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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.
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Leading Scholars to Share Cutting-Edge Ideas in Worcester Public Lectures
A new series of public lectures will bring leading academic experts to Worcester, offering fresh perspectives on some of the most fascinating questions in their fields. Launching in February, The Engine Room series, hosted by the University of Worcester, will invite...
Latest Article
Leading Scholars to Share Cutting-Edge Ideas in Worcester Public Lectures
A new series of public lectures will bring leading academic experts to Worcester, offering fresh perspectives on some of the most fascinating questions in their fields. Launching in February, The Engine Room series, hosted by the University of Worcester, will invite...
Member News
Severn Valley Railway freezes fares for 2026 to deliver outstanding value to visitors
The Severn Valley Railway has announced that its 2026 fares will be frozen at 2025 prices. This reaffirms the railway’s commitment to offering great-value heritage experiences in an increasingly competitive tourism market. The fare freeze includes Freedom of the Line...
Personal injury specialist urges patients to come forward after chemotherapy scare
Victims of a cancer specialist under investigation for prescribing a toxic chemotherapy drug are being urged to seek legal help. More than 20 patients are suing University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust after claiming they were given unnecessary...
Patron & Strategic News
Business School’s Recognition for its Support of Small Businesses and Entrepreneurship
The University of Worcester’s Business School’s work to support local businesses has helped it to secure re-accreditation of its Small Business Charter. The national accreditation is awarded to business schools which demonstrate excellence and impact in supporting...
DRP secures CCS framework appointment to deliver major Government events
Worcestershire, UK – Tuesday 27 January 2026, DRP UK known as DRPG has been named as a supplier on Crown Commercial Service’s (CCS) RM6364 Media and Creative Services framework on Lot 6 (Events). This appointment reinforces DRP’s position as a national delivery...
Chamber 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+...
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...
Our Latest Member
Welcome New Members August
Warm welcome to our newest Members who joined throughout July. ActionCOACH Worcester – The help you need to grow your business. Agility Fleet – Agility Fleet is a national provider of vehicle funding and fleet management, specialising in the SME market....
Welcome New Members August
Warm welcome to our newest Members who joined throughout July. ActionCOACH Worcester – The help you need to grow your business. Agility Fleet – Agility Fleet is a national provider of vehicle funding and fleet management, specialising in the SME market....
Policy News
Autumn Budget 2025 summary: What you need to know
After months of unprecedented and exhausting speculation, policy kite-flying and last-minute U-turns that rattled the markets, Rachel Reeves has finally unveiled her much-anticipated second Budget, delivered as late in the year as politically possible. She faced a...
Key Employment Law Updates: Winter 2025
Employment Rights Bill in “Ping Pong” Phase as Key Provisions Remain in Debate As winter 2025 approaches, the Employment Rights Act 2025 has yet to be finalised, with several headline provisions still under dispute following rejection by the House of Lords on 28...
Skills News
NMITE hosts events to boost local employment skills
NMITE hosts two events in June on employment skills for the modern workforce and pathways into business NMITE (New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering) is hosting two events in June, both highlighting employment and training pathways into business and...
Unlock HR Success: Expert-Led Workshops for Worcestershire Organisations
Worcestershire businesses are being offered valuable support through a new series of events focused on key HR topics. This support is designed to enhance the workforce and help organisations thrive. In today’s fast-changing landscape, many businesses are navigating...
Charity News
Growing Hope This Christmas: How Local Businesses Can Support WMRSASC’s Purple Leaf Project
This December, WMRSASC is inviting local businesses to support the Purple Leaf Project – Tree of Hope at Worcester Cathedral. Each hand-painted purple leaf represents solidarity, strength, and a message of hope for survivors of sexual violence — and every donation...
Parents encouraged to spot signs and symptoms of childhood cancer to help early detection
A childhood cancer charity is encouraging parents to become more aware of the early signs and symptoms of cancer among children, after research showed low levels of recognition. With only three out of 10 parents feeling able to spot the signs and symptoms of childhood...
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
SVR confirms 35006 P&O S N Co and overnight running for its Autumn Steam Gala
The Severn Valley Railway has confirmed the first guest for its Autumn Steam Gala will be 35006 Peninsular & Oriental S N Co, which will make its first-ever appearance at the heritage line during the four-day event from 18 to 21 September. And, in a special move...
First stop: Severn Valley Railway, for the Railway 200 exhibition train
Railway 200’s travelling exhibition train arrived in style at the Severn Valley Railway today [Friday 27 June] for the very first leg of its UK-wide tour. The specially commissioned Inspiration train arrived at Kidderminster Town station, sporting its one-off livery,...
Herefordshire News
Branding with Purpose: Wye Valley Brewery Leads the Conversation at The Marketing Meetup – Worcester
Last week, the Worcester marketing community came together for The Marketing Meetup, this was only the second event – this time sponsored by Nifty Communications and hosted at the co-working space Vinegar Works on Foregate Street. This impactful event brought together...
Winners of the Herefordshire Tourism Awards 2024 have been Announced
Industry experts selected the county’s winning tourism businesses in our very first Visit Herefordshire Tourism Awards. We’re delighted to congratulate our winners and are super excited that they will be put forward to the VisitEngland Awards of Excellence...
All Latest News
Full-on family fun as the Severn Valley Railway reopens for the 2026 season
The Severn Valley Railway (SVR) is set to welcome families back for the start of its 2026 season on Saturday 14 February, for the half-term break, with heritage trains, hands-on activities and plenty to keep children of all ages entertained. Running between...
DRP secures CCS framework appointment to deliver major Government events
Worcestershire, UK – Tuesday 27 January 2026, DRP UK known as DRPG has been named as a supplier on Crown Commercial Service’s (CCS) RM6364 Media and Creative Services framework on Lot 6 (Events). This appointment reinforces DRP’s position as a national delivery...
Planning System Putting the Brakes on Growth
Economic growth is still being constrained by a planning system in England that is ‘too slow, under resourced and unpredictable’, according to a new British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) report. The report, Planning for Business and Growth, says that while recent...
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce becomes a Certified B Corporation
The Chamber joins the growing movement of companies using business as a force for good. Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce has today announced its certification as a B Corporation (or B Corp), joining a growing movement of companies that are...
A Life in Technology: John Legge’s Journey Through Computing and Training
John Legge our IT trainer of many years has written his first book of his career in computing and business including of course the many years he’s delivered courses on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce. Although John runs almost entirely just Excel training currently...
1276 Wines Launches New Corporate Experiences Package in Herefordshire
Ledbury, Herefordshire – 1276 Wines is delighted to announce the launch of its new Corporate Experiences Package, offering businesses a distinctive venue for meetings, team-building days, and client entertainment set against the backdrop of vineyard with a remarkable...
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