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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.
BCRS Business Loans passes £5m in Midlands Engine Investment Fund II lending
Community lender BCRS Business Loans has passed £5 million in lending for the British Business Bank’s Midlands Engine Investment Fund II since its launch, creating 237 new jobs across the West Midlands. BCRS Business Loans has supported 82 businesses by delivering...
Latest Article
BCRS Business Loans passes £5m in Midlands Engine Investment Fund II lending
Community lender BCRS Business Loans has passed £5 million in lending for the British Business Bank’s Midlands Engine Investment Fund II since its launch, creating 237 new jobs across the West Midlands. BCRS Business Loans has supported 82 businesses by delivering...
Member News
Worcester Students Win National Award for Video Game Built in Just 32 Hours
Students from the University of Worcester have won a national award for a video game they designed from scratch in a race against the clock. The third year Game Art students were taking part in the Ukie Student Game Jam, going head-to-head with teams from universities...
May 2026 Cohort: TDM Unveils AI & Automation Practitioner Level 4 Apprenticeship for Local Employers
Time to turn your AI ambitions into action. As artificial intelligence and automation rapidly reshape the way organisations operate, many local businesses are asking the same question: Where do we start? Or if they have started – How can we scale this? The...
Patron & Strategic News
University of Worcester to Host Conference on Global Divisions and Future Sustainability
The University of Worcester will host a special conference next month exploring the growing political, social, and economic divisions shaping the modern world, and how communities can work together toward a more sustainable future. The conference, titled ‘Divided...
University of Worcester Named a Finalist in Four Categories in Prestigious Better Society Awards
The University of Worcester has been shortlisted for four honours at the 2026 Better Society Awards, recognising its wide‑ranging contribution to making a meaningful difference to society through education, research, and civic action. The University has been named a...
Chamber News
Inflation Drops, However Remains at a Historic High Level.
Inflation has dropped again, to 6.8% from 7.9% in June. This is welcome news to businesses that have been hit hard by constant pressures from price rises for many months. However, inflation remains at historically high levels and is significantly below the 2% target...
Cutting Costs, Creating Culture
Recruiting can be difficult. Really difficult, at times. With the myriad of recruitment and selection opportunities available to hiring managers, the process can easily get costly, both financially and on the increasingly limited time resources of a HR team. You...
Our Latest Member
New Member Profile – Introducing LimeliteHR & Learning
Hi! I’m Lisa, Founder of Limelite, a values-led, commercial and creative HR and learning solutions provider in the Worcestershire area and nationwide. I founded Limelite with a passion to bring our unique approach to HR and Learning to help build amazing...
New Member Profile – Introducing LimeliteHR & Learning
Hi! I’m Lisa, Founder of Limelite, a values-led, commercial and creative HR and learning solutions provider in the Worcestershire area and nationwide. I founded Limelite with a passion to bring our unique approach to HR and Learning to help build amazing...
Policy News
Specialist Professional Advisor Programme set to return for a third time
The Worcestershire Growth Hub has confirmed that the Specialist Professional Advisor Programme is back for a third wave. This programme allows businesses to access specialist advice from professional external experts. These specialist advisors will be able to help and...
BCC Economic Forecast: New PM must act as UK economy set for recession before year end
The BCC expects the UK economy to plunge into recession before the end of 2022, with inflation spiking to 14% and lingering weakness in growth expected to continue into 2024 UK Economic Outlook – 2022 The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has again downgraded its...
Skills News
EU Settlement Scheme Reopens for Applications
Home Office support services and application routes associated with the EU Settlement Scheme have now all fully reopened in line with public health guidance. This includes the reopening of the postal route for submitting identity documents for applicants who are...
#SeptemberPromise for all young people
The Association of Colleges is predicting that half of the new labour market entrants (approximately 100,000 16 to 25 year olds) will struggle to find meaningful employment as the economic shocks of COVID19 continue to be felt. For this year’s school and college...
Charity News
Discover Parks Herefordshire Supports Holiday Home Owner Raising Funds for Cancer Research
Trudy Evans from Stourbridge has been battling the brutal disease herself since 2019 when she received intensive treatment for breast cancer. In 2021 she was given the all clear. Last year it reared its ugly head again and she faced the devastating news it had spread...
St Michael’s Hospice Open new shop in Hay-on-Wye
St Michael’s Hospice has today welcomed visitors to the opening of its new charity shop in Hay-on-Wye. Conveniently located at The Craft Centre, next to the Oxford Street car park, the shop is filled with a great range of pre-loved items, including clothing, books,...
Turning Point As More SMEs Unlock AI
Over a third of SMEs (35%) say they are actively using AI technology, up from 25% in 2024 – according to research by the British Chambers of Commerce, in partnership with Intuit, the global financial technology platform. The research, featured in a new report, also...
BCC News
Turning Point As More SMEs Unlock AI
Over a third of SMEs (35%) say they are actively using AI technology, up from 25% in 2024 – according to research by the British Chambers of Commerce, in partnership with Intuit, the global financial technology platform. The research, featured in a new report, also...
Worcestershire News
Ballards LLP Expands Marketing and Business Development Team
Worcestershire based professional services firm, Ballards LLP, is making significant strides in bolstering its Marketing and Business Development team. Ballards specialise in accounting, taxation, and business advisory services, ensuring that they are well equipped to...
Grand opening of new electrical training centre at Worcester Community Trust’s inaugural annual celebration event
More than 80 members of the local community came together on Thursday 28 September to celebrate the impact that local charity Worcester Community Trust has had during 2022 and 2023. The charity runs six community hubs throughout Worcester, as well as wide range of...
Herefordshire News
Marches businesses invited to apply for grants of up to £1million before March deadline
Businesses across the Marches are being urged to move quickly to take advantage of a hugely successful funding programme which has helped create almost 500 new jobs and establish six new businesses. The Business Growth Programme (BGP2) has awarded almost £4.5million...
Pippin Copywriting sponsors NMITE Masterclass with Andrew Haines, CEO of Network Rail
NMITE’s latest Masterclass: Lessons in Leadership was sponsored by Chamber member Pippin Copywriting Ltd. The Masterclass, held on 2 February, was with Andrew Haines, OBE, CEO of Network Rail, and featured an audience Q&A. Catherine Every, Director of Pippin...
All Latest News
Restored historic needle factory reborn in Redditch
Kidderminster commercial and industrial refurbishment specialists FINN Contracts have worked with property agents John Truslove to bring an historic former needle factory in Redditch to market. Grange Works, at 93-95 Bromsgrove Road, was historically used as a needle...
John Truslove marketing Bromsgrove industrial investment for £3.6 million
A rare freehold industrial property investment has come on the market with Worcestershire commercial property agents John Truslove. Buntsford Business Park in Bromsgrove is on the market for £3.6 million. The virtually brand new, high spec development of six...
Welcome New Members | January
A warm welcome to our newest members who joined us throughout January: Hereford Voice — local news and community interest site covering events and stories in Herefordshire. Pure Staff — recruitment and staffing agency specialising in placing temporary and permanent...
Fully Funded Suicide Prevention Training opportunities
We’re excited to share that new fully funded suicide prevention training sessions are now open for booking! Please pass this on to your networks and local groups across Herefordshire & Worcestershire. Suicide First Aid Lite – Fully Funded Online Training Five...
The college’s new Employer Patron Scheme
Herefordshire Ludlow and North Shropshire College is launching its new Employer Patron Scheme, which is a free-to-join initiative to bring businesses and education closer together, to strengthen local skills opportunities and long-term partnerships across The Marches....
The Westmead Hotel named a winner in the Hitched Wedding Awards 2026
Based on reviews from happy couples, the Westmead Hotel are delighted to have been recognised as one of the UK’s top wedding venues in the Hitched Wedding Awards 2026. Having received the accolade as “a reflection of their commitment, professionalism and the...
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