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.
Ballards LLP announces leadership transition for its Next-Gen Board
Pictured L-R: Megan Healey Audit & Accounts Manager, Ballards LLP and Gina Gardner Associate Director, Ballards LLP. Worcester-based professional services firm Ballards LLP is pleased to announce a leadership transition within its pioneering Next-Gen Board...
Latest Article
Ballards LLP announces leadership transition for its Next-Gen Board
Pictured L-R: Megan Healey Audit & Accounts Manager, Ballards LLP and Gina Gardner Associate Director, Ballards LLP. Worcester-based professional services firm Ballards LLP is pleased to announce a leadership transition within its pioneering Next-Gen Board...
Member News
New garden set to open at Primrose Hospice
Primrose Hospice and F.B. & Sons Lawns & Landscapes invite you to the official opening of St Godwald’s Retreat, a new reflective garden created by F.B. & Sons Lawns & Landscapes for Primrose Hospice. Join Primrose on Sunday, 12th October, from 2–4pm at...
Alex Spicer: 10 Years Supporting Herefordshire Businesses – Now Personally Chartered
In 2025, Alex Spicer celebrates a decade of helping Herefordshire businesses protect what matters most – and a major professional milestone: becoming personally chartered, meeting the highest standards in his field. Alex’s achievement reflects both technical expertise...
Patron & Strategic News
Acorn’s Children’s Hospice will benefit from successful charity challenge
Professionals from the Worcester office of a leading property consultancy have helped raise more than £25,000 for charity as part of an epic fundraising relay – with 11 weeks of the challenge still to go. Fisher German is marking its 25th anniversary with its ‘Big25’...
Government-backed Help to Grow Programme Helps Spark 50% Retail Growth for Local Business
The University of Worcester has announced it will be delivering the Help to Grow Management Course for a further 3 years. The part-government-funded initiative is designed for senior leaders to boost business performance and leadership skills. Run by Worcester...
Chamber News
New Skills Boost Funding Offers Up to £6,000 for Chamber Training
Businesses across Herefordshire and Worcestershire can now access up to £6,000 in grant funding to support staff training, thanks to the return of the Skills Boost 2025–26 programme. Delivered in partnership with Worcestershire Growth Hub, the initiative aims to help...
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce Release the Quarterly Economic Survey Report for Q2 2025
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce has released the Quarterly Economic Survey Report for Q2 2025, supported by Worcestershire County Council. The Quarterly Economic Survey is a comprehensive analysis of economic data collected from a diverse range...
Our Latest Member
Welcome new Members – June
Warm welcome to our newest Members! Apogee Associates Limited – Apogee help you receive R&D tax relief and access innovation grants, providing your business with the funds necessary to fuel your groundbreaking projects. Arden Studio Business Solutions Ltd...
Welcome new Members – June
Warm welcome to our newest Members! Apogee Associates Limited – Apogee help you receive R&D tax relief and access innovation grants, providing your business with the funds necessary to fuel your groundbreaking projects. Arden Studio Business Solutions Ltd...
Policy News
Business Welcomes Movement On EU Reset Negotiations
Responding to the release of the EU’s draft mandate for UK negotiations on removing checks on food and drink and eliminating carbon charges, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy, said: “Firms have been patiently waiting for signs of progress on the EU reset and...
Rising Real Wages Pile On More Pressure
Responding to the latest labour market data, published by the ONS this morning, Jane Gratton, Deputy Director Public Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “The ONS data suggests that the jobs market is continuing to loosen as unemployment rises, vacancies...
Skills News
Trio complete training contracts at Worcestershire law firm
Three up and coming lawyers are celebrating after completing their training contracts with Worcestershire law firm mfg Solicitors. Solicitors Sufyaan Aslim, Lucy Palmer and Molly Wall have now been appointed into full-time positions at the law firm having completed...
Make Strides – A Digital-First Learning and Development Company
Make Strides is a digital-first learning and development company, helping people and organisations grow with purpose, clarity, and confidence. We specialise in early careers and leadership development, offering bite-size, engaging and accredited digital programmes...
Charity 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...
Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust Expands Podcast Platform to Support Young People with Cancer
‘Young Me vs the Big C’ Podcast Relaunches on Spotify, Amazon and Apple Podcasts’ The Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust has relaunched its podcast, Young Me vs the Big C, now available on Spotify, Amazon Music and Apple Podcasts. This exciting step makes the podcast...
SME Exporters Hit By New US Customs Charges
Responding to President Trump’s decision to charge import duties for low value goods entering the US, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy, said: “This development has been coming for several months but is still a major blow to UK exporters to the US. Smaller firms...
BCC News
SME Exporters Hit By New US Customs Charges
Responding to President Trump’s decision to charge import duties for low value goods entering the US, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy, said: “This development has been coming for several months but is still a major blow to UK exporters to the US. Smaller firms...
Worcestershire News
SVR confirms 35006 P&O S N Co and overnight running for its Autumn Steam Gala
The Severn Valley Railway has confirmed the first guest for its Autumn Steam Gala will be 35006 Peninsular & Oriental S N Co, which will make its first-ever appearance at the heritage line during the four-day event from 18 to 21 September. And, in a special move...
First stop: Severn Valley Railway, for the Railway 200 exhibition train
Railway 200’s travelling exhibition train arrived in style at the Severn Valley Railway today [Friday 27 June] for the very first leg of its UK-wide tour. The specially commissioned Inspiration train arrived at Kidderminster Town station, sporting its one-off livery,...
Herefordshire News
Worcester – Hereford Engineering Work: Sunday 26 – Friday 31 January
From Sunday 26 January – Friday 31 January, services between Worcester and Hereford will be operated by rail replacement buses, due to essential track renewal work being completed. Sunday 26 January Trains between Worcester Shrub Hill and Hereford will not run....
Herefordshire Law Firm Announces New Partners
A Herefordshire law firm is celebrating the appointments of four new partners – including one who started out as an office secretary nearly 30 years ago. Lanyon Bowdler has announced that four senior members of staff have been promoted to partners –...
All Latest News
Platform81 Welcome Five New Starters Across PPC, Web Development, and Business Development
Platform81 has recently welcomed five new team members across key departments, supporting the ongoing growth of the business. These appointments come at a time of significant expansion, driven by new client wins and increasing demand across the agency’s core service...
Community Housing recognised as a 5 Star Employer
Wyre Forest based Community Housing has been recognised as a 5 Star Employer after receiving positive feedback from their employees through independent employee engagement experts WorkBuzz. In June 2025, WorkBuzz invited all employees at Community Housing to provide...
NCB No 49 to join No 11 in a rare Backworth pairing at the Severn Valley Railway
The rare and atmospheric pairing of two National Coal Board locomotives will take place at the Severn Valley Railway’s Autumn Steam Gala, between 18 to 21 September. The railway has confirmed that NCB No 49 will appear at the event, giving the opportunity to run an...
Leading Poverty Expert Praises Work to Tackle Social Mobility and Inclusion
One of the UK’s leading experts on poverty has praised efforts by the University of Worcester to tackle social mobility and inclusion. Joanna Mack is the pioneering author behind the groundbreaking ‘Breadline Britain’ series and has spent more than four decades...
Online plant business grows on the back of ART Business Loans funding
A fast growing plant business has created new jobs after securing funding from ART Business Loans to support its expansion plans. Acqua Garden, based near Warmington in Warwickshire, has recruited two new employees with plans to further increase the headcount after...
Thorlux drives sustainability forward with greener delivery fleet
Redditch-based Thorlux Lighting is taking significant steps to reduce its environmental impact by investing in a new fleet of electric and biofuel-powered delivery vehicles. The upgraded fleet includes three trucks and three vans powered by Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil...
Want to submit a story?
If you would like to read our guide to submitting a story click here