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.
Historian Explores Centuries-Old City Tale in Halloween Talk on Belief in the Devil
A University of Worcester lecturer will explore the tale of a supposed spooky encounter in a Worcester wood more than 350 years ago as part of a talk on Halloween night. Professor of Early Modern History, Darren Oldridge’s free talk Diabolical Old Books, at The Hive...
Latest Article
Historian Explores Centuries-Old City Tale in Halloween Talk on Belief in the Devil
A University of Worcester lecturer will explore the tale of a supposed spooky encounter in a Worcester wood more than 350 years ago as part of a talk on Halloween night. Professor of Early Modern History, Darren Oldridge’s free talk Diabolical Old Books, at The Hive...
Member News
Platform81 Welcome Five New Starters Across PPC, Web Development, and Business Development
Platform81 has recently welcomed five new team members across key departments, supporting the ongoing growth of the business. These appointments come at a time of significant expansion, driven by new client wins and increasing demand across the agency’s core service...
Community Housing recognised as a 5 Star Employer
Wyre Forest based Community Housing has been recognised as a 5 Star Employer after receiving positive feedback from their employees through independent employee engagement experts WorkBuzz. In June 2025, WorkBuzz invited all employees at Community Housing to provide...
Patron & Strategic News
Physician Associate Course Approved at the University of Worcester
The training of Physician Associates at the University of Worcester has received formal approval from the General Medical Council. The University has been running a Physician Associate MSc since 2016, providing high-quality education and training for future healthcare...
June 2025 Tech and Digital Degree Apprenticeship Start Dates Available to Develop Your Next Generation Leadership Team
TDM’s next available Degree Apprenticeship start dates are fast approaching, taking place in June 2025 (with additional Summer start dates available in July, August and September). With both their BA (Hons) Digital Marketing Management and BSc (Hons) Digital and...
Chamber News
BCC Trade Manifesto – International Trade Vital For UK Growth
The British Chambers of Commerce has called for Government to focus on boosting services, advanced manufacturing, green and digital trade if it wants to hit its £1tn trade target. The move comes as research shows SME exports continue to languish: In...
Chamber achieve Employer Recognition Scheme Gold award!
The Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) award recognises companies for their support to the Armed Forces community, including Reservists, veterans, spouses, Cadet Forces Adult Volunteers and cadets. Gold award holders must demonstrate a number of positive measures and...
Our Latest Member
Welcome new Members!
We would like to extend a warm welcome to our newest Members! Brockencote Hall Hotel Limited – Brockencote Hall Hotel, Worcestershire, is a beautiful Victorian country manor house hotel set in 70 acres of stunning Worcestershire parkland. CKLD Ltd (Craig Kershaw...
Welcome new Members!
We would like to extend a warm welcome to our newest Members! Brockencote Hall Hotel Limited – Brockencote Hall Hotel, Worcestershire, is a beautiful Victorian country manor house hotel set in 70 acres of stunning Worcestershire parkland. CKLD Ltd (Craig Kershaw...
Policy News
Latest Quarterly Economic Report provides snapshot of business performance during final months of 2021
Today the latest Quarterly Economic Report has been released, providing the most up to date snapshot of local business performance and confidence. The Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) has been conducted by the British Chambers of Commerce within its UK network since...
The UK’s National Security and Investment Act 2021 – new guidance
The UK government has made a significant upgrade to investment screening, for national security purposes. The National Security and Investment Act (NSI) ensures predictability and transparency, while mitigating any risks to national security. The new system will come...
Skills News
Department for Education launches new Skills Toolkit
Following the Prime Minister’s speech about retraining and adult skills, the UK government has launched a new Skills Toolkit with additional courses that target employers, prospective learners and employees among others. One in three people have used online learning...
Workplace Training and Development Commission Progress Report
On 4 September, the BCC’s Workplace Training and Development Commission (WTDC) published its Progress Report for consultation. The report marks the halfway point in the Commission’s Inquiry into adult skills in the workplace. It sets out our emerging recommendations...
Charity News
Ballards LLP and Four Squared Recruitment Unite to Support Worcester Foodbank with Triathlon Fundraiser
Worcestershire-based accountancy firm Ballards LLP, along with their partner company Four Squared Recruitment, are once again joining forces to raise funds for the Worcester Foodbank. Members from both Ballards LLP and Four Squared Recruitment will be participating in...
Recruitment duo set for River Severn charity kayak challenge
Two Worcestershire-based recruitment specialists are set to take on a gruelling charity kayak challenge, which they are calling the 777 challenge, which will see them paddling the length of the River Severn over seven days and raising £7,000 for children’s charity New...
Businesses Feeling the Strain of Inflationary Pressures
Reacting to the latest inflation published by the ONS this morning, Stuart Morrison, Research Manager at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Today’s data underlines the inflationary pressures in the economy right now and the real challenges businesses are...
BCC News
Businesses Feeling the Strain of Inflationary Pressures
Reacting to the latest inflation published by the ONS this morning, Stuart Morrison, Research Manager at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Today’s data underlines the inflationary pressures in the economy right now and the real challenges businesses are...
Worcestershire News
The Small Business Charter, the Help to Grow Course and the Return of the Executive MBA; an Exciting Time for the Worcester Business School.
The Worcester Business School at the University of Worcester has officially received its Small Business Charter. The CEO of the Chartered Association of Business Schools, Flora Hamilton, visited the City Campus to hand over the charter in person last month. It paves...
Switch Jam Digital Announces Transatlantic Partnership
Switch Jam Digital, a Worcestershire based marketing agency, has reached an agreement with Indigo Marketing. The agency based in Beverly Hills, USA, are renown for their marketing service specialising in the financial advisory sector. Strategic Expansion The...
Herefordshire News
Herefordshire Care Homes Host Marie Curie Charity Events
Hampton Grange and Gwen Walford in Hereford, as well as Kington Court and Lynhales Hall in Kington, each hosted a Marie Curie coffee morning on 3rd March, welcoming families, friends and community members to support the Great Daffodil Appeal. One of the UK’s leading...
Caplor Energy Certifies as a B Corporation
Renewable Energy company Caplor Energy Ltd has announced on March the 1st its certification as a B Corporation (or B Corp), joining a growing group of companies reinventing business by pursuing purpose as well as profit. Caplor Energy has been certified by B Lab, the...
All Latest News
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...
Will writing drive to raise funds for Worcestershire Community Foundation
Specialist legal teams at two Worcester law firms are throwing their support behind the Worcestershire Community Foundation through a month-long Will writing initiative. Throughout June, solicitors at City firms Bradley Haynes and HCR Law will be offering to write...
Procurement Act Must Quickly Deliver for SMEs
Only 20% of direct public sector procurement spend was with SMEs in 2024 – a similar figure to 2023 (19%) £45.4 billion was spent by Government directly with SMEs last year, up from £42.4 billion in 2023 Median spend per SME remained at £31,000 in 2024 Local...
US Trade Deal Provides Welcome Relief
Reacting to news of a trade deal in principle with the US, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC, said: “This deal will be met with a huge sigh of relief by many British businesses. “The reduction in the 25% tariffs on most of our automotive exports and the...
Severn Valley Railway launches short film to celebrate its 60th anniversary
The Severn Valley Railway has released a short promotional film, celebrating its 60th anniversary and marking its involvement with the Railway 200 celebrations that are also taking place in 2025-26. The film features a range of volunteers from across the railway,...
Rate Cut Provides Shock Absorber for Business
Responding to the Bank of England’s decision to cut interest rates to 4.25%, David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Today’s interest rate cut to 4.25% will help absorb some of the shocks that businesses are facing on...
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