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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.
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Addressing the Illusion of Protection
In the UK, incorporation is often perceived as a shield. The concept of “limited liability” gives many business owners and directors confidence that their personal assets are protected from business risk. While this is partly true, it can also create a false sense of...
Latest Article
Addressing the Illusion of Protection
In the UK, incorporation is often perceived as a shield. The concept of “limited liability” gives many business owners and directors confidence that their personal assets are protected from business risk. While this is partly true, it can also create a false sense of...
Member News
John Truslove helps new Fired Earth franchise open in the Midlands
Aztec Tiles, a new store with a franchise for luxury brand Fired Earth, has opened up in Bromsgrove with the help of commercial property agents John Truslove. Company boss James Sirett has been on his hands and knees, tiling the floor of the premises in Sherwood Road,...
Acclaimed Author to Offer Rare Writing Session
An award-winning author will share the secrets behind her success in a free masterclass for budding writers and readers at The Hive. Liz Hyder, who is also a Writer in Residence at the University of Worcester, will speak about her books and the novel writing process...
Patron & Strategic News
Village Hall Gets Digibus Visit
Wollaston Village Hall is getting set to welcome Halesowen College’s state-of-the-art digital bus CEDRIC for an exciting Digital Drop-in session. This event will be hosted at Wollaston Village Hall on Wednesday 25th February, between 10am and 3.30pm. CEDRIC (acronym...
University Lecturer Co‑Edits New Anthology Supporting Carers
A University of Worcester lecturer has co-edited a new anthology exploring the realities of caregiving, with all proceeds being donated to a vital local charity. Craft of Care, collated and edited by Dr Charley Barnes from the University of Worcester alongside fellow...
Chamber News
Prestigious Worcestershire Apprenticeships Awards Celebrates Milestone Anniversary
Worcestershire Apprenticeships held its 10th annual awards evening on 28 November, honouring the very best in apprenticeships across the county. This year’s awards marked the 10th anniversary of Worcestershire Apprenticeships, with over a decade of supporting the...
CPTPP – Trade Deal Unlocks New Opportunities for UK Businesses:
The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a modern and ambitious trade deal encompassing countries that collectively account for nearly 15% of global GDP. The agreement comes into effect on 15th December, enabling UK traders...
Our Latest Member
From Social Worker to Family Mediator: Embracing a New Path to Help Families
After years of working as a social worker, I decided to transition into the field of family mediation. While I deeply valued my time as a social worker, supporting individuals and families in crisis, I found myself drawn to the more collaborative and...
From Social Worker to Family Mediator: Embracing a New Path to Help Families
After years of working as a social worker, I decided to transition into the field of family mediation. While I deeply valued my time as a social worker, supporting individuals and families in crisis, I found myself drawn to the more collaborative and...
Policy News
Procurement Act Must Quickly Deliver for SMEs
Only 20% of direct public sector procurement spend was with SMEs in 2024 – a similar figure to 2023 (19%) £45.4 billion was spent by Government directly with SMEs last year, up from £42.4 billion in 2023 Median spend per SME remained at £31,000 in 2024 Local...
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...
Skills News
National Apprenticeships Week 2022 – Building your future
95% of next year’s UK workforce are already employed this year “The September to November 2021 unemployed people per vacancy figure has fallen to a record 1.1”...
Call for Worcestershire engineering businesses to take advantage of apprenticeship incentives
A leading apprenticeship provider is urging Worcestershire engineering businesses to take advantage of regional incentives to develop the next generation of highly-skilled workers. College group WCG – which includes Evesham College and Pershore College –...
Charity News
Nature needs you – Herefordshire’s largest membership organisation is seeking a new Treasurer!
Herefordshire Wildlife Trust works to recover nature and is the county’s largest membership organisation with over 8,0000 members. The organisation is now recruiting for a new Treasurer to join its Board of Trustees and a take a strategic lead for finance. Do...
St Michael’s Hospice Unveils Refreshed Leominster Charity Shop
St Michael’s Hospice is pleased to announce the reopening of its newly transformed Home & Living charity shop in Leominster, following a comprehensive refurbishment aimed at enhancing the shopping experience for the local community. Located at Station Yard, the...
EU Trade Getting Harder
More than half (54%) of exporters think the UK-EU trade deal is not helping them grow sales. This is a 13-percentage point increase in the proportion of firms who are unhappy with the deal compared to last year. In total, just four out of 946 firms (0%) thought the...
BCC News
EU Trade Getting Harder
More than half (54%) of exporters think the UK-EU trade deal is not helping them grow sales. This is a 13-percentage point increase in the proportion of firms who are unhappy with the deal compared to last year. In total, just four out of 946 firms (0%) thought the...
Worcestershire News
Two more Autumn Steam Gala Guests for the Severn Valley Railway
The Severn Valley Railway has announced the addition of two more guest locomotives for its Autumn Steam Gala on Thursday 19 to Sunday 22 September. Black Five 44932 and Saddle Tank 51456 will join an exciting line-up of guest and home fleet engines for four days of...
Bank Holiday celebrations for a Century-old Locomotive at the Severn Valley Railway
Bank Holiday visitors to the Severn Valley Railway will get the chance to wish happy birthday to a grand old steam locomotive, as No 4566 celebrates its first century. The locomotive is on static display at The Engine House, Highley and its supporters are busy raising...
Herefordshire News
Herefordshire County BID Launches Exciting New Projects to Support Businesses in 2024
Two new projects have been launched in the first week of 2024 by Herefordshire County BID, as they continue to take action to support businesses, reduce business costs and upskill staff across Herefordshire’s visitor economy. The first is an innovative learning hub in...
Herefordshire Skills Show 2024
Herefordshire Skills Show aims to inspire the next generation. Herefordshire Council is inviting local employers, education and training providers and entrepreneurs to take part in a skills and training expo aimed at young people on Thursday 8 February 2024 at...
All Latest News
Mental Health Charity supported by The Signature Awards, Birmingham.
The Kaleidoscope Plus Group (KPG), a local charity who have been championing Mental Health for over 50 years, were the nominated charity for The Signature Awards, which took place at The Vox on Friday 6th February. KPG adopt a proactive approach to raising awareness...
National Charity the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust marks 10 Years of Funding Vital Research and Supporting Families
2026 sees national charity the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust mark ten years of incredible achievements in supporting children and families dealing with a cancer diagnosis, both through physical support and by funding thousands of pounds into vital research...
BCRS Business Loans passes £10m milestone for CIEF investment in jobs and growth
Community business finance provider BCRS Business Loans has lent more than £10m to generate job creation and economic growth through the Community Investment Enterprise Fund (CIEF). The Wolverhampton-based lender has delivered £10.3m in loans to 121 companies,...
ONE attends reception at Falkland House
ONE Creative environments’ (ONE’s) Chairman was delighted to attend a reception at Falkland House in London (12/2/2026). The reception hosted by Richard Hyslop, the Falkland Islands Government’s Representative to the UK and Europe, was attended by Dame Harriett...
Celebrating Apprenticeships: How TDM and Jess Gladston Champion Lifelong Learning
As we mark the end of National Apprenticeship Week, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the transformative power of apprenticeships — both for individuals and for businesses. Our patron member, The Development Manager (TDM), has been at the forefront of this movement,...
Kidderminster College Receives FE First Award
Kidderminster College is celebrating after winning two prestigious accolades at the College Marketing Network’s FE First Awards 2026, recognising excellence, innovation and impact across further education marketing. Kidderminster College was awarded gold in the...
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