Expo at the University of Worcester Arena. This was the Chamber’s first Business Expo at the...
Improve your Staff Recruitment and Retention with the Salary & Benefits 2024/25 Survey, in Partnership with Hewett Recruitment
Businesses are currently operating in an incredibly tight labour market and are doing their best to survive amongst the cost of doing business crisis due to spiralling energy costs. The competitive labour market is impacting businesses ability to invest and grow. The...
Our Latest Member
Recruitment Expert to take on London Marathon for AngelmanUK
A director of a Worcester recruitment firm is to take on next year’s TCS London Marathon for charity AngelmanUK. James Cronin, a director at recruitment specialist, GMP Recruitment, part of the Frederick Harlan Group, is taking part in the world’s most famous marathon...

Recruitment Expert to take on London Marathon for AngelmanUK
A director of a Worcester recruitment firm is to take on next year’s TCS London Marathon for charity AngelmanUK. James Cronin, a director at recruitment specialist, GMP Recruitment, part of the Frederick Harlan Group, is taking part in the world’s most famous marathon...
Policy News
Planning and Infrastructure Reform Must Benefit Business
Responding to the unveiling of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, Jane Gratton, Deputy Director of Public Policy at the BCC, said: “It’s encouraging to see the Government has heeded our calls to tackle the problems of the UK’s worn-out infrastructure to fire...
US Tariffs Hit UK Business
Reacting to the introduction of 25 percent tariffs on exports of UK steel and aluminium to the United States, William Bain, BCC Head of Trade Policy, said: “This is a difficult day for trans-Atlantic trade and plunges businesses, in both the US and UK, into a new age...
Skills News
Use Skills Bootcamps to Retain and Reskill your Workforce
Local training provider The Development Manager (TDM), has a pool of talented individuals looking for employers to interview them and help them to start a Tech & Digital role in the region as an apprentice. These work-ready individuals are currently completing...
Kidderminster College Launch New Team Leader Apprenticeship
Kidderminster College are collaborating with employers across Worcestershire, Sandwell and Herefordshire to provide training to their existing staff with a new Team Leader Apprenticeship. Kidderminster College’s new Team Leader Apprenticeship aims to upskill the local...
Charity News
St Michael’s Hospice presents An Evening with Monty Don at Cheltenham Town Hall
Renowned TV horticulturist will be in conversation with Kate Bliss A face familiar to millions will visit Cheltenham in March for a special evening raising funds for charity. Monty Don, best-known for fronting popular weekly BBC show Gardeners’ World, will be in...
Local Businesses Raise Over £4,000 at Festive Event Supporting Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust
Ballards LLP and Four Squared Recruitment continued their charitable partnership with a successful ‘Jingle and Mingle’ event hosted at Piston Gin Distillery following their charity run initiative last month. The festive gathering attracted over 50 guests...

US Trade Deal Provides Welcome Relief
Reacting to news of a trade deal in principle with the US, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC, said: “This deal will be met with a huge sigh of relief by many British businesses. “The reduction in the 25% tariffs on most of our automotive exports and the...
BCC News
US Trade Deal Provides Welcome Relief
Reacting to news of a trade deal in principle with the US, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC, said: “This deal will be met with a huge sigh of relief by many British businesses. “The reduction in the 25% tariffs on most of our automotive exports and the...
Worcestershire News
Severn Valley Railway is now part of a Local Geology App
The Severn Valley Railway is now part of a free-to-download smartphone app that aims to open up the hidden world that lies within the geology of the landscape. The Geopark Way app covers a walking trail that stretches 109 miles, from Shropshire to Gloucestershire,...
Severn Valley Railway ‘leading the way’ as an Inclusive Organisation
The Severn Valley Railway has been awarded the status of INclusive Worcestershire Leader as part of a county-wide initiative. The railway received the award at the inaugural INclusive Worcestershire Forum. The Forum aims to help organisations promote and enhance...
Herefordshire News
Lynhales Hall Nursing Home Recognised with Top 20 Care Home Award
Lynhales Hall Nursing Home Recognised with Top 20 Care Home Award Herefordshire’s Lynhales Hall Nursing Home has proudly earned recognition as one of the top twenty rated care homes in the West Midlands. This esteemed accolade, presented by carehome.co.uk as...
Marches LEP Capital Fund Delivers £600,000 Support
A major new capital investment fund delivered by the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership has awarded more than £600,000 to organisations across the region. Six successful schemes will receive a total of £612,793 from the LEP’s Capital Project Fund to help them...
All Latest News
Scale Smart: Why Growing Businesses Choose to Outsource Payroll Services
That’s why many growing businesses are choosing to outsource their payroll. From saving hours each month to reducing risk and staying compliant, it’s a smart move for scaling success. In our latest article, we cover: · Why in-house payroll becomes a bottleneck · The...
He’s the pinnacle of all that is evil, so why do people seem to like the Devil?
That’s the question being asked in a public talk by a University of Worcester expert in a talk at Script Haven bookshop this week. Professor Darren Oldridge is a specialist in sixteenth and seventeenth-century religious history and has recently given several popular...
University Expert to Give Poetry Masterclass
If you’ve ever held a dream of being the next Wordsworth, a special workshop with a University of Worcester academic might help you to get there. Course Leader for Creative Writing, Dr Jack McGowan, will be running a poetry workshop to give people advice and support....
The Last Word | Chamber leaders share the key to membership success
MARKETING AGENCY Owner Ruby Edwards talks to Mike Forrester, Chair, and Sharon Smith, CEO, of the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce. Ruby: Over the years I’ve recommended and provided outsourced marketing to support standard, strategic and patron...
Social Media: Your Secret Weapon for Business Growth
In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, social media is no longer a ‘nice-to-have’—it’s a critical tool for business growth. Yet, many business owners still see it as overwhelming, time-consuming, or even unnecessary. The truth? When used strategically, social media...
Hundreds Attend Celebration of Arts and Culture in Worcester
Family, friends and members of the community celebrated the very best artwork from students in Worcester at the packed opening night of The Show 25. The Show is an end-of-academic-year exhibition of work by final-year students at the University of Worcester’s...
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