Business Direction Online
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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.
Student Netballers Putting in the Miles for Breast Cancer Charity
Netballers at the University of Worcester are going the extra mile – or 1,242 miles to be precise – to raise money for a cause close to their hearts. Students in the University of Worcester Netball Club aim to collectively cover more than 2,000km – more than the...
Latest Article
Student Netballers Putting in the Miles for Breast Cancer Charity
Netballers at the University of Worcester are going the extra mile – or 1,242 miles to be precise – to raise money for a cause close to their hearts. Students in the University of Worcester Netball Club aim to collectively cover more than 2,000km – more than the...
Member News
Vennture Appoints Safeguarding Expert to Drive Innovation Amid Sector Pressures
Ex-Police Safeguarding Leader Joins Vennture as New COO Herefordshire charity Vennture has appointed Jon Roberts as its new Chief Operating Officer, effective 1 August 2025. Jon, a father of four from North Herefordshire, brings 30 years of policing experience,...
DRPG’s Dale Parmenter awarded Honorary University Fellowship
Dale Parmenter, CEO and Founder of creative communications group DRPG, has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship from the University of Worcester, and admitted to the University’s College of Fellows. The Fellowship recognises his contribution to responsible business...
Patron & Strategic News
Landlords Warned to Guard Against Protected Lease Tenants
A leading commercial property lawyer is warning landlords about the hurdles they face when taking back possession from a tenant with a protected lease – and urged them to seek legal advice to avoid falling foul of the law. The Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 was...
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...
Chamber News
Welcome new Members!
We would like to extend a warm welcome to our newest Members! Herefordshire Calming Connections Ltd – Developing a positive mental health environment for the benefit of everyone Eight Three Eight – Search Engine Optimisation Packages, WordPress Training...
Business Round Up – April
The shortlisted finalists for the 2023 Chamber Awards have been announced – well done and thanks to the large number of initial applicants. The final round of interviews will be carried out in early May and the winners announced in front of 700 people at the...
Our Latest Member
Introducing The HR Hero to Chamber Membership!
Hi, I’m Kate Bennett, founder of The HR Hero! As a business owner, HR can be overwhelming. Whether you’re employing your first member of staff, growing a team or have an established workforce, there is complex employment law to navigate and people practices to...
Introducing The HR Hero to Chamber Membership!
Hi, I’m Kate Bennett, founder of The HR Hero! As a business owner, HR can be overwhelming. Whether you’re employing your first member of staff, growing a team or have an established workforce, there is complex employment law to navigate and people practices to...
Policy News
£7 million fund launched to support more flexible apprenticeship opportunities
Sectors including the creative, agriculture and construction industries can now bid for a share of a £7 million fund to support the creation of new flexible apprenticeships. Apprenticeships are at least 12 months long, so some sectors with flexible employment patterns...
Two million rural homes and businesses to benefit in £5 billion broadband upgrade
Millions of people in rural England will get access to faster broadband speeds as part of a £5 billion plan to level up internet access across the UK. The government’s Project Gigabit fund aims to upgrade digital infrastructure in hard-to-reach areas. New details...
Skills News
EU Settlement Scheme Reopens for Applications
Home Office support services and application routes associated with the EU Settlement Scheme have now all fully reopened in line with public health guidance. This includes the reopening of the postal route for submitting identity documents for applicants who are...
#SeptemberPromise for all young people
The Association of Colleges is predicting that half of the new labour market entrants (approximately 100,000 16 to 25 year olds) will struggle to find meaningful employment as the economic shocks of COVID19 continue to be felt. For this year’s school and college...
Charity News
Worcestershire Community Foundation and WMPCC launch Inclusive Communities Fund
Partnering with West Mercia Police & Crime Commission (WMPCC), Worcestershire Community Foundation is opening up a new grant funding opportunity for grassroots community organisations across Worcestershire. With £100,000 of funding, the Inclusive Communities Fund...
St Michael’s Hospice to open third shop in Ross-on-Wye
St Michael’s Hospice is preparing to open its latest new store in Ross-on-Wye, which will be packed with affordable pre-loved treasures. The Cantilupe Road store (HR9 7AN) will be the third St Michael’s Hospice shop in Ross-on-Wye when it opens next Tuesday...
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
Fundraising event at Fusion Salon!
Earlier in the week, our Fusion salon, based in Redditch, took part in the Style Against Cancer for Children with Cancer UK! The Fusion reception was decorated with Style Against Cancer balloons and banners and the Level 2 hair students were offering clients a wash,...
Worcester based Zebravise launches new HR features in its tool for small businesses
Zebravise are excited to announce that we have launched a new version of our online tool for small businesses, that offers a CRM, HR solution, cashflow manager, task management and marketing all in one simple to use tool. The new HR features include the ability to...
Herefordshire News
Labour shortage: Are you an age-positive employer?
There’s been a lot in the news recently about getting over-50s who have decided to finish work, back into employment to help address the UK’s labour shortage and boost the economy. It’s been reported that almost 300,000 fewer people are in employment than before the...
NMITE to host free Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger Event
NMITE (New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering) is hosting an event that aims to demystify the world of EV Chargers at its Skylon Campus between 9:30am and 12pm on February 14th. Attendees can ask questions to a panel of leading EV Charger companies who...
All Latest News
Vacancies Still Falling As Wages Outpace Inflation
Responding to the latest labour market data, published by the ONS this morning, Jane Gratton, Deputy Director Public Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “This data suggests some loosening in the jobs market with vacancies staying below pre-pandemic levels...
Pace of Immigration Changes Must Work for Business
Responding to the publication of the Immigration White Paper, Jane Gratton, Deputy Director Public Policy, at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Businesses are keen to unlock more home-grown talent and will welcome the broad direction of travel in today’s White...
Free Talk on Student Finance
As people preparing for university courses in September begin the next steps of their application process, a free online talk is being offered to help with applying for student finance. Held by colleagues at the University of Worcester, the talk titled ‘Making Your...
Quarterly Economic Survey for Q2 is now live!
The Quarterly Economic Survey is among the largest business surveys in the UK, making it a key resource for the government to conduct case studies and access up-to-date statistics on businesses across the UK. The Survey consists of questions on several topics,...
Severn Valley Railway helps local aid charity
The Severn Valley Railway’s paint shop at Bridgnorth had an unusual visitor recently, in the form of a Mitsubishi 4×4 pickup. The SVR was assisting a local charity, Wyre Forest 2 Ukraine, with their efforts in sending humanitarian aid to Ukraine. The charity...
Elite and Talented Student Athletes Celebrated at Awards Ceremony
Elite and talented athletes studying at the University of Worcester have been recognised at an inaugural sports award’s ceremony. Seven awards were handed out at the awards, including UW Sports Personality of the Year, Academic Commitment, Excellence in Leadership,...
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