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.
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...
Latest Article
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...
Member News
Kidderminster hotel lands gold for sustainability successes
A boutique Kidderminster hotel has earned gold recognition after a string of sustainability successes. The 4 AA Red Star Brockencote Hall Hotel has been recognised by Green Tourism – a world-leading certification that has been assessing travel, tourism and hospitality...
Ten Years of Smarter Energy: Solar Select Marks a Decade in Business!
Managing Director Terry Hayward reflects on how much the sector has changed since the company was founded: “When I started Solar Select, the solar industry was very different. Today, with the introduction of multiple manufacturing brands such as Sigenergy, Duracell...
Patron & Strategic News
Autumn Budget tax hikes lead to warnings from legal expert
Businesses, landlords and savers set to be impacted by Labour’s Autumn Budget are being urged to seek expert legal advice following the Chancellor’s announcement of sweeping tax hikes. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed a raft of tax rises, worth around £26...
Anonymous Art Auction Challenges Buyers to Trust Their Instincts
Art lovers will have to trust their instincts at a unique exhibition by University of Worcester students, where postcard-sized artworks will be auctioned anonymously; buyers won’t know the artist’s name until after the sale. The event, developed in partnership with...
Chamber News
Business Awards Entries Open Soon!
The Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce Business Awards are back Thursday 13th June 2024, at University Arena, Worcester. Sponsored by Herefordshire Council and Worcestershire Council, the Awards will welcome over 700 guests from businesses across...
Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce Celebrates a Year of Success and Community Engagement
As the year draws to a close, the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce takes a moment to reflect on a year filled with impactful initiatives, growth, and community support. Serving as a constant pillar of business support across two counties, the...
Our Latest Member
We’re so excited to be on board!
Hi all! I’m Corrine, the Office Manager here at Heart Office Supplies Ltd and I just wanted to take this opportunity to introduce our small local business to you all. Heart Office Supplies Ltd started little over a year ago from the humble home of Kyle (our Managing...
We’re so excited to be on board!
Hi all! I’m Corrine, the Office Manager here at Heart Office Supplies Ltd and I just wanted to take this opportunity to introduce our small local business to you all. Heart Office Supplies Ltd started little over a year ago from the humble home of Kyle (our Managing...
Policy News
Inflation Drops, However Remains at a Historic High Level.
Inflation has dropped again, to 6.8% from 7.9% in June. This is welcome news to businesses that have been hit hard by constant pressures from price rises for many months. However, inflation remains at historically high levels and is significantly below the 2% target...
Inflation falls again to 7.9%
The UK’s rate of inflation dropped to 7.9% in the year to June, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Inflation is now at its lowest for more than a year, after several months of being stuck around the same level. The Office for National...
Skills News
BCC & Barclays LifeSkills release report revealing businesses’ thoughts on futureproofing for a post-pandemic world
The British Chambers of Commerce and Barclays LifeSkills have today (Friday 23 April) released a new report entitled ‘The Next Normal: Futureproofing the Workforce for a Post-Pandemic World’. The report seeks to tackle questions around the workforce challenges faced...
BCC reacts to latest UK labour market figures
Yesterday (Tuesday 20 April) the Office for National Statistics released their latest labour market statistics. The figures suggest that the jobs market has been broadly stable in recent months. The UK unemployment rate was estimated at 4.9%, 0.1 percentage points...
Charity News
The Courtyard October Film Listings
OCTOBER FILM Mon 14, 6.30pm RADIX FILM CLUB PRESENT: RUN LOLA RUN (1998, 15, 35mm) Radix Film Club is bringing back the German mega-hit Run Lola Run on a glorious 35mm print. After her boyfriend Manni loses 100,000DM, Lola has 20 minutes to raise the money and deliver...
Standing Together – Supporting our Hospices, securing our future
At St Michael’s Hospice, we are deeply saddened by the recent news of six regional Hospices having to reduce services and make the difficult decision of redundancies. These are truly challenging times for hospices across the UK, as rising costs and uncertain funding...
Office Return Varies Across Sectors
41% of businesses have required staff to spend more time working on site over the past year One in ten (9%) relevant firms say employees have quit because of the requirement to return to onsite working Nearly half of surveyed businesses (48%) expect all working days...
BCC News
Office Return Varies Across Sectors
41% of businesses have required staff to spend more time working on site over the past year One in ten (9%) relevant firms say employees have quit because of the requirement to return to onsite working Nearly half of surveyed businesses (48%) expect all working days...
Worcestershire News
University Neuroscientist Explores Imagination in Public Talk
What is imagination? How does it work and where does it come from? These are some of the questions that a neuroscientist from the University of Worcester will be attempting to answer at an upcoming talk. Dr Matt Di Miceli, Lecturer in Biomedical Science, who...
Academics at University of Worcester Part of Wheelchair Marathon Bid
Two sports lecturers at the University of Worcester are part of a team aiming to assist their wheelchair-bound friend and family member to complete this year’s London Marathon. Gareth Rees, who is paralysed from the neck down, will be pushed by four able bodied...
Herefordshire News
Marches LEP gathers experts for Hereford business finance event
Leading experts in business finance will be sharing their knowledge at a special event in Hereford to help firms access vital funding to help them grow. The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership and its business support arm the Marches Growth Hub have teamed up with...
Council team scoops food award
A Herefordshire Council team has won an award at the West Midlands Public Health Awards. The council’s public health team won the hotly-contested ‘local authority project of the year award’ for its work on sustainable food. Held in Birmingham on Saturday 20 May, the...
All Latest News
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce Partners with Worcestershire’s 2026 TechFest
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce partners with Worcestershire’s 2026 TechFest. We are thrilled to announce our role as Official Partners for Worcestershire TechFest 2026. Following on from a successful launch in 2025, which saw 500+...
Law firm lends helping hand for disabled people to become homeowners
A leading Worcestershire law firm is giving disabled people expert advice to get on the property ladder. The Government-backed HOLD (Home Ownership for People with Long-Term Disabilities) scheme is available to help disabled people become shared ownership homeowners....
Make Your Voice Heard: Voting Opens for the Herefordshire Area Council
We’re recruiting three new Herefordshire Area Council members and now we need your vote. These newly elected members will join senior leaders from a wide range of business sectors across the county, providing crucial sector-specific insights and contributing to...
Meet Joe McAlster: Driving Employer Engagement at Kidderminster College
Hi, I’m Joe McAlster and I am the new Business and Employer Engagement Manager at Kidderminster College. I’m really excited to be working here and have the opportunity to work with employers and other organisations within the Wyre Forest district and wider...
L. G. Harris & Co. Ltd. Recognised with Royal Warrant of Appointment
L. G. Harris & Co. Ltd. has been granted a Royal Warrant of Appointment by His Majesty King Charles III as Manufacturers of Paint Brushes and Painters’ Tools, continuing a proud association with the Royal Household that began in 1961 under Her Late Majesty Queen...
Worcestershire celebrates outstanding success at Annual Apprenticeship Awards
Worcestershire celebrated its commitment to developing local talent and skills at the 2025 Worcestershire Apprenticeships Awards on Thursday 13 November. Now in their eleventh year of the Apprenticeships Awards, the 2025 celebrations continued to recognise the amazing...
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