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.
Celebrating Women Through the Lens: Meet Petrina Michelle Photography
Petrina from Petrina Michelle Photography as a new chamber member. A talented freelance photographer, Petrina specialises in women’s portraiture, capturing everything from the beauty of motherhood to personal branding and glamorous, confidence-boosting imagery. With...
Latest Article
Celebrating Women Through the Lens: Meet Petrina Michelle Photography
Petrina from Petrina Michelle Photography as a new chamber member. A talented freelance photographer, Petrina specialises in women’s portraiture, capturing everything from the beauty of motherhood to personal branding and glamorous, confidence-boosting imagery. With...
Member News
Top honour for the SVR’s King and Castle as it scoops CAMRA gold
The Severn Valley Railway (SVR) is celebrating after its King and Castle pub at Kidderminster station was named Pub of the Year (Gold Award) by the Wyre Forest branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). The prestigious award follows a rigorous judging process, with...
Data Map to track Workflow (Interactive tool)
When I was working as a GDPR consultant, part of the requirements of the legislation was to understand the data flow as it passes through the organization (https://it-ebs.co.uk/news/gdpr-map/). This allowed us to spot any cyber security risks that may occur at any...
Patron & Strategic News
Occupational Therapy Comes to Local Charity After Staff Member Retrains
A newly trained Occupational Therapist is already making a difference to young people at her Worcestershire workplace, after retraining and reshaping her career. Emma Nokes graduates from the University of Worcester this week with her MSc in Occupational Therapy and...
Ministerial visit to Kidderminster sites shines spotlight on apprentices
Specsavers Manufacturing & Distribution (M&D) welcomed Jacqui Smith, Minister of State for Skills, to Lens Online and International Glazing Services (IGS) during National Apprenticeship Week on Friday 13 February. During the visit, Minister Smith met more than...
Chamber News
Local Chamber of Commerce Offers Support to Businesses Navigating U.S. Tariff Changes
As U.S. trade policies and tariffs continue to shift, many businesses are facing new challenges and uncertainty. In response, the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce is continuing to provide crucial guidance, up-to-date insights, and expert support...
Welcome new Members – April
Warmest welcome to our newest Members: Abacus Nursery School ( Bromsgrove) Limited – Early Years Care and Education provider. Aspenify UK Limited – Aspenify offers a low-code digital platform that enables organisations to scale innovation, accelerate...
Our Latest Member
Evolve Weight Loss Celebrates Success at Prestigious Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2024 Gala
Evolve Weight Loss took centre stage at the 2024 Great British Entrepreneur Awards Gala, held at the iconic Grosvenor House Hotel in London. Recognised as an Early Stage Stand Out Business, Evolve has quickly established itself as a trailblazer in the slimming and...
Evolve Weight Loss Celebrates Success at Prestigious Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2024 Gala
Evolve Weight Loss took centre stage at the 2024 Great British Entrepreneur Awards Gala, held at the iconic Grosvenor House Hotel in London. Recognised as an Early Stage Stand Out Business, Evolve has quickly established itself as a trailblazer in the slimming and...
Policy News
Shape Worcestershire: Help Shape the Future of Local Councils
A major consultation is underway to decide how Worcestershire’s local government could be reshaped. Shape Worcestershire invites all residents to share their views on how council services should be delivered in the future. What’s Changing? Currently, Worcestershire...
Industrial Strategy ‘An Important Milestone’
Responding to the publication of the Industrial Strategy, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Today’s Industrial Strategy is an important milestone towards creating a competitive economy that is fit for the future, with...
Skills News
The secret to staff retention in hospitality
If you’re finding the cost of employee turnover unsustainable – you’re not alone. Hospitality employers across the country are struggling with the cost of recruitment as the industry faces a staffing drought coupled with unwanted levels of staff turnover. In fact,...
Bridging the Gap: educating and upskilling the workforce to meet local business needs
Herefordshire & Ludlow College invites local employers to the Folly Lane, Hereford Campus to start the conversation around meeting your future skills needs on Tuesday 12th July. Many employers face the dual challenge of a tight labour market and sourcing...
Charity News
Bromsgrove law firm raises over £1,600 for local charity
Bromsgrove law firm mfg Solicitors has donated a total of £1,605.50 for local support charity the Rose & Daisy Foundation. Staff at the High Street firm raised £605.50 over the past year through a number of activities and events, including completing 10,318...
Purple Pathways : Brighter Futures for Children – West Mercia Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Centre (WMRSASC)
Purple Pathways: Brighter Futures for Children WMRSASC has been accepted into the UK’s biggest matched giving campaign – the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2025. We’re raising vital funds for our Purple Pathways project, which provides specialist support to children and...
Planning System Putting the Brakes on Growth
Economic growth is still being constrained by a planning system in England that is ‘too slow, under resourced and unpredictable’, according to a new British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) report. The report, Planning for Business and Growth, says that while recent...
BCC News
Planning System Putting the Brakes on Growth
Economic growth is still being constrained by a planning system in England that is ‘too slow, under resourced and unpredictable’, according to a new British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) report. The report, Planning for Business and Growth, says that while recent...
Worcestershire News
Herefordshire and Worcestershire’s Biggest Business Exhibition Draws a Record Crowd
On Thursday 10th October 2024, the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Hewett Recruitment, hosted their annual Business Expo at the University of Worcester Arena. This was the Chamber’s first Business Expo at the...
The SVR’s Autumn Diesel Bash goes down well
The Severn Valley Railway has plenty of reasons to be cheerful, after the smooth running and strong attendance at its Autumn Diesel Bash, which took place between 3 and 6 October. In what was billed as ‘an almighty celebration of heritage diesels’, highlights included...
Herefordshire News
Marches LEP Capital Fund Delivers £600,000 Support
A major new capital investment fund delivered by the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership has awarded more than £600,000 to organisations across the region. Six successful schemes will receive a total of £612,793 from the LEP’s Capital Project Fund to help them...
LEP Celebrates Legacy at Final Board Meeting
The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership will celebrate its near £200million legacy at its final board meeting – and welcome back some familiar faces from its past to mark the occasion. The LEP – which for more than ten years has been the body responsible for driving...
All Latest News
Disruption Inevitable If Conflict Sustained
Commenting on the immediate impact on businesses of the US and Israeli combat operations in Iran and its military retaliation, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said: “There will be huge uncertainty for businesses as the situation in Iran and the wider...
Ministerial visit to Kidderminster sites shines spotlight on apprentices
Specsavers Manufacturing & Distribution (M&D) welcomed Jacqui Smith, Minister of State for Skills, to Lens Online and International Glazing Services (IGS) during National Apprenticeship Week on Friday 13 February. During the visit, Minister Smith met more than...
HydroShunter launched at Kidderminster as UK’s first hydrogen-powered shunting locomotive enters the market Date: 26 February 2026
Vanguard Sustainable Transport Solutions and the Severn Valley Railway today (Thursday 26 February) marked a major milestone in railway decarbonisation with the official launch to market of the UK’s first hydrogen-powered railway shunting locomotive, unveiled at the...
Steam trains set the pace for new multi-sport challenge in the Severn Valley
The Severn Valley Railway is delighted to support an exciting new multi-sport event, Steaming Down the Valley, taking place at Severn Valley Country Park on Saturday 6 June 2026. Hosted by Shropshire Council and organised by a dedicated team of local volunteers, this...
Energy Costs Continue to Spark Business Concern
Over a quarter of businesses (27%) say they are currently finding it difficult to pay their energy bills, according to new research from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). The BCC survey of over 600 firms shows energy costs are particularly challenging for...
Inspiring Women Take the Stage at Worcester Business School
The successes of women connected to the University of Worcester will be celebrated ahead of International Women’s Day in a special event at Worcester Business School. Held at the University’s City Campus on Friday 6 March, 4.15-7pm, the event will feature talks from...
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