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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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Join rail leaders at the Severn Valley Railway as they shape the legacy of the Greatest Gathering
A unique and thought-provoking evening exploring the future of the rail industry will take place at the Severn Valley Railway’s Engine House at Highley on Thursday 14 May, as part of its Spring Diesel Festival. Bringing together an exceptionally well-connected panel...
Latest Article
Join rail leaders at the Severn Valley Railway as they shape the legacy of the Greatest Gathering
A unique and thought-provoking evening exploring the future of the rail industry will take place at the Severn Valley Railway’s Engine House at Highley on Thursday 14 May, as part of its Spring Diesel Festival. Bringing together an exceptionally well-connected panel...
Member News
FCA approval marks major milestone for Severn Valley Railway’s One Railway project
The Severn Valley Railway (SVR) has today announced that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has approved its application to convert Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) Plc into a charitable community benefit society (CCBS), a key step in the organisation’s ambitious...
Worcester Students Win National Award for Video Game Built in Just 32 Hours
Students from the University of Worcester have won a national award for a video game they designed from scratch in a race against the clock. The third year Game Art students were taking part in the Ukie Student Game Jam, going head-to-head with teams from universities...
Patron & Strategic News
Club Partners with College to Support Future Sports Leaders
Halesowen College is delighted to announce that Coaches Club CIC has joined the college’s PowerPartner Programme with platinum partner status. Founded in 2020, Coaches Club CIC is dedicated to developing the next generation of coaches and community leaders through...
Celebrating Our Rising Star: Laura Wins Prestigious Fundraising Award
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Charity is delighted to share that Laura, our Community and Events Fundraising Officer, has won the Chartered Institute of Fundraising West Midlands Rising Star Award. The award recognises fundraisers across the West Midlands who make an...
Chamber News
Former England Rugby Star to Host Chamber Networking Dinner
The Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce is delighted to announce an exclusive networking dinner featuring former England rugby union star, Simon Shaw MBE. Held on 30 April 2026 at the elegant Hogarths Stone Manor Hotel in Kidderminster, this evening...
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber launches Business Manifesto 2026/27 at the Annual Economic Conference
The Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce has launched its Business Manifesto 2026/27 at the Chamber’s Annual Economic Conference, setting out the organisation’s priorities for the year ahead and highlighting the key issues facing businesses across...
Our Latest Member
Welcome New Members | November
Warm welcome to our newest Members who joined throughout November Lucy Labels – A sticker and labelling business offering custom labels. Barclays Greater Birmingham and The Three Counties Corporate – Barclays’ regional corporate banking services for businesses....
Welcome New Members | November
Warm welcome to our newest Members who joined throughout November Lucy Labels – A sticker and labelling business offering custom labels. Barclays Greater Birmingham and The Three Counties Corporate – Barclays’ regional corporate banking services for businesses....
Policy News
URGENT Briefing Webinar: What Does the Middle East Conflict Mean for Your Business?
The escalating conflict in the Middle East is already having significant consequences for global energy markets, supply chains, insurance costs and wider commercial risk environments. As the situation continues to evolve, UK businesses need timely, reliable...
Growth Elusive As Labour Market Loosens
Reacting to the latest labour market data from the ONS, Patrick Milnes, Head of People and Work Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “There are strong signs that the labour market is continuing to loosen as wage...
Skills News
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...
Apprenticeship Plans are ‘Mixed Bag’ for Business
Responding to the Government’s plans for apprenticeship reform in England, Alex Veitch, Director of Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Apprenticeships are high-quality, valued qualifications and businesses welcome the funding boost announced by...
Charity News
A kind collaboration – Dandelion Video Production and Primrose Hospice
Primrose Hospice is the latest charity to collaborate with Dandelion Video Production through their Chamber of Commerce charity pledge. The video, which follows the journey of a piece of pre-loved furniture through the donation process, and the impact it can make,...
Orchard Trust Offers New Supported Farm Placements
Lydbrook, Gloucestershire – Orchard Trust is delighted to announce it has secured funding from The Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation to support the development of their new Supported Farm Placements Programme: specialised Animal Care and Gardening Placements based at...
Reflections on the WTO talks
The timing of the British Chambers of Commerce Why Trade Matters report and the Driving International Trade Conference could not have been timelier, because MC14 has just shown, in real time, exactly what is at stake. Trade is not some abstract, technocratic concept,...
BCC News
Reflections on the WTO talks
The timing of the British Chambers of Commerce Why Trade Matters report and the Driving International Trade Conference could not have been timelier, because MC14 has just shown, in real time, exactly what is at stake. Trade is not some abstract, technocratic concept,...
Worcestershire News
A Vintage Transport Extravaganza at the SVR in August
A full weekend of heritage trains and classic vehicles awaits as the Severn Valley Railway’s much-loved Vintage Transport Extravaganza rolls in on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 August. Just weeks after the railway proudly reopens its full 16.5-mile route from Kidderminster...
Weekend rolls into the Severn Valley Railway for a must-see LEGO event
LEGO fans are in for a treat as Brick Weekend arrives at the Severn Valley Railway’s Engine House Visitor Centre for two fun-filled days on Saturday and Sunday 2 and 3 August. Hosted in partnership with the LEGO UK Railway (LUKR) club, this special event will showcase...
Herefordshire News
Vennture Appoints Safeguarding Expert to Drive Innovation Amid Sector Pressures
Ex-Police Safeguarding Leader Joins Vennture as New COO Herefordshire charity Vennture has appointed Jon Roberts as its new Chief Operating Officer, effective 1 August 2025. Jon, a father of four from North Herefordshire, brings 30 years of policing experience,...
Hereford Military History Festival Honours Herefordshire History with Network of Local Partners and Community Support
HEREFORD, 19th August 2025 — The inaugural Hereford Military History Festival 2025 is a highly ambitious new addition to the UK’s cultural calendar, which aims to support the city’s local community, celebrate its culture and heritage, and honour its rich military...
All Latest News
Club Partners with College to Support Future Sports Leaders
Halesowen College is delighted to announce that Coaches Club CIC has joined the college’s PowerPartner Programme with platinum partner status. Founded in 2020, Coaches Club CIC is dedicated to developing the next generation of coaches and community leaders through...
Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) Q1 2026 Report Released
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the release of the Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) Report for Q1 2026, supported by Worcestershire County Council. The QES is the UK’s largest independent business survey and provides a key...
Celebrating Our Rising Star: Laura Wins Prestigious Fundraising Award
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Charity is delighted to share that Laura, our Community and Events Fundraising Officer, has won the Chartered Institute of Fundraising West Midlands Rising Star Award. The award recognises fundraisers across the West Midlands who make an...
UK’S FIRST ON-SITE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING TRAINING FACILITY OPENS AT NEW COLLEGE WORCESTER, BUILT THROUGH INDUSTRY COLLABOARTION TO SUPPORT THE VISION IMPAIRED
New College Worcester (NCW), a national residential school for blind and vision impaired young people, has installed a state-of-the-art pedestrian crossing on its campus, believed to be the first of its kind in the UK. The Noel Duffy Pedestrian Crossing provides a...
Smaller Exporters Struggling To Make Headway
The proportion of businesses reporting increased export orders sits at 25% in Q1 2026, compared with 31% in Q2 2018 There is a big split relating to the size of the business, with 23% of SMEs reporting increased orders, compared to 38% of larger firms....
“They’re great… but something’s not quite right” – managing early employee performance concerns
You’ll likely know that feeling when someone joins your team and they’re lovely, they’re trying, but something just isn’t quite clicking. A lot of small employers sit with that gut feeling for too long… not because they don’t want to deal with it but...
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