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.

Worcestershire hospitality firms urged to step up ahead of peak season
An industry jobs specialist has urged businesses across the Worcestershire hospitality and catering sector to act fast and fill any vacant chef positions ahead of the busy winter peak season. The alert has come from industry specialist Kasia Krieger as Office for...
Latest Article
Worcestershire hospitality firms urged to step up ahead of peak season
An industry jobs specialist has urged businesses across the Worcestershire hospitality and catering sector to act fast and fill any vacant chef positions ahead of the busy winter peak season. The alert has come from industry specialist Kasia Krieger as Office for...
Member News
Penguin office supplies expands family business
Bromsgrove based Penguin Office Supplies Ltd, expands its team by welcoming a new Operations Manager, Matt Hopkinson, the brother of director Chris Hopkinson, solidifying the workplace supplies business as a growing family business in the area. On the back of...
Ballards LLP announces leadership transition for its Next-Gen Board
Pictured L-R: Megan Healey Audit & Accounts Manager, Ballards LLP and Gina Gardner Associate Director, Ballards LLP. Worcester-based professional services firm Ballards LLP is pleased to announce a leadership transition within its pioneering Next-Gen Board...
Patron & Strategic News
Property consultancy’s first charity padel tournament raises £6,000
A national property consultancy’s first charity padel tournament raised £6,000 for four charities – and planning for next year’s competition is already underway. Fisher German’s Development Agency team successfully launched its first-ever charity padel...
Ballards LLP Celebrating Double Award Shortlisting
L-R: James Syree CEO Ballards LLP and Adrian Sidaway Audit Director, Ballards LLP Midlands-based firm recognised for outstanding performance by the Accounting Excellence Awards. Leading Worcestershire Accountancy firm, Ballards LLP, has been shortlisted for...
Chamber News
Enter your Business in the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2025!
Entries for the 2025 business awards are now open! Submitting your business for an award should take no more than 10 minutes and you can enter your business for a maximum of 3 categories. The awards are set to be hosted on the 12th June 2025 at the Worcester Arena,...
Hereford & Worcester Army Cadet Force Host Charitable Event.
On Thursday 5th December, the Hereford & Worcester Army Cadet Force hosted a charitable event at the Officers’ Mess at 214 Battery 104 Regiment. The event was attended by Cadets and Adults from the Gheluvelt Coy, His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for Worcestershire,...
Our Latest Member
Penguin Office Supplies Ltd Expands with a Record-Breaking Sales Year
Following a remarkable year of record-breaking sales, family business Penguin Office Supplies are expanding as part of their ongoing commitment to providing exceptional service to the Penguin customer family. The expansion has been fuelled by the redevelopment of...

Penguin Office Supplies Ltd Expands with a Record-Breaking Sales Year
Following a remarkable year of record-breaking sales, family business Penguin Office Supplies are expanding as part of their ongoing commitment to providing exceptional service to the Penguin customer family. The expansion has been fuelled by the redevelopment of...
Policy News
Procurement Act Must Quickly Deliver for SMEs
Only 20% of direct public sector procurement spend was with SMEs in 2024 – a similar figure to 2023 (19%) £45.4 billion was spent by Government directly with SMEs last year, up from £42.4 billion in 2023 Median spend per SME remained at £31,000 in 2024 Local...
US Trade Deal Provides Welcome Relief
Reacting to news of a trade deal in principle with the US, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC, said: “This deal will be met with a huge sigh of relief by many British businesses. “The reduction in the 25% tariffs on most of our automotive exports and the...
Skills News
Holme Lacy College students tour Wyevale Nurseries
Twenty students from Holme Lacy College in Herefordshire were given a tour this week (Tuesday, April 18, 2023) of one of the UK’s leading nurseries. The forestry and arboriculture apprentices visited the container shrub and tree production sites at Wyevale Nurseries...
Workforce Planning (People and Skills)
With recruitment at an all-time high and the UK facing a skills shortage, staff retention is more important than ever. Not only is training an essential part of workforce planning, but the right training increases productivity and efficiency; improves employee...
Charity News
St Michael’s Hospice seeks Leader of the Future
St Michael’s Hospice says it wants to appoint a leader of the future to work alongside its senior managers. The Bartestree-based charity has launched a search to recruit a graduate to lead on “exciting and innovative projects”. It’s looking for a candidate graduating...
Courtyard install aquarium for the summer
The Courtyard is delighted to announce a temporary aquarium will be installed in its Gallery for families to visit for free this summer. To celebrate a year of animal themed productions (The Jungle Book and Animal Farm), The Courtyard is turning its top floor gallery...

Infrastructure Strategy Must Become Reality
Responding to the publication of the Government’s Infrastructure Strategy, Jane Gratton, Deputy Director of Public Policy, said: “A 10-year strategy for infrastructure will give businesses and supply chains much needed clarity and certainty to plan. Crucially it will...
BCC News
Infrastructure Strategy Must Become Reality
Responding to the publication of the Government’s Infrastructure Strategy, Jane Gratton, Deputy Director of Public Policy, said: “A 10-year strategy for infrastructure will give businesses and supply chains much needed clarity and certainty to plan. Crucially it will...
Worcestershire News
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...
Land slippage on the Severn Valley Railway will affect some Services
A serious embankment failure has occurred on the Severn Valley Railway, leaving the track impassable at one location along the 16-mile route. The popular heritage line is likely to face a large repair bill, and disruption to services at the northern end of its route....
Herefordshire News
Grant Gives Engineering Firm a Record-breaking Boost
A specialist engineering firm has enjoyed a record-breaking year after investing in new machinery, with the help of a grant from Herefordshire Council’s Business Enterprise Fund. KGD Enterprises, which is based at Rotherwas in Hereford, makes high-quality packaged...
David Tomkins, Data Analyst Level 4 Apprentice.
Promotion to an Apprenticeship! Recently TDM have promoted one of our existing members of staff onto a Data Analyst Level 4 Apprenticeship programme. David Tomkins, previously TDM’s Marketing Manager, moved into this role and has exceled beyond belief. TDM believe in...
All Latest News
Worcestershire County Cricket Foundations Street Sixes was raining with joy
On Tuesday the 15th of July, the Worcestershire County Cricket Foundation hosted its annual Street Sixes which took place on Cathedral Square and down the High Street, despite the weather the fun could not be dampened. The event was put in place to raise money for the...
PAYROLLING BENEFITS IN KIND
From April 2027, all Benefits in Kind (BiKs) will need to be payrolled in real time. In our latest article, we break down what the new rules mean, how to manage the transitional year, and why early action is essential to avoid disruption later. Our advice is don’t...
The Limelite Lounge!
We’re really excited to be launching a brand-new series of live, relaxed, expert-led sessions, designed to bring you the latest insights and on-the-ground experience that’s shaping people management practices! Please welcome – The Limelite Lounge! These sessions...
6 Factors To Consider When Choosing A Computer Monitor for Your Business
Are you thinking about how to choose a computer monitor for your business? If we were to ask you what factors would go into making that decision, your response might be “I dunno”, or “Whatever’s cheapest, I guess”. After all, it’s...
Why Choose Managed IT Services?
To be a small business owner is to be a true autodidact. Nothing excites entrepreneurs more than rolling up their sleeves, learning new skills, and engaging in creative problem-solving. While this can-do attitude can serve them very well in business, there are times...
Hazelton Mountford raises over £5000 with charity steps challenge
Worcester based insurance brokers Hazelton Mountford are pleased to share the results of their June Charity Challenge, which saw staff walk an impressive 10.5 million steps and raise over £ 5,000 for charity. Throughout June, colleagues “stepped into...
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