Business Direction Online
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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.
DBT changes to DBIST and reducing numbers
DBT changes to DBIST and reduce numbers The new department absorbs parts of the former Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Investment Security Unit, merging science and innovation directly with trade and business. Headcount Reductions...
Latest Article
DBT changes to DBIST and reducing numbers
DBT changes to DBIST and reduce numbers The new department absorbs parts of the former Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Investment Security Unit, merging science and innovation directly with trade and business. Headcount Reductions...
Member News
SVR’s Raise the Roof appeal passes quarter-million-pound milestone
The Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust’s Raise the Roof appeal has passed a major fundraising milestone, with £254,558 now raised towards its £1 million target in just over two months. The appeal, launched in early June, aims to fund the construction of a...
AVE MD to act as ambassador for Worcestershire
Steve Perera welcomes Darren lley The managing director of procurement and nutrition consultancy AVE is set to act as an official ambassador for Worcestershire. Darren Iley has been elected as a member of the Worcestershire Ambassadors, an independent group which...
Patron & Strategic News
Thorlux Lighting celebrates 90 years at the forefront of UK luminaire manufacturing
Redditch, UK, July 2026 – UK-based lighting manufacturer Thorlux Lighting is marking its 90th anniversary with a series of events in September and the opening of a refreshed visitor centre at its Redditch, Worcestershire headquarters. The festivities will include a...
The Kaleidoscope Plus Group announces the departure of Chief Executive Calum Nisbet
The Kaleidoscope Plus Group, the Midlands-based mental health and wellbeing charity, today announces that Chief Executive Calum Nisbet is to leave after nearly three years in the role. Calum has accepted an exciting new position as Chief Executive at a...
Chamber News
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce Partners with Worcestershire’s 2026 TechFest
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce partners with Worcestershire’s 2026 TechFest. We are thrilled to announce our role as Official Partners for Worcestershire TechFest 2026. Following on from a successful launch in 2025, which saw 500+...
Make Your Voice Heard: Voting Opens for the Herefordshire Area Council
We’re recruiting three new Herefordshire Area Council members and now we need your vote. These newly elected members will join senior leaders from a wide range of business sectors across the county, providing crucial sector-specific insights and contributing to...
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
Key Employment Law Updates: Autumn 2025
1. Fire and Rehire – Government Softens Proposed BanThe Employment Rights Bill continues to target “fire and rehire” tactics, where employers dismiss staff to impose new terms. Dismissals linked to restricted variations (e.g. reductions in pay, hours, pensions, or...
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...
Skills News
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...
Why stay interviews are the perfect antidote to exit interviews.
Recruitment is still a significant challenge for many businesses and, with the average cost of replacing just one leaver at £30K, now’s the time to think about stay interviews. By incorporating light touch stay questions into your regular one to one conversations,...
Charity News
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...
UK’S FIRST ON-SITE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING TRAINING FACILITY OPENS AT NEW COLLEGE WORCESTER, BUILT THROUGH INDUSTRY COLLABOARTION TO SUPPORT THE VISION IMPAIRED
New College Worcester (NCW), a national residential school for blind and vision impaired young people, has installed a state-of-the-art pedestrian crossing on its campus, believed to be the first of its kind in the UK. The Noel Duffy Pedestrian Crossing provides 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
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
Looking for the Perfect Christmas Gift for your Clients or Employees?
Here at Celtic Marches we offer a wide range of luxury cider and wine gifts to suit a variety of budgets. Our award-winning Herefordshire Cider and English Wine is beautifully packaged in gift boxes and delivered straight to your company ready for you to give to...
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...
All Latest News
Salary transparency in job adverts: Why it’s already best practice
The Government’s launched a consultation that could require employers to publish salary information in job adverts or to provide it in writing before interview if a role isn’t advertised publicly. It’s not law yet. The consultation closes on 27...
TDM Celebrates Strong Ofsted – Cementing its Position as One of the UK’s Leading Providers
The Development Manager (TDM), a specialist skills and workforce development provider, is celebrating an exceptional set of inspection outcomes following its latest Ofsted inspection, published on 15th July 2026. The outcome reflects TDM’s unwavering commitment...
Thorlux Lighting celebrates 90 years at the forefront of UK luminaire manufacturing
Redditch, UK, July 2026 – UK-based lighting manufacturer Thorlux Lighting is marking its 90th anniversary with a series of events in September and the opening of a refreshed visitor centre at its Redditch, Worcestershire headquarters. The festivities will include a...
Hereford FC and Worcester City Unite for Hospices in Charity Pre-Season Clash
On Tuesday, 21st July at 7.45pm, Hereford FC will host Worcester City in a special pre-season charity fixture at the M&M Edgar Street Stadium, with all proceeds supporting St Michael’s Hospice and St Richard’s Hospice. As Hereford FC’s first home...
The myth about the housing market…
The Housing Market Isn’t Always the Reason Your Worcester Home Hasn’t Sold One of the most common things we hear from homeowners is: “It’s just the market at the moment — houses aren’t selling.”But is that really the reason? The truth is, even in a changing housing...
PENGUIN OFFICE SUPPLIES CELEBRATES DOUBLE SUCCESS AT INDUSTRY AWARDS
Bromsgrove-based Penguin Office Supplies Ltd is celebrating after winning not one, but two prestigious accolades at the Superstat Industry Awards: Superstat Dealer of the Year and CTS Wholesale Dealer of the Year. The awards recognise the achievements, growth and...
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