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.
VSL Group welcomes Lee Reece and John MacDonald as business enters next stage of growth
VSL Group is delighted to announce two new appointments to its growing team, with Lee Reece joining as Sales and Marketing Director and John MacDonald as Chief Technology Officer. The appointments come at an exciting time for VSL Group as the business continues to...
Latest Article
VSL Group welcomes Lee Reece and John MacDonald as business enters next stage of growth
VSL Group is delighted to announce two new appointments to its growing team, with Lee Reece joining as Sales and Marketing Director and John MacDonald as Chief Technology Officer. The appointments come at an exciting time for VSL Group as the business continues to...
Member News
The Value of Work Experience: Building Future Talent Through Vocational Education
At Kidderminster College, we are committed to helping vocational students develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to succeed in their chosen industries. Work experience is a key part of this, providing valuable opportunities for students to apply their...
Student Support and Fundraising at the Heart of University’s Award Finalist Places
The University of Worcester has been shortlisted for the Outstanding Support for Students award in the prestigious Times Higher Education Awards for the efforts of staff to raise money for student scholarships and hardship funds. It’s one of four awards that the...
Patron & Strategic News
New paralegal joins mfg’s Residential Property department as work grows
Law firm mfg Solicitors has added further to its growing Residential Property team with the appointment of a new paralegal. Elizabeth Simpson has joined the firm from Parkinson Wright where she spent just over two years. Aside from supporting the team and its clients,...
VOLUNTEERS WANTED FOR WORCESTER CITY RUNS SPONSORED BY SUTCLIFFE & CO
Worcester City Runs, sponsored by Sutcliffe & Co Insurance Brokers, is calling on local people to get involved and volunteer at this year’s event, taking place across the city on 12th and 13th September. With around 6,000 runners expected to take part in the...
Chamber News
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...
Behind the scenes: The Chamber work delivering results for Members
From influencing national policy to solving local business challenges, much of the Chamber’s most valuable work happens behind the scenes. Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce Director of Business Engagement & Policy Robert Elliot talks to...
Our Latest Member
Welcome New Members | June 2026
A warm welcome to our newest members who joined us throughout June: KSP Secure – Provides professional CCTV, intruder alarm, and security system installation services, delivering reliable, tailored protection for homes and businesses. Jespearl Services Ltd...
Welcome New Members | June 2026
A warm welcome to our newest members who joined us throughout June: KSP Secure – Provides professional CCTV, intruder alarm, and security system installation services, delivering reliable, tailored protection for homes and businesses. Jespearl Services Ltd...
Policy 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...
Conflict Cuts Middle East Trade By One Fifth
New data from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has revealed a 20% drop in export activity to the Middle East as conflict escalated in March. The findings are based on the number of certificates of origin issued by Chambers of Commerce. These are a...
Skills News
New Course Explores Impact of Climate Change on Policing
The University of Worcester, West Mercia Police and e-learning company Indegu Ltd have joined forces to develop an awareness course for police staff on how climate change could impact policing in the future. The online programme is designed to educate on climate...
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...
Charity News
OrchardFest Returns – Join Orchard Trust For Their Accessible Music Festival on 15th August 2026
Orchard Trust is excited to share some sunny news: OrchardFest is returning on 15th August 2026! About the Festival: OrchardFest 2026 is Orchard Trust’s popular accessible music festival, designed especially for people with learning disabilities, where everyone is...
Businesses Hit It for Six as Worcester Street Sixes Takes Over the City Centre
Cathedral Square in the heart of Worcester was transformed into a vibrant cricket arena yesterday (Wednesday 15 July) as businesses from across Worcestershire came together for another successful Worcester Street Sixes, raising vital funds for Worcestershire Cricket...
Defence Investment – A Challenge The UK Cannot Get Wrong
The Autumn Budget will contain a political hand grenade for the new Chancellor John Healey to defuse in the shape of the Defence Investment Plan. The initial announcement on defence spending at the end of June 2026, left several unresolved funding commitments to be...
BCC News
Defence Investment – A Challenge The UK Cannot Get Wrong
The Autumn Budget will contain a political hand grenade for the new Chancellor John Healey to defuse in the shape of the Defence Investment Plan. The initial announcement on defence spending at the end of June 2026, left several unresolved funding commitments to be...
Worcestershire News
Worcestershire County Cricket Foundations Street Sixes was raining with joy
On Tuesday the 15th of July, the Worcestershire County Cricket Foundation hosted its annual Street Sixes which took place on Cathedral Square and down the High Street, despite the weather the fun could not be dampened. The event was put in place to raise money for the...
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...
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
International Trade Forum Delivers Expert Insights on Global Growth and Trade Success
International Trade Forum – 25th August 2026 Speakers from DRP Group, Bishops Fleming and the most recent winner of the Chamber of Commerce Global Trade Business of the Year Award, Kimal PLC, explored their experiences in international trade and how they were helped...
Economic Priorities For The Government: Trade
The UK has a new Prime Minister who has promised to revive the nation’s economic fortunes. But he follows a succession of PMs who have pledged the same without ever managing to consistently deliver. At the BCC, we think about little else than helping businesses and...
Services Propping Up Exports As Goods Fall
Commenting on the latest trade data released by the Office for National Statistics, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “There was further volatility in June as the volume of goods exports dropped by 4.7 per cent, a reversal...
DBT changes to DBIST and reducing numbers
DBT changes to DBIST and reduce numbers The new department absorbs parts of the former Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Investment Security Unit, merging science and innovation directly with trade and business. Headcount Reductions...
UAE DIGITAL CARNETS
Whilst the UAE Digital Carnet scheme is broadly the same in all regions, there will be slight differences. For instance, the UAE scheme While standard international carnets last up to a year, the UAE typically limits temporary importation under a carnet to six...
New Training Grant Could Help Herefordshire Businesses Invest in Their Teams
Businesses across Herefordshire may be able to access funding towards eligible staff training through the Herefordshire Future Skills Grant. The grant could provide up to 50% funding towards eligible training costs, subject to eligibility, the grant criteria,...
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