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.
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...
Latest Article
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...
Member News
Kidderminster College Students Celebrate Success at NCG Skills 2026
Kidderminster College students have been celebrating success after taking part in – and proudly hosting – the sixth annual NCG Skills competition, held at Kidderminster College during National Apprenticeship Week. NCG Skills is a unique, national competition that...
Mental Health Charity supported by The Signature Awards, Birmingham.
The Kaleidoscope Plus Group (KPG), a local charity who have been championing Mental Health for over 50 years, were the nominated charity for The Signature Awards, which took place at The Vox on Friday 6th February. KPG adopt a proactive approach to raising awareness...
Patron & Strategic News
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....
Empowering Local Employers with AI & Automation: Free Apprenticeship Insights Webinar Announced for 13th February
Local employers are invited to join a high‑value, free online event designed to help organisations understand and embrace the fast‑evolving world of artificial intelligence and automation. Coinciding with National Apprentiecship Week 2026, the AI & Automation...
Chamber News
‘LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION’ Wild Edric Media & Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber Of Commerce has appointed a local production company as their Video Partner for the upcoming Chamber Expo, in a drive to create engaging video content to promote the Chamber and it’s services, as well as providing a spotlight...
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce Celebrates Local Excellence at 2025 Business Awards
On 12 June 2025, the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce proudly hosted its prestigious Annual Business Awards at the University Arena in Worcester. The event, generously sponsored by Herefordshire Council and Worcestershire County Council, brought...
Our Latest Member
New Strategic Member – Greensafe IT
Greensafe IT specialise in offering secure, sustainable and environmentally responsible IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) and lifecycle services. Their goal; to help businesses efficiently manage their IT estates from cradle to grave; ensuring full data security and...
New Strategic Member – Greensafe IT
Greensafe IT specialise in offering secure, sustainable and environmentally responsible IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) and lifecycle services. Their goal; to help businesses efficiently manage their IT estates from cradle to grave; ensuring full data security and...
Policy News
Recruitment Static as Firms Assess NI Impact
Recruitment remains static with 55% of firms attempting to hire staff in the last three months (compared with 54% in Q1) Hiring remains challenging despite some respite, with 73% of firms reporting difficulties in Q2 (76% in Q1) Transport and logistics (80%) and...
Bromsgrove District Local Plan – Draft Development Strategy Consultation 30th June – 22nd September
Regulation 18 of the Town and Country (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 Bromsgrove District Council is in the process of reviewing and replacing the Bromsgrove District Plan (adopted January 2017), which will set out where new housing, employment and other...
Skills News
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...
Serco Restart Scheme: providing a free service in your area to fill job vacancies
ChamSerco Restart Scheme: providing a free service in your area to fill job vacancies The Restart Scheme is part of the Government’s wider ‘Plan for Jobs’ programmes to help long-term unemployed people develop their skills so they can find sustainable and meaningful...
Charity News
Mental Elf 2025 Kidderminster
About this event Holiday • Christmas Held at the stunning Bodenham Arboretum in Kidderminster, this event isn’t just about raising funds, it’s about bringing our community together and shining a light on the importance of mental health and wellbeing, especially during...
Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust endorses Jess’s Rule to work with GPs to improve early cancer detection
The Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust is proud to support the launch of Jess’s Rule; an initiative aimed at improving the early detection of cancer and other serious diseases in patients. Officially introduced today, Jess’s Rule advocates for a specific approach to...
EU Trade Getting Harder
More than half (54%) of exporters think the UK-EU trade deal is not helping them grow sales. This is a 13-percentage point increase in the proportion of firms who are unhappy with the deal compared to last year. In total, just four out of 946 firms (0%) thought the...
BCC News
EU Trade Getting Harder
More than half (54%) of exporters think the UK-EU trade deal is not helping them grow sales. This is a 13-percentage point increase in the proportion of firms who are unhappy with the deal compared to last year. In total, just four out of 946 firms (0%) thought the...
Worcestershire 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...
Over 275,000 trees planted in the West Midlands over the last three years
Over 275,000 trees have been planted in the West Midlands as part of an ambitious three-year project to benefit the environment and local communities. The Heart of England Forest, in partnership with Stratford-on-Avon District Council, Warwick District Council and...
Herefordshire News
Herefordshire’s NMITE University Project Announces New £3.5 Million Gift by the Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust
Herefordshire’s pioneering new university project, the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) has announced a further major charitable donation as it continues its growth. The Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust has agreed to make a grant of £3.5...
Celtic Marches Redesigns Their Labels
Celtic Marches are a single-estate apple cider producer, nestled in a quiet corner of Herefordshire. All apples used in their ciders are taken from their 200 acre orchards on the family farm in Bishops Frome. Being a family run cider maker, they have full control from...
All Latest News
MYTH: “AEDs are too complicated for the public to use.”
TRUTH: They’re designed to guide you—step-by-step—to help save a life. What are AEDs and where are they? You’ve likely seen them—those bright yellow, green, or white boxes on walls in train stations, airports, village halls, supermarkets, or even old phone...
Tariff fatigue has set in among UK businesses
New polling on the initial reaction to the Greenland tariff threat David Bharier, Head of Research, British Chambers of Commerce Donald Trump’s latest threat to impose tariffs on UK goods over Greenland has landed with less shock than exhaustion. New polling by the...
Services Trade Continues To Stall
Reacting to the latest trade data for November 2025 from the Office for National Statistics, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said: “Services exports have been the standout feature of UK trade over the past decade, and the prospect...
Clean Energy Deal A Welcome First Step
Reacting to the announcement of a new clean energy deal with the EU, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said: “It is essential for the UK’s energy security and economic growth that we co-operate more closely with our European allies to realise the...
Eight days left to file your Self Assessment
Eight days until 31 January Self Assessment deadline Miss the deadline and you may face an automatic £100 penalty File your return now at GOV.UK and pay any tax due by 31 January – help and support available online With just over a week until the Self Assessment...
Early Childhood Degree at Worcester Earns Top National Recognition
The University of Worcester’s Early Childhood BA course has been awarded the prestigious Early Childhood Graduate Practitioners Competencies Quality Mark. The national recognition is awarded by the Early Childhood Studies Degrees Network (ECSDN), and confirms the...
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