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.
Britannic Place Wins Prestigious National Award for Adviser Excellence
Worcester-based Chartered Financial Planning firm Britannic Place has been named the Leading Adviser Practice (up to 10 advisers) at the Schroders UK Platform Awards 2025, a prestigious national award recognising the best financial planning and technology-integrated...
Latest Article
Britannic Place Wins Prestigious National Award for Adviser Excellence
Worcester-based Chartered Financial Planning firm Britannic Place has been named the Leading Adviser Practice (up to 10 advisers) at the Schroders UK Platform Awards 2025, a prestigious national award recognising the best financial planning and technology-integrated...
Member News
Realising the strategic value of local supply chains
Author: Paul Long, Director at FindItIn Offshoring was one of the biggest business trends at the turn of the century but, by the time of the 2008/9 financial crisis, the gloss was already beginning to wear off. Concerns around jobs, quality and service levels, as well...
OCM achieves successful external audit for ISO 9001, ISO 14001 & ISO 27001
OCM is pleased to announce the successful completion of its September 2025 external audit for ISO 9001 (quality management), ISO 14001 (environmental management) and ISO 27001 (information security management), conducted by Approachable. This milestone highlights...
Patron & Strategic News
Property consultancy’s first charity padel tournament raises £6,000
A national property consultancy’s first charity padel tournament raised £6,000 for four charities – and planning for next year’s competition is already underway. Fisher German’s Development Agency team successfully launched its first-ever charity padel...
Ballards LLP Celebrating Double Award Shortlisting
L-R: James Syree CEO Ballards LLP and Adrian Sidaway Audit Director, Ballards LLP Midlands-based firm recognised for outstanding performance by the Accounting Excellence Awards. Leading Worcestershire Accountancy firm, Ballards LLP, has been shortlisted for...
Chamber News
Welcome New Members
The warmest welcome to our newest Members: Ansonware – Software development and IT consultancy company Apeiron Consulting Ltd – Portfolio Cheif Financial Officer and Consultancy Attain Auditing Ltd – ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems Lead Auditor...
Midlands LSIP Celebration
The progress made in tackling labour and skills shortages in the Midlands will be outlined at an event in the region in September. Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) have been designed to put employers at the heart of skills provision in their local area, to...
Our Latest Member
Welcome new Members!
The warmest welcome to our newest Members: Barton Court – Called ‘Herefordshire’s hidden gem’, Barton Court is a compact, historic country estate with a range of spaces and accommodation for business and leisure activities. With three big...
Welcome new Members!
The warmest welcome to our newest Members: Barton Court – Called ‘Herefordshire’s hidden gem’, Barton Court is a compact, historic country estate with a range of spaces and accommodation for business and leisure activities. With three big...
Policy News
Vacancies Still Falling As Wages Rise
Reacting to the latest labour market data, published by the ONS, Jane Gratton, Deputy Director of Public Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “There are clear signs of a further loosening in the labour market with fewer vacancies, although they remain just...
BCC Economic Forecast: Growth Downgraded as Firms Struggle to Invest and Export
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Quarterly Economic Forecast (QEF) has revised down growth expectations for 2025, as firms deal with a raft of rising cost pressures. Business investment and exports are likely to suffer this year because of the impact of the...
Skills News
Local Apprenticeship Training provider Herefordshire & Worcestershire Group Training Association secure European Social Fund monies for a ‘Skills for Worcestershire’ Project.
HWGTA are committed to delivering the best outcomes possible for young people in Worcestershire and recently secured funding from the European Social Fund (partnered with Worcestershire County Council) which will help to support over 300 young people aged 15-24 into...
Funded Training to Help Local Hospitality Businesses Grow
Skills Support for the Workforce (SSW) supports small and medium businesses in Worcestershire to upskill their employees with training courses and qualifications to help their business grow and boost the local economy. We can work with you to develop a bespoke...
Charity News
Ballards LLP and Four Squared Recruitment Join Forces for Charity Run Supporting Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust
Ballards LLP and Four Squared Recruitment have successfully completed a challenging 10-mile charity run, from Droitwich to Worcester, raising crucial funds for the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust. The collaborative team undertook the demanding run from their...
Dancing for a Cause: SJL Ball Raises Vital Funds for Acorns
The annual SJL Foundation Charity Ball, held at the Bank House Hotel in Bransford, Worcester, was a resounding success, raising an incredible £32,107 on the night. The event brought together over 170 guests from SJL Insurance’s extensive network of staff, clients,...
BCC Economic Forecast: Growth Upgraded But Concern Over Two Speed Economy
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Quarterly Economic Forecast (QEF) has increased growth predictions for 2025, but the UK economy will remain sluggish. Better-than-expected business investment in Q1 is forecast to boost GDP across 2025. Inflation is projected to...
BCC News
BCC Economic Forecast: Growth Upgraded But Concern Over Two Speed Economy
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Quarterly Economic Forecast (QEF) has increased growth predictions for 2025, but the UK economy will remain sluggish. Better-than-expected business investment in Q1 is forecast to boost GDP across 2025. Inflation is projected to...
Worcestershire News
Severn Valley Railway is Finalist in Three Categories for Visit Worcestershire Awards
Staff and volunteers at the Severn Valley Railway have a lot to smile about right now, as the leading heritage line has been selected as a finalist in three separate categories for the 2024/2025 Visit Worcestershire Awards. The railway is in the running to scoop the...
It’s a Super Saturday at the Severn Valley Railway
On the final day of August, the Severn Valley Railway is putting on a mini enthusiast event to mark the fact that has a particularly superb line-up of locomotives in service. On Saturday 31 August, two visiting steam locomotives, 45596 ‘Bahamas’ and 2999 ‘Lady of...
Herefordshire News
Teacher Encounters to help boost careers education
Teachers are being given the chance to get hands-on experience at workplaces across the region as part of a new scheme to boost links between education and the world of work. The Marches Careers Hub’s Teacher Encounters programme gives teachers the chance to get out...
Herefordshire County BID Launches Exciting New Projects to Support Businesses in 2024
Two new projects have been launched in the first week of 2024 by Herefordshire County BID, as they continue to take action to support businesses, reduce business costs and upskill staff across Herefordshire’s visitor economy. The first is an innovative learning hub in...
All Latest News
Meet JP Bookkeeping — Your New Virtual Finance Office
As a new member of the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce (HWCC), JP Bookkeeping is excited to introduce its Virtual Finance Office service which manages the full finance function for businesses from start to end. Our strategic, outsourced Finance...
Dozens of Students Dressed to Impress Thanks to Kind Community Donations
An initiative to help university students dress the part for interviews and placements has proven a huge success. Placements are a big part of courses at the University of Worcester, and students often enter environments where they’re required to dress smartly....
Welcoming Steve Mosson, DRG’s New Head of Projects & Delivery
We’re excited to officially welcome Steve Mosson as the new Head of Projects and Delivery at DRG Interior and Building Solutions, who joined us in June 2025. With over 25 years of experience in construction management, Steve brings a wealth of expertise from leading...
Calibre Wins Best Remote Administrative Agency 2025
Calibre Virtual Assistant Services, ‘Calibre’, a Worcester-based agency founded by multi award-winner Naomi Wachner has been named Best Remote Administrative Support Agency 2025 by the prestigious Facilities Management Awards. This national recognition highlights...
Government Must Harness Retail Investor Optimism
Over half of retail investors (53%) are optimistic about their investments over the next twelve months (compared to 42% in May) 40% of investors expect to increase the amount of money they invest over the next twelve months Younger investors are most confident, with...
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...
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