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.
Member News
Heritage trains to carry commuters as Bewdley rail link trial gets under way
The Severn Valley Railway (SVR) has joined forces with West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) and West Midlands Railway to launch a unique eight-week trial that will test the feasibility of extending regular passenger rail services from Birmingham to Bewdley. Beginning...
Businesses Hit It for Six as Worcester Street Sixes Takes Over the City Centre
Cathedral Square in the heart of Worcester was transformed into a vibrant cricket arena yesterday (Wednesday 15 July) as businesses from across Worcestershire came together for another successful Worcester Street Sixes, raising vital funds for Worcestershire Cricket...
Patron & Strategic News
KEMP Hospice Welcomes New Head of Care and Quality
Wyre Forest charity KEMP Hospice is pleased to announce Chrissla Davis has joined their Care Services team as Head of Care and Quality. Speaking about her appointment, Chrissla said “Throughout my career, one thing has remained constant: people always come first....
Popular Talk Brought Forward for England Game
There are still some free tickets left for a talk at The Hive this week by one of the nation’s leading experts on poverty and its causes. The talk, on Wednesday 15 July, by author Joanna Mack, has been brought forward from its initial start time to ensure that...
Chamber News
The Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) 1 is Now Open – Have Your Say
The first Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) of the year is now open, and the Chamber is encouraging businesses across Herefordshire and Worcestershire to take part. Running from 9 January to 2 March, QES 1 provides businesses with the opportunity to share their...
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce becomes a Certified B Corporation
The Chamber joins the growing movement of companies using business as a force for good. Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce has today announced its certification as a B Corporation (or B Corp), joining a growing movement of companies that are...
Our Latest Member
Bluebox Software Marks 20 Years of Innovation, Partnership, and Growth
Worcester-based Bluebox Software is celebrating 20 years of helping businesses evolve through technology – alongside the launch of a bold new brand identity that reflects its continued focus on innovation and collaboration. Founded in 2005 by Richard Cullen,...
Bluebox Software Marks 20 Years of Innovation, Partnership, and Growth
Worcester-based Bluebox Software is celebrating 20 years of helping businesses evolve through technology – alongside the launch of a bold new brand identity that reflects its continued focus on innovation and collaboration. Founded in 2005 by Richard Cullen,...
Policy News
Growth Elusive As Labour Market Loosens
Reacting to the latest labour market data from the ONS, Patrick Milnes, Head of People and Work Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “There are strong signs that the labour market is continuing to loosen as wage...
Inflation Eases But Business Costs Still Biting
Responding to the latest inflation data, published by the ONS this morning, Stuart Morrison, Research Manager at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “A further easing of inflation, to 3% in January, will be cautiously welcomed by businesses. Firms will be hoping it...
Skills News
National Apprenticeship Week success culminates with launch of 2025 Apprenticeships Awards
Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Worcestershire County Council are pleased to announce the 2025 Worcestershire Apprenticeships Awards. The announcement comes at the conclusion of National Apprenticeship Week, a successful week of promoting the...
Worcestershire Apprenticeships Penguin Finds Home with Local Training Provider
Worcestershire Apprenticeships’ very own penguin in the great Waddle of Worcester has found a home with local training provider GLP Training. In the summer of 2024, St Richard’s Hospice delivered the great Waddle of Worcester, a penguin-themed art trail around the...
Charity News
Community Power Celebrate Mayor’s Charity Partnership
Community Power and Lee’s Place were recently honoured to attend the Mayor Making Ceremony in Hereford for the installation of the 645th Mayor of Hereford, Councillor Cat Hornsey. The event was a celebration of community, partnership, and civic pride, bringing...
Going the extra mile as law firm backs marathon runner’s charity effort
Worcestershire law firm mfg Solicitors has backed a local businesswoman by donating a four-figure sum to support her recent London Marathon effort. Through its mfg Charitable Foundation, the law firm has donated £1,000 to the Make a Wish Foundation via Sarah Cutler, a...
Trade Holding Up As Fuel Imports Shift
Commenting on the latest trade data released by the Office for National Statistics, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Rising fuel prices due to the Iran War are now clearly influencing international trade. April was...
BCC News
Trade Holding Up As Fuel Imports Shift
Commenting on the latest trade data released by the Office for National Statistics, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Rising fuel prices due to the Iran War are now clearly influencing international trade. April was...
Worcestershire News
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...
Valley Railway delivers ‘biggest diesel gala of the year’
The Severn Valley Railway’s Spring Diesel Festival between 15 and 18 May welcomed more than 3,700 visitors and saw 20 locomotives in action, for what organisers believe was 2025’s largest diesel event on the preservation circuit. ‘What a fantastic show we put on!’...
Herefordshire News
Herefordshire Law Firm Announces New Partners
A Herefordshire law firm is celebrating the appointments of four new partners – including one who started out as an office secretary nearly 30 years ago. Lanyon Bowdler has announced that four senior members of staff have been promoted to partners –...
Turning Risks into Opportunities: How Insurance Can Support Business Growth in Herefordshire and Worcestershire
Running a business in Herefordshire and Worcestershire presents fantastic opportunities, but it also involves risks. Whether you’re a manufacturer in Malvern, a farm shop owner in Herefordshire, or a tech start-up in Worcester… growth often means taking on...
All Latest News
Ballast Launches New Name as Business Heads Towards Three-Year Anniversary
Nicola Hale People Consulting has rebranded to Ballast, ahead of the business’s third anniversary this November. Founded by Nicola Hale in 2023, the business has built its reputation providing embedded fractional Chief People Officer leadership, giving...
Upwards-Only Rent Reviews are going — But will the Government actually achieve what it set out to do?
A perspective on the implications for the Worcestershire commercial property market. The ban on upwards-only rent reviews (UORR) has been billed as a landmark moment for commercial tenants, and in some respects, it is, but here in Worcestershire, where the...
Former Worcester Student and Union Vice President Returns to Teach the Next Generation of Scientists
A Worcester graduate is preparing to start teaching on the same course she completed just a few years ago. Gemma Allcott studied Biochemistry at the University of Worcester from 2019-2022, before she was elected by her fellow students as Vice President of Education at...
University of Worcester Event Explores Harassment of Female Runners
Findings from a research project exploring the harassment of female runners in Worcestershire will be shared at a free event at The Hive next month. The University of Worcester has been supporting West Mercia Police with the ‘Jog On’ initiative to tackle...
Halesowen College Marks 60 Years with Memorable Anniversary Celebration
Halesowen College proudly celebrated its 60th Anniversary on Friday 26 June, bringing together alumni, former and current staff for a day filled with celebration, reflection and nostalgia. The event provided an opportunity to look back on six decades of achievement...
DRPG marks 10 years of BigTalk with The Unstoppable Gym
Creative communications agency DRPG has celebrated the 10th year of its flagship thought leadership event, BigTalk, bringing a record number of clients, partners and industry peers together at Studio 212 for a day built around fresh thinking, practical learning and...
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