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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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£5 million campaign launched to transform children’s hospice care across the West Midlands
A £5 million fundraising appeal has been launched to transform children’s hospice care across the West Midlands as demand reaches record levels. The ambitious campaign from Acorns Children’s Hospice aims to help more families access expert care when and where they...
Latest Article
£5 million campaign launched to transform children’s hospice care across the West Midlands
A £5 million fundraising appeal has been launched to transform children’s hospice care across the West Midlands as demand reaches record levels. The ambitious campaign from Acorns Children’s Hospice aims to help more families access expert care when and where they...
Member News
University of Worcester Shortlisted for UK Social Mobility Award for Record Fourth Time
The University of Worcester has been shortlisted for University of the Year at the UK Social Mobility Awards for a fourth time. The prestigious national awards recognise organisations that are making a measurable difference in improving social mobility across the UK....
John Truslove helps SEW-Eurodrive build Bromsgrove base for future growth
Commercial property agents John Truslove have helped a world leading drive technology specialist consolidate its operations at its base in Worcestershire. SEW-Eurodrive Ltd, part of a global German group employing over 22,000 people, has taken Units 15 & 16 Aston...
Patron & Strategic News
Could Regular Hot Baths be the Key to Coping Better in Heatwaves? Worcester Study Needs You
Researchers at the University of Worcester are looking for participants for a study investigating whether regular hot baths could help people cope better with heatwaves. As heatwaves become more frequent and intense in the UK, practical and accessible ways to cope...
Children’s Nursing Demonstration a Hit at The Hive
Children’s Nursing staff and students from the University of Worcester have been meeting the public and hearing stories of inspirational nurses at The Hive in celebration of National Children’s Nurses Day. The day, organised by the Association of British Paediatric...
Chamber News
Worcestershire Area Council Updates for September
FINANCE SECTOR The revised FRS 102, effective January 2026, introduces significant changes including full balance sheet recognition of leases in line with IFRS 16, a new five-step revenue model aligned with IFRS 15, and fair value guidance via Section 2A based on IFRS...
Herefordshire Area Council Updates for September
SPORTS AND LEISURE SECTOR Prices remain stable, and the UK-India trade deal should benefit us, though its start date is unclear. We import heavily from India, with low duties on equestrian gear but higher on footwear and clothing. Europe is our weakest market after...
Our Latest Member
Welcome to our New Members – March 2025
Our warmest welcome to our new members – AJB Sports in Education – Sports Coaching company proudly working Pre Schools and Primary schools, running Girls Football, Childrens Birthday Parties and Childrens Holiday Camps in Worcester. With an innovative...
Welcome to our New Members – March 2025
Our warmest welcome to our new members – AJB Sports in Education – Sports Coaching company proudly working Pre Schools and Primary schools, running Girls Football, Childrens Birthday Parties and Childrens Holiday Camps in Worcester. With an innovative...
Policy News
SMEs Key To Defence Industrial Strategy
Responding to the announcement of the Defence Industrial Strategy, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy, said: “Raising defence investment is not only vital for the UK’s national security in an age of higher geopolitical risk but also to boost growth, jobs, exports and...
Cost Pressures Continue to Hit Labour Market
Responding to the latest labour market data published by the ONS this morning, Jane Gratton, Deputy Director of Public Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “The ongoing impact of business cost pressures, most notably from the national insurance hike,...
Skills News
NEOPERL UK focus on staff training
Over a third of the 160 staff at Neoperl UK in Malvern, took part in personal development training during 2022 and that figure is set to increase with a new learning focus for 2023. The manufacturing business requires a broad selection of skills across their employee...
National Apprenticeships Week 2023 – Skills for Life
The theme for #NAW2023 is “Skills for Life” encouraging employers and learners to reflect on how apprenticeships can drive development in careers, future-ready skills and the talented workforce needed across the UK. Whilst this is a laudable focus for this year’s...
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
Marking the start of Railway 200 at the Severn Valley Railway
Around 100 heritage railway volunteers from across the UK came together at the Severn Valley Railway on Sunday 5 January, to launch Railway 200, a celebration of the 200th anniversary of modern railways. Representatives from 15 UK heritage lines and locomotive owning...
Worcester City Plan Consultation
Residents, local businesses and other stakeholders are being asked for their views on a new plan that sets out the City Council’s ambitions for Worcester over the next five years. The draft City Plan 2025-2030 envisions Worcester as an ambitious, vibrant and welcoming...
Herefordshire News
DISCOVER PARKS SUPPORT WEST MIDLANDS REFUGE
A Herefordshire holiday park has donated another thousand pounds, this time to a Wolverhampton charity that provides practical and emotional support to women and children facing domestic abuse. ‘The Haven’, was nominated to receive the donation by a holiday home owner...
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...
All Latest News
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...
Ann Muddiman retires after 33 years at SME Solicitors
Ann Muddiman marked her last day at SME Solicitors on 29 May. Ann began her career in 1979 and has worked at several firms across the West Midlands. She later joined John Stallard & Co. in March 1993 and, after the merger with March & Edwards in 2011, joined...
Trueline Products Recruits Three Early Careers Roles in One Morning Through Innovative Assessment Centre
A Worcestershire Chamber Strategic Member has successfully recruited two apprentices and one trainee in a single morning using an assessment centre approach designed to help employers identify potential rather than rely solely on CVs. Trueline Products, a local...
mfg Solicitors strengthens Contentious Probate team with new appointment
A specialist lawyer has joined the nationally recognised Contentious Probate department at Midlands firm, mfg Solicitors. Samantha Evans has joined the team as a solicitor based at the firm’s Kidderminster office, where she will advise and work with clients on a...
Skills shortages and burnout pose challenges for the financial sector
The commercial finance and accountancy sector is facing a deepening talent problem that could threaten growth and long-term business resilience unless employers rethink their recruitment and retention strategies, says an industry specialist. The warning has come from...
Growing nutrition firm moves into new Redditch manufacturing base, aided by John Truslove
Health supplements business Ethical Nutrition is opening its first manufacturing site in Redditch after securing premises through commercial property agency John Truslove. It is a major development for the family business, launched by cancer survivor Grace Carter and...
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