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.
Hewett Recruitment launches Gig 4 Good – a night of live music supporting ONSIDE
Hewett Recruitment is bringing live music, local talent and community spirit together this October with the launch of Gig 4 Good, a charity gig in support of ONSIDE. Taking place on Friday 9 October 2026, Gig 4 Good promises an evening of live music, fundraising and...
Latest Article
Hewett Recruitment launches Gig 4 Good – a night of live music supporting ONSIDE
Hewett Recruitment is bringing live music, local talent and community spirit together this October with the launch of Gig 4 Good, a charity gig in support of ONSIDE. Taking place on Friday 9 October 2026, Gig 4 Good promises an evening of live music, fundraising and...
Member News
Celebrating 25 Years of Dedication – Congratulations Jayne Llewellyn!
Hillscourt Hotel & Conference Centre is proud to celebrate an incredible milestone as Front Office Manager, Jayne Llewellyn, marks 25 years of service. Having joined Hillscourt on Reception, Jayne has progressed through Banqueting to her current role, becoming a...
Beacon CRM Breach: What UK Charities (and Any Organisation Using a Third-Party CRM) Need to Do Now
Beacon CRM, a customer relationship management platform used by more than 1,500 UK charities, has confirmed a cyber security incident that has exposed supporter and donor data across a growing number of organisations. Victims already known to be affected include the...
Patron & Strategic News
University Named Finalist for Sustainability Work with Students and Community
The University of Worcester has been shortlisted for a national sustainability award, recognising its efforts to embed sustainability across its curriculum, campuses and the wider community. It has been named a finalist in the Creating Impact category of the Green...
University Lecturer Completes 310-Mile Charity Kayak Challenge
A University of Worcester lecturer who has kayaked 310 miles in 31 days to raise money for charity is set to complete his month-long challenge today (Friday 31 July), having already exceeded his original fundraising target. Steve Ennis, Business Lecturer and Managing...
Chamber News
The Quarterly Economic Survey (QES 2) is Now Live – Share Your Insights
The second Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) of the year is now open, and the Chamber is encouraging businesses across Herefordshire and Worcestershire to take part. Running from 11 May to 1 June, QES 2 gives businesses the opportunity to share their experiences and...
Women’s Business Conference 2026 Returns with Inspiring Speaker Line-Up and Powerful Stories of Leadership and Resilience
The Women’s Business Conference returns in 2026 as one of the Chamber’s flagship events, bringing together professionals from across the region to celebrate, connect, and empower women in business. Proudly sponsored by mfg Legal Services Limited, the conference...
Our Latest Member
Welcome New Members | April 2026
A warm welcome to our newest members who joined us throughout April: Bexley Beaumont – A specialist provider of outsourced HR solutions and employee relations support for organisations across the UK. Cristie & Co – Offers tailored website management,...
Welcome New Members | April 2026
A warm welcome to our newest members who joined us throughout April: Bexley Beaumont – A specialist provider of outsourced HR solutions and employee relations support for organisations across the UK. Cristie & Co – Offers tailored website management,...
Policy News
Iran Conflict Deepens Inflation Concerns
Responding to the latest inflation data, published this morning by the Office for National Statistics, David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Today’s 3.3% inflation figure for March is an early signal that the Iran conflict is...
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...
Skills News
Initial Wave of Innovators Join Business Support Programme with Worcestershire’s First AI Testbed Facilities
A bold new chapter in Worcestershire’s innovation landscape begins as 15 early-stage technology businesses commence BetaDen’s newly opened incubator programme at the Old Court in Kidderminster. BetaDen is Worcestershire’s provider of support programmes for innovative...
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...
Charity News
Worcestershire charity launches search for seven inspirational runners to represent Team Ladybird in the 2027 London Marathon
Worcestershire-based Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust is inviting runners to join Team Ladybird and apply for one of seven exclusive charity places in the iconic 2027 TCS London Marathon, offering supporters the chance to take on one of the world’s most famous...
KEMP Hospice Welcomes New Head of Care and Quality
Wyre Forest charity KEMP Hospice is pleased to announce Chrissla Davis has joined their Care Services team as Head of Care and Quality. Speaking about her appointment, Chrissla said “Throughout my career, one thing has remained constant: people always come first....
UK Exporters Floundering As Headwinds Build
The proportion of businesses reporting increased exports orders fell to 16% in Q2 2026, down from 25% in Q1. The balance of firms reporting increased orders stands at -10%, with 26% of businesses reporting a decrease. In the past 20 years, export orders have only...
BCC News
UK Exporters Floundering As Headwinds Build
The proportion of businesses reporting increased exports orders fell to 16% in Q2 2026, down from 25% in Q1. The balance of firms reporting increased orders stands at -10%, with 26% of businesses reporting a decrease. In the past 20 years, export orders have only...
Worcestershire News
Main Line Rail Companies Pitch in at the Severn Valley Railway
Thanks to an ambitious and unique joint volunteering effort by many companies across the rail sector, the Severn Valley Railway has succeeded in re-laying track across its newly repaired Mor Brook bridge in Shropshire. This was achieved in record time and at zero...
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...
Herefordshire News
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:...
Visit Herefordshire PR and Reel Creation Tender – Open
Herefordshire County BID Ltd (HCBID) is seeking to engage the services of a specialist agency with proven expertise in the strategic delivery of PR in the visitor economy. Project Scope: HCBID is seeking proposals from qualified and experienced businesses to provide...
All Latest News
Mixed Picture for UK Exporters On US Tariffs
The US has introduced new tariffs to replace its current levies on UK imports which have expired today. For most UK companies there is no effective change, but there is welcome confirmation that the removal of US tariffs on whisky has taken effect Duties that must be...
University Lecturer Completes 310-Mile Charity Kayak Challenge
A University of Worcester lecturer who has kayaked 310 miles in 31 days to raise money for charity is set to complete his month-long challenge today (Friday 31 July), having already exceeded his original fundraising target. Steve Ennis, Business Lecturer and Managing...
Experienced marketing professional joins community lender ART Business Loans
Community lender ART Business Loans has announced the appointment of Joy Douglas to the newly created role of marketing manager. Joy brings more than 20 years of marketing experience to the role having previously run her own consultancy, Joy Friday, supporting small...
Coffee Express opens at Kidderminster Town station
The Severn Valley Railway has opened its new Coffee Express grab-and-go refreshment outlet at Kidderminster Town station, with the Mayor of Kidderminster, Councillor Shazu Miah, performing the opening ceremony on 29 July. Located at the front of the Railway’s...
Chamber Celebrates Year of Positive Social Impact and Sets Ambitious Goals for 2026/27
The Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce is celebrating a successful year of delivering Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives with a lasting social impact across the two counties, while setting ambitious objectives for 2026/27 to strengthen...
Summer of Cyber Giveaway
We’re giving one lucky winner everything they need to stay cool this summer, while taking a closer look at their organisation’s AI usage. x4 Optimising IT branded Yeti Rambler® 769ml bottles x1 Yeti Roadie® 15 Cool Box x1 14-Day AI Audit (worth £399) So…...
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