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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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Apprentice academy continues to support the next generation of construction talent
Speller Metcalfe has once again partnered with Heart of Worcestershire College and long-standing industry supporter Travis Perkins to help construction apprentices across Worcestershire begin their careers with confidence through the Worcestershire Construction...
Latest Article
Apprentice academy continues to support the next generation of construction talent
Speller Metcalfe has once again partnered with Heart of Worcestershire College and long-standing industry supporter Travis Perkins to help construction apprentices across Worcestershire begin their careers with confidence through the Worcestershire Construction...
Member News
Luctonians Sports Club investing in the future of Herefordshire’s young people
Luctonians Sports Club continues to invest in the next generation across Herefordshire, having engaged more than 20,000 children through its schools’ outreach programme since 1993 and raised over £250,000 for local charities since 2016. Today, the club is home to more...
Meet the PhD Students Transforming How We Understand Our World
Have you ever wondered what kind of world-shaping research is happening right now on your doorstep in Worcestershire? A free event at The Hive on Thursday 7 May, 18.30-20.00, will give the public a rare chance to hear directly from three University of Worcester PhD...
Patron & Strategic News
The Hive to Host Exclusive First Look at New Historical Novel
The life and legacy of the Worcestershire surgeon who revolutionised medical sterilisation through the use of iodine is being brought to life in a new historical novel, with a special soft-launch event at The Hive. Born in 1860, Lionel Stretton served as a surgeon in...
Family Fun and Activities at The Hive to Mark Earth Day
From ‘flying’ like a bird thanks to the magic of virtual reality to learning about the plastic polluting our oceans, families can enjoy a host of free interactive activities at The Hive next week in celebration of Earth Day. Budding environmentalists can explore a...
Chamber News
Welcome New Members
The warmest welcome to our newest Members: Aeromet International Limited – A Leading Supplier of Aluminium and Magnesium Castings for the Aerospace and Defence Industries. Behind The Smile – They offer support for those experiencing poor mental health and...
Chairs Report September 2024
I watched, with great interest, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, on the BBC News this morning (19th September), stating the government’s determination to stamp out late payments: especially for small businesses. Taking points from the...
Our Latest Member
New Member – Coacto – Your Local Salesforce Solutions Partner
Coacto, a distinguished Salesforce implementation consultancy, recently joined the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, further solidifying its commitment to fostering business growth and collaboration in the region. Specialising in the design and...
New Member – Coacto – Your Local Salesforce Solutions Partner
Coacto, a distinguished Salesforce implementation consultancy, recently joined the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, further solidifying its commitment to fostering business growth and collaboration in the region. Specialising in the design and...
Policy News
Challenging Spring Outlook As Firms Struggle to Bloom
Responding to the Chancellor’s Spring Statement, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Today the Chancellor saw a small dip in inflation, however her statement was made against a backdrop of downgraded economic growth for...
Inflation Eases But Volatility Ahead
Reacting to the latest inflation data, published by the ONS this morning, David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Today’s data showing the CPI rate slowed to 2.8% in February is good news, but it’s too early to be certain on the...
Skills News
Herefordshire employment project holds celebration event to mark the National Lottery’s 25th birthday
An employment programme led by Charity Landau, that helps Herefordshire people into work is holding a celebration event on Wednesday 22nd September to showcase the various opportunities available and the achievements of participants who have been supported by the...
College group lands £1.2 million funding to transform classrooms and workshops
Classrooms and workshops at a leading Midlands college group will be transformed to deliver new technical qualifications after receiving £1.2 Million of Government funding. WCG (formerly Warwickshire College Group) has been granted the funding from the £50 million T...
Charity News
Local Businesses Raise Over £5,000 for Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust
Worcestershire-based firms Ballards LLP and Four Squared Recruitment have raised over £5,000 for the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust through a series of creative and challenging fundraising activities. The campaign ended with a festive “Jingle and...
Charitable Initiatives in ONE Creative environments’ 50th Year
As part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, multi-disciplinary design company, ONE Creative environments (ONE), is undertaking a variety of charitable initiatives. In April, these efforts included donating 50 Easter eggs to the local Food Bank and funding and...
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...
BCC News
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...
Worcestershire News
Musical Message at the Heart of Mural Created by University Students for the Worcester Community.
Students have created a 55-metre-long mural on a busy Worcester thoroughfare, completely transforming what was a graffiti scrawled wall in the city. The team spent days bringing the mural to life on the walkway between Hardwicke Close and Hylton Road next to the...
Ballards LLP Shortlisted for Three Tolley’s Taxation Awards
Ballards LLP Shortlisted for Three Tolley’s Taxation Awards Worcestershire accountancy firm, Ballards LLP, has been shortlisted for three Tolley’s Taxation Awards 2024. The Tolley’s Taxation Awards recognise excellence within the tax profession, celebrating...
Herefordshire News
Herefordshire to ‘charge ahead’ Thanks to Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Funding
Thirteen Midlands Councils have led a successful bid for £39.3mil to get more chargers onto our streets – including Herefordshire, which will receive £1.124m. The Midlands has come together to create two partnerships across the region to successfully submit a bid for...
Herefordshire Skills Show Returns to Hereford Racecourse on Wednesday 4th October 2023
As the first event of its kind in Herefordshire the show far exceeded expectations in 2019 with over 45 exhibitors and 600 visitors! Including a quiet hour (from 10-11am) for which we received very positive feedback from young people and the National Autistic Society...
All Latest News
Berrys Strengthen Engineering Team
We are pleased to announce the continued growth of our engineering team with the appointment of Luke Rodgers as a Transport Planner. Luke brings his previous experience in transport and highways planning consultancy, having previously worked for practices in...
New Chair Elected by BCC Board
The board of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has unanimously elected Michael Hayman MBE DL as the new Chair of the organisation. Michael, who joined the BCC board in October last year, succeeds Sarah Howard MBE who has served as Chair for the last six and a...
Tariff Clouds Weigh on Exports as 2026 Begins
Commenting on the first trade data release of 2026 by the Office for National Statistics, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Goods exports trade with the EU and the rest of the world, excluding the United States of...
Economy Flatlines as Firms Struggle to Invest
Reacting to the latest GDP data, published by the Office for National Statistics this morning, Stuart Morrison, Research Manager at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Today’s data shows the UK economy remains stuck in a worrying low growth trap. “A three-month...
Three Counties Showground: A Premier Events Venue at the Foot of the Malvern Hills
Three Counties Showground is one of the West Midlands’ most versatile and well‑established event venues, set at the foot of the Malvern Hills and proudly owned by the Three Counties Agricultural Society. With a heritage spanning almost 180 years, the Showground plays...
Severn Valley Railway host major exercise to test emergency response plans
The Severn Valley Railway hosted teams from across the emergency services as they played out a full-scale simulated emergency yesterday (Thursday 12 March) in order to stay as prepared as possible to keep people safe. Passengers and residents close to the SVR’s...
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