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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.
Welcome New Members | September 2026
A warm welcome to our newest Members who joined us throughout September: ABC Leisure Group – ABC Leisure Group Limited has been building and operating a hire fleet and providing full marina services to canal users for over 45 years, with a thorough experience of...
Latest Article
Welcome New Members | September 2026
A warm welcome to our newest Members who joined us throughout September: ABC Leisure Group – ABC Leisure Group Limited has been building and operating a hire fleet and providing full marina services to canal users for over 45 years, with a thorough experience of...
Member News
University Welfare Officer Takes on Epic 50-Hour Pool Marathon
A University of Worcester colleague is preparing to spend more than two days at the pool table in a marathon fundraising effort to support students facing financial hardship. Starting at 10am on Thursday 15 October, Ian Alley will play pool continuously for 50 hours...
SUTCLIFFE & CO WINS GREAT BRITISH BUSINESS & COMMUNITY AWARD
Worcester-based Sutcliffe & Co Insurance Brokers is celebrating a major achievement after being named SME of the Year at the Great British Business & Community Awards. The national accolade follows an earlier success this year when the company won SME of the...
Patron & Strategic News
Exhibition in The Hive Marks 80 Years of the University of Worcester in the City
A special exhibition celebrating the University of Worcester’s 80-year contribution to education, opportunity and community life is now open in The Hive. The exhibition, titled Inspired for Life: University of Worcester 80th Anniversary, charts eight decades of...
Ian Stirzaker wins Lifetime Achievement Award at Worcestershire Law Society Awards 2026
We are delighted to announce that Ian Stirzaker, SME Solicitors’ former Senior Partner, has won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Worcestershire Law Society Awards 2026. The award recognises more than 35 years of legal experience, business leadership and service...
Chamber News
New Construction & Trade Forum Series Launched to Support Industry Collaboration
The Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the launch of its new Construction & Trade Forum series, designed to bring together professionals from across the sector to share knowledge, discuss key challenges, and explore...
Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) Q1 2026 Report Released
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the release of the Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) Report for Q1 2026, supported by Worcestershire County Council. The QES is the UK’s largest independent business survey and provides a key...
Our Latest Member
Local Expertise Meets New Connections: West Mercia Air Conditioning Joins the Chamber
West Mercia Air Conditioning is proud to be a member of the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce. Having joined the Chamber in recent weeks, we are already enjoying being part of a thriving local business network. While we are relatively new to the...
Local Expertise Meets New Connections: West Mercia Air Conditioning Joins the Chamber
West Mercia Air Conditioning is proud to be a member of the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce. Having joined the Chamber in recent weeks, we are already enjoying being part of a thriving local business network. While we are relatively new to the...
Policy News
Recruitment Challenging As New Employment Law Lands
Nearly three quarters of firms (71%) say they experienced hiring difficulties in Q1 of 2026, according to the latest data from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). The research, published as the first elements of the Employment Rights Act come into effect,...
Are Your Workplace Policies Still Fit for Purpose in 2026?
For many businesses, policies are something that get written, filed away, and only revisited when there’s an issue. But in reality, policies should be living, working documents that actively support both your people and your business. With ongoing changes in...
Skills News
Worcester recruitment firm supports students with CV and interview success tips
Experts from a leading Worcester recruitment firm have supported local school children through a one-day training programme which gave them tips how to write CVs and handle job interviews. Pineapple Recruitment, which specialise in providing a range of professionals...
81-year-old University Student set to Graduate Next Week
An 81-year-old student is set to graduate from the University of Worcester next week. Wendy Hill, from Ledbury, is among those graduating on Tuesday (March 4) after completing a Master of Research degree. “My message to other mature people who feel the need to achieve...
Charity News
Hillscourt Hotel & Conference Centre Announces Partnership with Primrose Hospice
Hillscourt Hotel & Conference Centre has announced Primrose Hospice as one of its chosen charity partners, beginning what promises to be a meaningful and long-lasting relationship with one of Worcestershire’s most valued local charities. Known for its...
OrchardFest Returns – Join Orchard Trust For Their Accessible Music Festival on 15th August 2026
Orchard Trust is excited to share some sunny news: OrchardFest is returning on 15th August 2026! About the Festival: OrchardFest 2026 is Orchard Trust’s popular accessible music festival, designed especially for people with learning disabilities, where everyone is...
Economic Priorities For Government: Productivity
The UK has a new Prime Minister who has promised to revive the nation’s economic fortunes. But he follows a succession of PMs who have pledged the same without ever managing to consistently deliver. At the British Chambers of Commerce, we think about little else than...
BCC News
Economic Priorities For Government: Productivity
The UK has a new Prime Minister who has promised to revive the nation’s economic fortunes. But he follows a succession of PMs who have pledged the same without ever managing to consistently deliver. At the British Chambers of Commerce, we think about little else than...
Worcestershire News
‘Flying Scotsman’ to reunite the Severn Valley Railway line
The world’s most famous steam locomotive 60103 ‘Flying Scotsman’ will haul the first passenger train along the full length of the 16-mile Severn Valley Railway line, when the northernmost section is reunited with the rest of the line on Friday 25 July. Work is now...
The Worcestershire Community Foundation is looking for two new trustees
The Worcestershire Community Foundation is looking for two new trustees to join the Board. We are one of the leading grant makers in Worcestershire; we act as a conduit to local philanthropy, linking private and public funders with community projects across the...
Herefordshire News
Hereford River Carnival – how to get involved
• Hereford River Carnival is holding an open meeting to encourage people to get involved in the 2025 event. The drop-in open meeting will be held upstairs at De Koffie Pot between 1pm-5pm on Saturday 8th February. This will be a chance to meet the team, find out more...
Worcester – Hereford Engineering Work: Sunday 26 – Friday 31 January
From Sunday 26 January – Friday 31 January, services between Worcester and Hereford will be operated by rail replacement buses, due to essential track renewal work being completed. Sunday 26 January Trains between Worcester Shrub Hill and Hereford will not run....
All Latest News
Business Crucial To Burnham’s Devolution Next Steps
New BCC report calls for businesses to have a stronger voice in devolution. Report says economic growth and improved living standards must be the test of devolution success. The BCC outlines a three-stage roadmap to give local areas a bigger stake in economic...
Jobs Market Continues to Feel The Strain
Reacting to the latest labour market data from the ONS, Caterina Batog, Research and Economics Analyst at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Unemployment remained at 4.9%, in the three months to July, a clear indication of the continued stress businesses are...
Economic Security Deals Key To UK’s Trade Future
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has met with Ambassadors and senior diplomats from countries representing nearly 40% of global trade to discuss economic security and supply chain resilience. The meeting at the German Embassy in London was a candid discussion on...
Budget Must Back Business, Cut Costs and Deliver Growth
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is calling on Chancellor, John Healey, to ‘Back Business, Cut Costs and Deliver Growth’ in his first Budget statement. With BCC research showing fragile business confidence, its budget submission asks the Chancellor to give...
Worcester signage company invests in new technology to cut production waste by 70%
Worcester-based signage company City Signs is investing in new printing technology expected to reduce production waste by around 70%, while opening up new possibilities for customers. The family-run business, which was founded in 1960, has invested in an HP Latex...
Three new additions to SME Solicitors’ Worcester-based team
We are delighted to welcome Neil Bowyer, Vicky Sollis and Aimee Nicklin, who have recently joined SME Solicitors. Neil joined our Dispute Resolution team in September after working at several Worcestershire-based firms. With more than 10 years’ legal experience, he...
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