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.

Sutcliffe & Co Named a Top Insurance Employer for the Third Consecutive Year
Worcester-based Sutcliffe & Co Insurance Brokers is proud to announce that they have been recognised as a ‘Top Insurance Employer 2025’ by Insurance Business UK (IBUK) Magazine—marking their third consecutive year receiving this prestigious award. Insurance...
Latest Article
Sutcliffe & Co Named a Top Insurance Employer for the Third Consecutive Year
Worcester-based Sutcliffe & Co Insurance Brokers is proud to announce that they have been recognised as a ‘Top Insurance Employer 2025’ by Insurance Business UK (IBUK) Magazine—marking their third consecutive year receiving this prestigious award. Insurance...
Member News
CSR starts with your people – not a policy
When we hear “Corporate Social Responsibility”, it can sound like something only big companies with shiny brochures and sustainability teams get involved in. But for small businesses and charities, CSR doesn’t need to be complicated – and it definitely doesn’t...
Your team could be your best product developers
Product development might make you think of labs, whiteboards and sticky notes. But for small businesses and charities, some of the best product and service ideas often come from the people already on your team. Your staff are the ones closest to your clients, service...
Patron & Strategic News
Daley Jones Takes on New Role at Hoople Group
Hoople Group are pleased to announce that Daley Jones is taking on a new role at the company, as Head of Learning & Business Development. Daley has many years’ experience in the training and education sector, and will continue to lead Hoople’s Training Team and...
Hoople Group Supports the Local Economy
Hoople Group supports the local economy by delivering a range of services to its council and NHS shareholders, schools and academies, private sector businesses and charities. At a time when the public sector is facing pressure to deliver increased services with...
Chamber News
Why are motor insurance premiums at a record high?
Analysis by The Association of British Insurers (ABI), which looks at 28 million motor insurance policies, suggests that the average price paid for motor insurance in the second quarter of 2023 continued to increase. The average premium paid for private comprehensive...
Roxel UK Exhibits at Defence & Security Industry Show (DSEI)
Roxel UK is proud to announce they are exhibitors at DSEI, one of the largest defence and security industry events in Europe, which will take place at London Excel on 12th-15th September 2023. Supported by Roxel Group, the Roxel UK team will showcase their latest...
Our Latest Member
Introducing ‘Where Next’ to Chamber Membership!
Established in 1984, Where Next is a local charity offering day services to young people and adults with learning disabilities enabling them to fulfil their potential. This includes offering real life work placements through our community based social enterprises...

Introducing ‘Where Next’ to Chamber Membership!
Established in 1984, Where Next is a local charity offering day services to young people and adults with learning disabilities enabling them to fulfil their potential. This includes offering real life work placements through our community based social enterprises...
Policy News
Levelling Up the United Kingdom White Paper
Yesterday (2 February), the UK government published its Levelling Up White Paper. Levelling up is a moral, social and economic programme for the whole of government. The Levelling Up White Paper sets out opportunity will be spread more equally across the UK. It...
Latest Quarterly Economic Report provides snapshot of business performance during final months of 2021
Today the latest Quarterly Economic Report has been released, providing the most up to date snapshot of local business performance and confidence. The Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) has been conducted by the British Chambers of Commerce within its UK network since...
Skills News
New figures show workforce growth expected but some sectors yet to see signs of revival
The British Chambers of Commerce have released their Quarterly Recruitment Outlook for Q1 2021. The new figures show continued weakness in the job market in Q1, with 60% of the nearly 6000 businesses surveyed saying they had not attempted to recruit during the...
BCC & Barclays LifeSkills release report revealing businesses’ thoughts on futureproofing for a post-pandemic world
The British Chambers of Commerce and Barclays LifeSkills have today (Friday 23 April) released a new report entitled ‘The Next Normal: Futureproofing the Workforce for a Post-Pandemic World’. The report seeks to tackle questions around the workforce challenges faced...
Charity News
Worcestershire Way Walkers raised thousands for hospice care
Walkers who took part in an annual 31 mile walk in soaring temperatures have raised more than £11,000 for a local charity. The 60 intrepid walkers strode out on a challenge to walk the whole of the Worcestershire Way in a day to raise funds for the care of St...
Local Solicitors show Support for Wyre Forest Hospice Charity
The Kidderminster office of a West Midlands law firm is showing their support for Wyre Forest Charity KEMP Hospice. Talbots Law, based on Church Street in Kidderminster, have chosen to support KEMP Hospice through their ‘Charity Will Service’, donating 50% of the fee...

Services and Digital Trade ‘Key To Boosting Exports’
The British Chambers of Commerce has endorsed the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) focus on services and digital trade as key priorities. The BCC was part of a record-size UK delegation to the WTO Public Forum in Geneva, last week. It met with the UK Ambassador to the...
BCC News
Services and Digital Trade ‘Key To Boosting Exports’
The British Chambers of Commerce has endorsed the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) focus on services and digital trade as key priorities. The BCC was part of a record-size UK delegation to the WTO Public Forum in Geneva, last week. It met with the UK Ambassador to the...
Worcestershire News
Make Your New Year’s Resolution to Support Lifeline Care at Acorns Children’s Hospice
‘Do something amazing and help us provide vital care for local children with life limiting conditions’ – that’s the New Year’s resolution the public are being asked to make for Acorns Children’s Hospice in 2024. There are lots of ways people can make a...
Wyre Forest IT Firm Donates to Local Foodbank
Local IT firm Minster Micro has donated food and toiletries to Kidderminster Foodbank as the need grows for emergency supplies this Christmas. The staff at the IT firm, which is based on Worcester Road, has come together to collect food and toiletry parcels for the...
Herefordshire News
Council team scoops food award
A Herefordshire Council team has won an award at the West Midlands Public Health Awards. The council’s public health team won the hotly-contested ‘local authority project of the year award’ for its work on sustainable food. Held in Birmingham on Saturday 20 May, the...
Secretary of State for the Environment Visits Herefordshire
Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Rt Hon Thérèse Coffey visited Herefordshire today to meet with the farming community, representatives of the Herefordshire Council, Natural England, Environment Agency, the Welsh Government,...
All Latest News
Independent Worcestershire Hotel Celebrates 10 Years of Welcoming Guests to Worcestershire
Hogarths Stone Manor Hotel, a family-run independent hotel conveniently located in the heart of Worcestershire, is proud to celebrate its 10th anniversary. Over the past decade, the hotel has become a respected destination for travellers seeking comfort, quality, and...
Firms Face Increasing Cyber Security Risk
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is warning that businesses face increased cyber security risks without stronger engagement with government. Among the recommendations in a new report published today, the BCC is calling for ministers to: • Carry out a cyber...
Syndicated Interview with Cast Member Alasdair Baker.
Dial M For Mayhem Syndicated interview with cast member Alasdair Baker. Tell us a little about yourself? I originally trained as a singer at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and worked as a professional singer for a few years. I then drifted into teaching and...
Supporters Rally Round after the Severn Valley Railway Suffers Devastating Landslip
As investigations continue into a devastating landslip on its line, the Severn Valley Railway has released dramatic new images of the damage caused and has paid tribute to the hundreds of people who’ve already made donations to help it pay for remedial work. The...
Leading property consultancy announces senior Worcester appointment
A leading property consultancy has announced a senior appointment at its Worcester office as the firm continues to strengthen its presence across the Midlands. Fisher German has welcomed Will Kerton as a new Partner in the firm’s rural and residential team. Will, who...
11.5 million File Self Assessment by 31 January Deadline
GOV.UK summary: Millions of taxpayers filed their Self Assessment tax return for the 2023 to 2024 tax year by the deadline. More than 11.5 million taxpayers filed their Self Assessment tax return by midnight on 31 January. 36% of tax returns were filed online. 53% of...
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