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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.
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Welcome New Members | October 2026
A warm welcome to our newest Members who joined us throughout October: Rosemary Bookkeeping Wyre Forest: Reliable, friendly and efficient bookkeeping services in the Wyre Forest and surrounding areas. National Infrastructure Solutions Limited: At National...
Latest Article
Welcome New Members | October 2026
A warm welcome to our newest Members who joined us throughout October: Rosemary Bookkeeping Wyre Forest: Reliable, friendly and efficient bookkeeping services in the Wyre Forest and surrounding areas. National Infrastructure Solutions Limited: At National...
Member News
Hereford Ergonomics Experts Launch Free Webinar to Help Businesses Meet Workplace Legal Obligations
Hereford-based Wyvern Business Systems (WBS) is inviting businesses to attend a free webinar on workplace ergonomics and reasonable adjustments, taking place on Thursday 29th October at 2pm. With musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) accounting for 6.6 million working days...
SUTCLIFFE & CO EXPANDS TEAM WITH FOUR NEW APPOINTMENTS
Worcester-based insurance broker Sutcliffe & Co has welcomed four new team members as part of the company’s continued growth and expansion programme. Joining the team are Kamil Ambroziak, Lucas Martin and Chris Parker as Client Advisors, alongside Dan...
Patron & Strategic News
University Welfare Officer Takes on Epic 50-Hour Pool Marathon
A University of Worcester colleague is preparing to spend more than two days at the pool table in a marathon fundraising effort to support students facing financial hardship. Starting at 10am on Thursday 15 October, Ian Alley will play pool continuously for 50 hours...
SUTCLIFFE & CO WINS GREAT BRITISH BUSINESS & COMMUNITY AWARD
Worcester-based Sutcliffe & Co Insurance Brokers is celebrating a major achievement after being named SME of the Year at the Great British Business & Community Awards. The national accolade follows an earlier success this year when the company won SME of the...
Chamber News
Welcome New Members | November
Warm welcome to our newest Members who joined throughout November Lucy Labels – A sticker and labelling business offering custom labels. Barclays Greater Birmingham and The Three Counties Corporate – Barclays’ regional corporate banking services for businesses....
Autumn Budget 2025: Chamber Response
Commenting on the Budget Statement, Robert Elliot, Director of Business Development & Policy, said: “For months we have been concerned that this Budget might repeat the chaos businesses faced in October 2024. While this statement is more stable, several measures...
Our Latest Member
Meet OCM – Your local experts in sustainable IT asset management
As a proud new member of the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, OCM is excited to introduce their team to fellow businesses across the region. Based in Pershore, Jennine, Richard and co have been delivering secure, sustainable and reliable IT...
Meet OCM – Your local experts in sustainable IT asset management
As a proud new member of the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, OCM is excited to introduce their team to fellow businesses across the region. Based in Pershore, Jennine, Richard and co have been delivering secure, sustainable and reliable IT...
Policy News
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...
Business Rates Anxiety Hits Record High
A third of firms (34%) are worried about their business rates, the highest level since 2017. Concern is highest in the hospitality sector (49%), with manufacturing (44%) and logistics (43%) close behind. In 2024, 27% of firms said they had scaled back or...
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
Hereford FC and Worcester City announce fixture which will support St Michael’s and St Richard’s Hospices
The two clubs will meet at the M&M Edgar Street Stadium on Tuesday, 21st July Hereford FC and Worcester City have announced they will renew rivalries this summer – whilst raising vital funds for charity. The two clubs will meet at the M&M Edgar Street Stadium...
KEMP Hospice Calls on Community to Help Light Up New Moonlight Walk
KEMP Hospice is asking local businesses, community groups and residents to help bring its brand-new Moonlight Walk to life by donating battery-powered lights and decorations. Taking place on Friday 31st July 2026, the Moonlight Walk will be a magical evening walk...
New Era As UK-India Trade Deal Begins
Reacting to the UK-India trade deal entering into force, Steve Lynch MBE, Director of International Trade at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “It has been a tough few years for UK traders but there is a real buzz among businesses about this deal entering into...
BCC News
New Era As UK-India Trade Deal Begins
Reacting to the UK-India trade deal entering into force, Steve Lynch MBE, Director of International Trade at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “It has been a tough few years for UK traders but there is a real buzz among businesses about this deal entering into...
Worcestershire News
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....
Paddington™ to visit the Severn Valley Railway in February
There’ll be plenty of family fun at the Severn Valley Railway, with appearances from the energetic and much-loved character Paddington™ from Tuesday 18 to Thursday 20 February 2025. Families can take an exciting heritage train ride out to The Engine House, Highley and...
Herefordshire News
Herefordshire Business Growth Board
Background Following the previous government’s decision to transfer the economic functions and business representation from Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) to local authorities, the Herefordshire Business Growth Board will play a leading role in driving the...
Golden Chance to Study Engineering: NMITE Offers over 30 Scholarships and Support for Students: APPLY NOW
NMITE (New Model Institute for Technology & Engineering) today shares a reminder of the upcoming application deadline, 23rd August 2024, for the prestigious Motorola Solutions Foundation Scholarship as well as offering the Life Changer bursary initiative for local...
All Latest News
Why Muriel Spark’s Vision Still Resonates in the Digital Era
An award-winning biographer says celebrated novelist Muriel Spark would have been fascinated by social media, online identity, and the modern information age ahead of a special literary event in Worcester next month. James Bailey, author of Muriel Spark biography Like...
Exhibition in The Hive Marks 80 Years of the University of Worcester in the City
A special exhibition celebrating the University of Worcester’s 80-year contribution to education, opportunity and community life is now open in The Hive. The exhibition, titled Inspired for Life: University of Worcester 80th Anniversary, charts eight decades of...
Lord-Lieutenant celebrates the people and future of the Severn Valley Railway
The Lord-Lieutenant of Worcestershire, Beatrice Grant, visited the Severn Valley Railway on Friday 25 September, with her Deputy Charles Moyle and the Mayor of Kidderminster, Cllr Shazu Miah, to learn about its volunteers, community role and ambitious future plans....
Christmas magic steams into the Severn Valley Railway
The Severn Valley Railway is getting ready to pull out all the stops for Christmas, with a packed programme of festive experiences offering something for families, friends and anyone looking to get into the Christmas spirit. At the heart of the festive programme are...
Worcestershire Area Council Meeting Notes – 24th September
INSURANCE SECTOR UPDATE The insurance sector has seen a significant increase in claims linked to climate and weather events over the past 12 months. Claims costs are also continuing to rise due to increased legal, repair and contractor costs. Cyber claim costs are...
Herefordshire Area Council Meeting Notes – 17th September
BANKING SECTOR UPDATE Lloyds Bank has announced its next three year strategy, Accelerate 2030, focusing on growth, innovation and simplification. Key commitments include over £45bn of new lending to SMEs, increasing face to face relationship managers to 1,000 and...
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