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.
Severn Valley Railway honoured for resilience at Worcestershire tourism awards
The Severn Valley Railway (SVR) has been recognised with a special honour for outstanding resilience at the Visit Worcestershire 2025/26 Awards for Tourism. Judges created the award to shine a light on a business that has demonstrated exceptional strength,...
Latest Article
Severn Valley Railway honoured for resilience at Worcestershire tourism awards
The Severn Valley Railway (SVR) has been recognised with a special honour for outstanding resilience at the Visit Worcestershire 2025/26 Awards for Tourism. Judges created the award to shine a light on a business that has demonstrated exceptional strength,...
Member News
Book Curated by University Lecturer Exhibited at United Nations
A groundbreaking book, which brings together a collection of postcards highlighting environmental threats to our oceans, has gone on display in the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York. Sea Change was created by Tobias Hickey, Senior Lecturer and Course...
Leadership Is a Behaviour, Not a Job Title
You may have recently heard Dr Lizzy Bernthal speak at the Chamber’s Health and Wellbeing Forum, where she shared insights on resilience, confidence and what leadership really means in today’s workplaces. Lizzy, founder of Release Your Potential Ltd, believes strongly...
Patron & Strategic News
Massive new superstore with thousands of bargains on Bescot retail park
A massive new Acorns superstore has opened its doors in Walsall – the charity’s first ever store on a retail park – featuring a huge range of furniture and a dedicated book reading area. Thousands of items have been stacked on the shelves including pre-loved clothes,...
Explore Robots, Rockets and More at The Hive’s STEAMfest
Excitement is building ahead of the return of one of Worcester’s most vibrant celebrations of arts and science. STEAMfest (which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) brings cutting-edge science together with nature, the arts, computing,...
Chamber News
Welcome new Members
The warmest welcome to our newest Members: Alkaline Solutions Ltd T/A Popcorn Mail – Popcorn Mail make CRM and lead management simple for small businesses. Aware Ecology Ltd – Aware Ecology offer various services, from assisting with individual...
Charities of the Year for 2024!
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce are delighted to announce that they have selected two charities to support as their ‘Charities of the Year’ in 2024! We are overwhelmed by the incredible work that is carried out in our local community. We learn...
Our Latest Member
Welcome new Members!
We would like to extend a warm welcome to our newest Members! A Plan Insurance – A-Plan provide “car, home, van” and a range of other insurance services. They are passionate about client service, and believe that the best way to support you and deliver real...
Welcome new Members!
We would like to extend a warm welcome to our newest Members! A Plan Insurance – A-Plan provide “car, home, van” and a range of other insurance services. They are passionate about client service, and believe that the best way to support you and deliver real...
Policy News
BCC Reacts to Chancellor’s Speech
Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC, said: “It was encouraging to hear the Chancellor recognising the huge potential of British business to grow the economy and her ambition to make that happen. “Today’s speech has set the scene for her first budget which...
Upcoming Budget: How Potential Changes Could Impact You
The forthcoming Autumn Budget, scheduled for 30th October 2024, looks likely to bring significant changes that could affect many people. While the full details are clearly not yet known, and we do not have a crystal ball to predict the future, several predictions and...
Skills News
New figures show workforce growth expected but some sectors yet to see signs of revival
The British Chambers of Commerce have released their Quarterly Recruitment Outlook for Q1 2021. The new figures show continued weakness in the job market in Q1, with 60% of the nearly 6000 businesses surveyed saying they had not attempted to recruit during the...
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...
Charity News
Prestigious Award Win for KEMP Hospice Fundraiser
Jayne Sargeant, Head of Fundraising and Communications at KEMP Hospice has been chosen as Fundraiser of the Year 2024 at the Institute of Fundraising (IOF) West Midlands Conference. The award, sponsored by Charity People, was presented during a prestigious ceremony...
Local Businesses Raise Over £3,000 for Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust
Worcester-based accountancy firm Ballards LLP and Four Squared Recruitment have joined forces in an impressive fundraising campaign, raising over £3,000 to date for the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust. Through a series of challenging and creative events, employees...
Service Exports Climb But Goods Trade In Flux
Commenting on the latest ONS trade data, BCC Head of Trade Policy, William Bain, said: “UK trade is heading along two distinct paths. There is a steady rise in services, which already account for more than half of UK exports, but trade in goods remains in flux....
BCC News
Service Exports Climb But Goods Trade In Flux
Commenting on the latest ONS trade data, BCC Head of Trade Policy, William Bain, said: “UK trade is heading along two distinct paths. There is a steady rise in services, which already account for more than half of UK exports, but trade in goods remains in flux....
Worcestershire News
Worcestershire’s Key Employment Land is Being Lost to Residential Development Says GJS Dillon
Worcestershire’s commercial property market performed better than predicted during 2023 according to a newly published report. But business growth is being stifled by the lack of quality accommodation. Take up of office space increased by 21%, the industrial market...
Launch of Midlands Engine Investment Fund II unlocks millions in funding for smaller businesses in Worcestershire
The Midlands Engine Investment Fund II will deliver a £400m commitment of new funding for smaller businesses The fund will build on the success of the first Midlands Engine Investment Fund and support access to early-stage finance 440 West Midlands...
Herefordshire News
Free ‘Taste of Herefordshire’ Tours At Vineyard For English Wine Week
AN AWARD-WINNING Herefordshire vineyard run by one of the chairmen of Wyevale Nurseries is promoting awareness of regional wine producers and tourism through a series of free tours and tastings as part of English Wine Week next month (Saturday, June 17 to Sunday, June...
NMITE is excited to announce its annual free Military to Business Showcase on Thursday 22nd June 2023
The New Model Institute for Technology & Engineering (NMITE) is excited to announce its annual free Military to Business Showcase on Thursday 22nd June, from 10am to 3pm, generously sponsored by Minerva Elite Performance. For the past four years, NMITE has worked...
All Latest News
Policing Students Tackle Violence Against Women and Girls with Poster Campaign
Aspiring police officers at the University of Worcester have created a powerful public messaging campaign aimed at tackling violence against women and girls. Students on the Professional Policing degree produced posters inspired by their studies, focused on educating...
Start Now: Make 2026 a really BIG year
As the busiest season of the year approaches, you might be looking at the next few weeks with mixed feelings — hoping for strong sales but wishing you’d had more time to put new ideas, promotions or partnerships in place. Or perhaps you’re already feeling the strain...
University Women’s Team Head Undefeated into the New Year
The University of Worcester’s Women’s Football Team are chasing promotion, as they enter the new year unbeaten after a record-breaking first half of the season. The side has won all eight of its league and cup fixtures so far, scoring 96 goals and conceding just once....
Budget consultation for businesses
Worcester City Council is the only organisation exclusively dedicated to serving Worcester’s 106,700 residents, but we face tough decisions as we consider how your money should be spent and what our priorities should be for the year ahead. Every year the Council is...
Celebrating excellence in apprenticeships
We are delighted to announce that nominations are now open for the first-ever Herefordshire Apprenticeship Awards. Hosted by Herefordshire Growth Hub in partnership with Herefordshire Council and local training organisations, these awards will recognise and celebrate:...
Youngsters’ artwork features in campaign encouraging parents to spot signs and symptoms of childhood cancer
Drawings by children who have undergone cancer treatment are featuring in a charity awareness campaign encouraging parents to recognise the early signs and symptoms of childhood cancer. The artwork by youngsters who have received treatment, along with those from...
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