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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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BROMSGROVE SPEAKING COACH RECEIVES HIGHLY COMMENDED AT NATIONAL SPEAKER AWARDS
Bromsgrove-based speaker coach and two-time TEDx speaker Dave James has received a Highly Commended award in the TEDx Speaker of the Year category at the Speaker Awards 2026. The Speaker Awards, now in its fifth year, recognises the most inspiring and innovative...
Latest Article
BROMSGROVE SPEAKING COACH RECEIVES HIGHLY COMMENDED AT NATIONAL SPEAKER AWARDS
Bromsgrove-based speaker coach and two-time TEDx speaker Dave James has received a Highly Commended award in the TEDx Speaker of the Year category at the Speaker Awards 2026. The Speaker Awards, now in its fifth year, recognises the most inspiring and innovative...
Member News
Promotions across Private Client and Family teams at SME Solicitors
At the beginning of April, SME Solicitors announced several leadership and role changes across the firm. Amanda Piper has become Head of Court of Protection, Probate & Trusts within the Private Client team. Amanda joined the firm in June 2021 and brings more than...
Growing Private Client and Residential Property teams at SME Solicitors
The SME Solicitors team has grown a lot in the last few months. We are thrilled to welcome Lauren Cerri, Sandie Hutchings, Kim Bradley and Jordan Oakes to the team. Lauren Cerri, Solicitor in our Private Client team, joined us in February this year having previously...
Patron & Strategic News
When Did You Last Review Your Medical Cover and Why It Matters
For many business owners and professionals, medical insurance is something that gets sorted once and then left alone. But your business has likely evolved since then. Your health needs have too. So has the healthcare landscape. Policies change. New exclusions can...
Police Risk ‘worse service’ Without AI Adoption, says Police AI Director Ahead of Worcester Conference
Policing will become more expensive and deliver a worse service if it does not embrace responsible AI, says Police AI Director Alex Murray OBE ahead of a conference in Worcester. Alex, currently seconded to the College of Policing as Director of AI, will deliver a...
Chamber News
Welcome New Members October
Warm welcome to our newest Members who joined throughout October. TR Solar & Roofing – provides expert solar installations and roofing solutions to make your home energy-efficient and sustainable Exceptional Development – empowers individuals and...
Bradey Thomas MP Q&A: Chamber Hosts Engaging Session on Local Priorities
Last week, the Chamber of Commerce hosted a highly successful session with Bradley Thomas MP for Bromsgrove and The Villages at the Heart of Worcestershire College in Bromsgrove. The event brought together business leaders, education representatives, and community...
Our Latest Member
Empowering SMEs Through Digital Learning
At Make Strides, we’re passionate about equipping businesses with the skills they need to thrive. That’s why we’ve become a strategic partner of the Hereford & Worcestershire Chamber if Commerce, aligning our expertise in digital learning with their mission to...
Empowering SMEs Through Digital Learning
At Make Strides, we’re passionate about equipping businesses with the skills they need to thrive. That’s why we’ve become a strategic partner of the Hereford & Worcestershire Chamber if Commerce, aligning our expertise in digital learning with their mission to...
Policy News
Relief On Tax But No Blueprint For Growth
Responding to the Chancellor’s Budget statement, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce said: “The Chancellor has listened to our calls and made the right choice by not piling major new tax rises on businesses’ shoulders, which will...
Autumn Budget 2025 summary: What you need to know
After months of unprecedented and exhausting speculation, policy kite-flying and last-minute U-turns that rattled the markets, Rachel Reeves has finally unveiled her much-anticipated second Budget, delivered as late in the year as politically possible. She faced a...
Skills News
Businesses Urged to Help Schools and Colleges Shape Futures
Businesses were today urged to help develop the skilled workforce of the future – by playing their part as Enterprise Advisers. The Marches Careers Hub says it wants to recruit more advisers from the region’s business community to help inspire the workforce of the...
OSPREY APPROACH LAUNCHES SECOND WEBINAR SERIES
Independent legal software provider Osprey Approach is delighted to announce the launch of its second webinar series, which aims to help SME law firms establish good business habits for long term success. Following positive feedback for Osprey’s first webinar series,...
Charity News
OrchardFest 2026 Returns with an Inclusive Summer Celebration
We’re excited to share some sunny news: OrchardFest 2026 is returning on Saturday 15th August 2026, and it promises to be bigger, brighter, and more inclusive than ever. Set at the beautiful Orchard Trust Smallholding in Upper Stowfield, Gloucestershire, this...
A kind collaboration – Dandelion Video Production and Primrose Hospice
Primrose Hospice is the latest charity to collaborate with Dandelion Video Production through their Chamber of Commerce charity pledge. The video, which follows the journey of a piece of pre-loved furniture through the donation process, and the impact it can make,...
Smaller Exporters Struggling To Make Headway
The proportion of businesses reporting increased export orders sits at 25% in Q1 2026, compared with 31% in Q2 2018 There is a big split relating to the size of the business, with 23% of SMEs reporting increased orders, compared to 38% of larger firms....
BCC News
Smaller Exporters Struggling To Make Headway
The proportion of businesses reporting increased export orders sits at 25% in Q1 2026, compared with 31% in Q2 2018 There is a big split relating to the size of the business, with 23% of SMEs reporting increased orders, compared to 38% of larger firms....
Worcestershire News
Find out the secrets of the Severn Valley Railway!
The Severn Valley Railway is to throw open its doors on 5 and 6 April for its annual Open House Weekend. This is a rare chance for visitors to access many areas not usually open to the public. They’ll also be able to meet volunteers and discover what goes on behind...
Arts and Crafts at the Severn Valley Railway’s Spring Gift Fayre
Dozens of local craftspeople will be offering their wares at the Severn Valley Railway’s Spring Gift Fayre, which is taking place at The Engine House, Highley on the weekend of 15 and 16 March. Nestled amongst the full-size locomotives on display, a whole host of...
Herefordshire News
Worcestershire Care Home Celebrates Harvest Festival with MacMillan Coffee Morning and Community Donations
Worcestershire Care Home Celebrates Harvest Festival with MacMillan Coffee Morning and Community Donations Dorset House Nursing Home in Droitwich recently celebrated Harvest Festival with a heartwarming community event. The festivities were led by Reverend Giles, who...
Herefordshire Ludlow and North Shropshire College’s Path to Net Zero
Educational institutions play a key role in promoting sustainable energy resources. Herefordshire Ludlow and North Shropshire College’s Low Carbon Technology Training Centre showcases this approach by offering specialised courses in renewable technologies, which for a...
All Latest News
NMITE AWARDED INVESTMENT TO BOOST STUDENT PLACES AND FACILITIES TO STRENGTHEN UK DEFENCE INDUSTRY
Directly supporting the building of the country’s sovereign capability NMITE, the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering, today announces that it is the recipient of a new government award which will enable it to offer additional student places and build...
Meet the Author of New Crime Thriller Based in Worcester
A crime thriller set in Worcester will take centre stage at a special free author event at The Hive next month. Tony Fisher, former BBC radio presenter and novelist, will be talking about his latest book, Good Gone Bad, on July 8 at the city’s library; the very place...
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...
‘Growth Delivery Test’ Can Turn Ambition into Action
The President of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is calling on policymakers to introduce a ‘growth delivery test’ to help businesses turn ambition into action. A major new report, co-authored by Andy Haldane, says the UK can break through its decades...
Next generation of leadership steps up at city firm
Worcester city-centre firm SME Solicitors is delighted to announce that partners Samantha Lloyd and Guy Salter are taking up new leadership roles. Samantha Lloyd, Head of Private Client and Partner since 2016, is becoming the firm’s new Managing Partner as of 1 April....
SME Solicitors chooses Sensory Matters Worcestershire as its charity for 2026
SME Solicitors has chosen Sensory Matters Worcestershire (formerly Sight Concern) as its chosen charity for 2026. Launched in October 2023, Sensory Matters Worcestershire provides information, advice and specialist support to people across Worcestershire living with...
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