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.
Polly the Polar Bear steals the show at the SVR’s new Santa Steam Specials
The Severn Valley Railway launches an exciting Christmas first this weekend, as its brand-new Santa Steam Specials begin their festive journeys, with a very special new star set to delight audiences. Polly the Polar Bear, an awe-inspiring puppet will make her debut in...
Latest Article
Polly the Polar Bear steals the show at the SVR’s new Santa Steam Specials
The Severn Valley Railway launches an exciting Christmas first this weekend, as its brand-new Santa Steam Specials begin their festive journeys, with a very special new star set to delight audiences. Polly the Polar Bear, an awe-inspiring puppet will make her debut in...
Member News
Worcester City FC Expands Community Outreach with Free After School Football Sessions
Worcester City FC is continuing its commitment to supporting young people across the city through its growing Community Outreach Programme, proudly supported by CARS Service Centre. The initiative focuses on increasing access to physical activity and football for...
Business energy bills in the UK are coming under fresh pressure
Business energy bills in the UK are coming under fresh pressure as two major cost-drivers are escalating: TNUoS charges and the RAB Levy. The TNUoS fee recovers the cost of maintaining and reinforcing the high-voltage transmission network, essentially the “backbone”...
Patron & Strategic News
PAYROLLING BENEFITS IN KIND
From April 2027, all Benefits in Kind (BiKs) will need to be payrolled in real time. In our latest article, we break down what the new rules mean, how to manage the transitional year, and why early action is essential to avoid disruption later. Our advice is don’t...
Hazelton Mountford raises over £5000 with charity steps challenge
Worcester based insurance brokers Hazelton Mountford are pleased to share the results of their June Charity Challenge, which saw staff walk an impressive 10.5 million steps and raise over £ 5,000 for charity. Throughout June, colleagues “stepped into...
Chamber News
Chair’s Report
I would like to reflect on the efforts that the Chamber makes to support our members in the field of International Trade. While only 10% in total of UK business export, 60% of Chamber members operate in global markets – making the local Chambers and the British...
Three quarters of firms offer flexible working – but significant sectoral disparities exist
According to new research from the British Chambers of Commerce’s (BCC) Insight Unit, the vast majority (76%) of businesses surveyed say they offer flexible working to their employees. The research has been released by the BCC ahead of the Lords’ third reading of the...
Our Latest Member
New Member Profile: Introducing CraftAndSew!
CraftAndSew is a small freelance service crafting a variety of handmade items. Situated in the heart of Stourport on Severn, they offer a bespoke service which, depending on the requirements, offers some personalisation as a nice individual touch. It also has a small...
New Member Profile: Introducing CraftAndSew!
CraftAndSew is a small freelance service crafting a variety of handmade items. Situated in the heart of Stourport on Severn, they offer a bespoke service which, depending on the requirements, offers some personalisation as a nice individual touch. It also has a small...
Policy News
Will R&D Tax Credits become more generous?
In the Spring Statement 2022, Rishi Sunak promised to make the UK’s Research & Development (R&D) Tax Credits regime more generous. But what will he do? UK business R&D investment is less than half of the OECD’s average as a percentage of GDP, so the...
Spring Statement 2022 at a glance
With the cost-of-living squeeze at the forefront of the minds of households and businesses, Chancellor Rishi Sunak used his Spring Statement to steady the economic ship being battered by waves of soaring inflation, petrol and energy bills, rising interest rates, tax...
Skills News
WCG celebrates student success
Seven outstanding students from a leading college group in Warwickshire and Worcestershire have been honoured. The students have been recognised as Student of the Year for each of the individual colleges which are part of WCG (formerly Warwickshire College Group)....
College group selected to deliver three new T Level routes
A leading college group which operates across Warwickshire and Worcestershire has been selected to offer three new T Level routes. WCG (formerly Warwickshire College Group) will be delivering the Health and Science, Engineering and Manufacturing, and Construction...
Charity News
Fostering Creativity for a Cause: Real World Consultancy’s Art Competition Yields Heartwarming Greetings Card to Support Local Charity, Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust.
Real World Consultancy, (RWC) a Worcestershire-based pioneering business coaching company has a strong commitment to community and positive impact. RWC recently ran a competition to design a ladybird artwork in collaboration with a local charity Grace Kelly Childhood...
Randy Langford, 98, Receives Honour for Voluntary Work at St Michael’s Hospice
A 98-year-old volunteer who has devoted almost 30 years of his life to St Michael’s Hospice in Hereford has been honoured by the King. Ernest Randolph Langford – affectionately known as ‘Randy’ – was described as “a bit of a legend” and an “incredible...
Extent Of US Tariff Impact Revealed
62% of UK firms with trade exposure to the USA say they will be negatively impacted by US tariffs, compared to 41% with no exposure 32% of firms with trade exposure to the USA say they will increase prices in response to the tariff 44% of firms with exposure to the...
BCC News
Extent Of US Tariff Impact Revealed
62% of UK firms with trade exposure to the USA say they will be negatively impacted by US tariffs, compared to 41% with no exposure 32% of firms with trade exposure to the USA say they will increase prices in response to the tariff 44% of firms with exposure to the...
Worcestershire News
Garland Surgical Limited Join the Chamber
Garland Surgical Ltd was founded in early 2022, a collaboration between British-Maltese Entrepreneur Simon Mifsud, Netherlands based Health-Tech Venture Builder NLC and the inventing team from the University of Malta. Garland is dedicated to pioneering innovation in...
Chamber member supports award-winning West Mercia Police VAWG campaign
Chamber member Ruby Edwards of You Do Better is delighted to be a part of the award-winning Safer Streets project by West Mercia Police, that has been honoured with a prestigious Regional Award. CAPTION: L-R: Campaign Manager Ruby Edwards (You Do Better Ltd) with...
Herefordshire News
Herefordshire IT Company Celebrates 25 Years of Innovation and Growth
ActiveIT, a leading provider of cutting-edge IT solutions and services, proudly celebrates its 25th anniversary this month. Since its founding in February 1998, the company – which has a base near Ross-on-Wye – has established itself as a leader in the industry...
Wyevale Nurseries supplies trees as part of Council’s ‘tree planting’ ambition
Wyevale Nurseries in Hereford has supplied more than 100 different projects with trees as part of Gloucestershire County Council’s commitment to plant at least a million trees (February 2023). It has supplied trees, transplants and container shrubs as part of the...
All Latest News
From Breathwork to a Broader Calling: Bev’s Journey of Growth and Clarity
When Bev first launched Alviva Coaching, she envisioned small, soul-soothing breathwork sessions—safe spaces for people to pause, breathe, and reconnect. Like many purpose-driven entrepreneurs, she poured her heart into setting up the foundations: attending networking...
Bromsgrove District Local Plan – Draft Development Strategy Consultation 30th June – 22nd September
Regulation 18 of the Town and Country (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 Bromsgrove District Council is in the process of reviewing and replacing the Bromsgrove District Plan (adopted January 2017), which will set out where new housing, employment and other...
UK Trade Stabilises After Tariff Hit
Responding to the latest ONS data on trade, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said: “UK trade showed signs of stabilising in May as the initial impact of higher US tariffs began to subside. “Services exports and imports showed steady month on month...
Level 4 HNC and/or Level 5 HND in Leadership & Management
Designed to develop your knowledge of team leadership and management from a management perspective, this HTQ aims to enhance your skills to progress into employment across a wide range of industries. The purpose of the qualification is to develop students as...
Fragile Growth as Business Confidence Struggles
Responding to the latest GDP data, published by the ONS this morning, David Bharier, Head of Research at the BCC, said: “Today’s GDP figures, showing growth of 0.5% in the three months to May, but a fall of 0.1% in the month, reinforce the view that UK growth remains...
Devolution Plans must Deliver on Local Economic Growth
After the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill was introduced to Parliament today, Jonny Haseldine, Head of Corporate Governance and Business Environment Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Businesses will welcome further devolution to...
Want to submit a story?
If you would like to read our guide to submitting a story click here