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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.
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Books Come to Life in New University Lecture Series Talk
What makes books more than words on a page? And why does the physical, tactile experience of printing still matter in a digital world? In the latest talk in the Engine Room Lecture Series from the University of Worcester, researcher and artist-printer Dr Angie Butler...
Latest Article
Books Come to Life in New University Lecture Series Talk
What makes books more than words on a page? And why does the physical, tactile experience of printing still matter in a digital world? In the latest talk in the Engine Room Lecture Series from the University of Worcester, researcher and artist-printer Dr Angie Butler...
Member News
Book Curated by University Lecturer Exhibited at United Nations
A groundbreaking book, which brings together a collection of postcards highlighting environmental threats to our oceans, has gone on display in the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York. Sea Change was created by Tobias Hickey, Senior Lecturer and Course...
Leadership Is a Behaviour, Not a Job Title
You may have recently heard Dr Lizzy Bernthal speak at the Chamber’s Health and Wellbeing Forum, where she shared insights on resilience, confidence and what leadership really means in today’s workplaces. Lizzy, founder of Release Your Potential Ltd, believes strongly...
Patron & Strategic News
Charity Quiz raises over £1,700 for Redgate Sports
SME Solicitors’ 13th Annual Charity Quiz, hosted on 13 November at Worcestershire County Cricket Club, raised £1,789.78 for Redgate Sports, a local charity dedicated to creating sports opportunities for young people. Since its official launch in June 2024,...
Join Herefordshire Ludlow and North Shropshire College’s Patron Rewards initiative!
Employers have an opportunity to shape the future workforce, and now, will be able to gain access to the college’s new Employer Patron Rewards Scheme. This initiative is designed to reward and grow collaboration between local employers and the college, ensuring...
Chamber News
Chair’s Report
The British Chambers of Commerce continue to command the attention of the UK’s political and economic leaders as the BCC demonstrates leadership in support of UK Plc, across the full breadth of the country’s business community. As such, I was delighted to be a part of...
Inflation eases further but food prices remain high
Inflation fell below double digits for the first time since August this morning (24/05), according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Inflation was 8.7% in April, down from 10.1% the previous month. However, despite the improvement, the figure is above 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
Levelling Up the United Kingdom White Paper
Yesterday (2 February), the UK government published its Levelling Up White Paper. Levelling up is a moral, social and economic programme for the whole of government. The Levelling Up White Paper sets out opportunity will be spread more equally across the UK. It...
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...
Skills News
Entries open for Worcestershire Apprenticeships Awards 2020!
Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership and Worcestershire County Council have announced that entries are now open for the popular Worcestershire Apprenticeships Awards 2020. The Awards celebrate the most successful apprentices, schools, careers leads, training...
£23.5 million funding programme helping companies grow
A £23.5m funding pot for businesses across the Marches is delivering real results for small and medium-sized companies across the region, the chair of the Marches Growth Hub said today. Paul Hinkins said the ERDF Business Growth Programme 2 had already helped a number...
Charity News
Children’s Charity Wins Worcestershire Health & Social Care Award
The Feeding Trust are delighted to have won the Adolescent and Child Health Care Award at this years Worcestershire Health & Social Care Awards. The Feeding Trust, the UKs only charity supporting those affected by Paediatric Feeding Disorder’s (PFD), were...
Builder joins forces with mental health charity to support Herefordshire residents
A local builder has come to the aid of one of Herefordshire’s best-known charities to help bring their vision of supported accommodation into reality. Contractor Speller Metcalfe has joined forces with local mental health charity, Herefordshire Mind, to help realise...
Trade Strategy Must Support Smaller Exporters
Fewer than one fifth (18%) of micro-exporters (fewer than 10 employees) increased export orders in Q2, with 29% reporting a decrease. By comparison, 29% of large exporters (more than 250 staff) increased their export orders with a fifth (20%) reporting a drop. More...
BCC News
Trade Strategy Must Support Smaller Exporters
Fewer than one fifth (18%) of micro-exporters (fewer than 10 employees) increased export orders in Q2, with 29% reporting a decrease. By comparison, 29% of large exporters (more than 250 staff) increased their export orders with a fifth (20%) reporting a drop. More...
Worcestershire News
Finalists, Celebrity Host and Sponsors confirmed for Worcestershire Apprenticeships Awards
The Worcestershire Apprenticeships Hub has confirmed exciting news for their 2023 annual awards evening, taking place later this year on 16 November. Comedian, performer and TV and radio star, Lucy Porter, has been confirmed as the host for this year’s Worcestershire...
Gardeners can now Buy Bare Root Hedging Direct from Growers Online
A TOP British nursery has launched a new website selling bare root hedging to gardeners while also allowing them to access the business’ decades of horticultural expertise in one hit (September 2023). Wyevale Nurseries’ new website www.wyevalehedges.co.uk was born out...
Herefordshire News
Fearless February for 2Faced Dance
2Faced Dance are an artistic cultural organisation based in the centre of Hereford, of nearly 25 years’ standing. A workplace of permanent staff, a home to freelance artists, a space for 20 other community arts and dance organisations, a place to dream for 500...
Healthwatch making a difference in Herefordshire
Healthwatch Herefordshire is looking forward to another productive year as the people’s champion for health and care services. Building on the premise that the patient and community voice should be at the centre of health and care services being delivered,...
All Latest News
Building Supply Chain Resilience: What Local Businesses Need to Know
Ransomware cyber attacks are rising in both frequency and sophistication, and recent high-profile incidents across the manufacturing, aviation and retail sectors have demonstrated the scale of disruption that can be caused when a supplier is breached. For businesses...
University Writing Advisor Nominated for Prestigious Author’s Award
An award-winning author who advises students at the University of Worcester on their writing has been nominated for one of the most prestigious awards in children’s literature. Liz Hyder, one of the University’s Royal Literary Fund Writers in Residence, is in the...
Bespoke- Advice Builds on National Success with Local Apprenticeship and Wellbeing Awards
Worcester-based Chartered financial planning firm and certified B Corp, Bespoke- Advice Ltd, has added two more accolades to its growing list of honours, being named Small Apprentice Employer of the Year at the Worcestershire Apprenticeships Awards 2025, and Highly...
Unlocking AI Potential: How the BCC AI Academy Is Helping Local Businesses Thrive
In an age where artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just a buzzword, but a business imperative, the BCC AI Academy is proving to be a game-changer for regional organisations. This is not just theoretical training; it’s a practical, hands-on programme...
Worcester Awarded Maximum £2.5m Teaching Capital Grant to Expand and Enhance Healthcare Education
The University of Worcester has been awarded £2,493,703 from the Office for Students (OfS) to further enhance its very high-quality education of tomorrow’s nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, paramedics, occupational therapists, physician assistants, midwives and other...
Last Call for Santas! KEMP Hospice calling for participants for Annual Santa Fun Run on Sunday 7th December
KEMP Hospice is calling on the local community to lace up their running shoes, pull on a Santa suit, and join its 18th Santa Fun Run on Sunday 7th December 2025. The charity’s biggest fundraising event of the year and a vital lifeline for people across the Wyre Forest...
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