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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.
BCRS Business Loans continues its support for Purple Shoots
BCRS Business Loans is continuing its commitment to boosting micro-entrepreneurship across Wales and the West Midlands, providing more than £41,000 in further funding for Purple Shoots. The latest funding builds on an established partnership between the two...
Latest Article
BCRS Business Loans continues its support for Purple Shoots
BCRS Business Loans is continuing its commitment to boosting micro-entrepreneurship across Wales and the West Midlands, providing more than £41,000 in further funding for Purple Shoots. The latest funding builds on an established partnership between the two...
Member News
AI Education Embedded in All Undergraduate Business and Computing Courses at Worcester from September
Business and Computing students at the University of Worcester will be educated in the ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) from September 2026. Leaders at Worcester Business School, which is home to the University’s Department of Computing, have designed a...
Raising money for Herefordshire mind charity
Back the end of November we organised a raffle in aid of Herefordshire Mind our charity of the year. Elgar Care teamed up with Barclays Worcester and very recently it was announced that Barclays bank Worcester had price matched our funds up to £1000. We managed to...
Patron & Strategic News
Student Helps Deliver Lecturer’s Baby During Hospital Placement
A routine hospital placement turned into a once-in-a-lifetime moment for a University of Worcester student, who helped deliver her lecturer’s baby. 3rd-year Paramedic Sciences student Elise Faragher was on placement on the Maternity Ward at Worcestershire Royal...
Top level changes for West Midland RFCA leadership team
A new leadership team is bringing fresh perspectives and expertise to West Midland Reserve Forces & Cadets Association (West Midland RFCA) after the election of a new Chair and the appointment of a new Chief Executive. Over the summer, Major General John Crackett...
Chamber News
Spring Budget 2023
Spring Budget 2023 Chancellor Jeremy Hunt delivered his Spring Budget to Parliament yesterday (15 March). In the 2023 Budget, the Chancellor made it a priority to tackle inflation, attributing it to ongoing economic challenges. The highlight of the budget for...
Business Round-Up
When I meet with members, I am often asked how a Member business can increase their profile – hopefully to build a wider network and attract new business. There is no quick answer and it’s often a tailored activity. I always suggest it’s about good networking,...
Our Latest Member
Introducing Seetec Pluss to the Chamber
Recruit and retain staff with Seetec Pluss. Seetec Pluss is a leading provider of employment services, inspiring thousands of people to find and progress in work each year. Working in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), our bespoke...
Introducing Seetec Pluss to the Chamber
Recruit and retain staff with Seetec Pluss. Seetec Pluss is a leading provider of employment services, inspiring thousands of people to find and progress in work each year. Working in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), our bespoke...
Policy News
UK trade data reveals decline in services imports and exports
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released new data about UK services trade over the past couple of years. The data shows that UK service exports and imports have declined since Quarter 1 2019, with EU trade falling more than non-EU trade. In Quarter 1...
Government’s Innovation Strategy aims to boost UK productivity
On 22 July, the government published their Innovation Strategy. The strategy aims to boost private sector investment in R&D across the whole of the UK and make the UK a global hub for innovation. The strategy consists of plans in four areas, which will support the...
Skills News
Worcestershire Business Community shows support for National Apprenticeship Week
Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership and Worcestershire County Council are joining the annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships across England. From Monday 3 February through to Sunday 9 February as part of the National Apprenticeship Week 2020, the...
NMITE announces Hereford based Oakwrights winner of design competition
New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE), which is working towards transforming engineering higher education, has announced Hereford-based, oak-framed building specialists, Oakwrights as the winner of its competition to help create the designs for...
Charity News
Hospice to celebrate ‘incredible’ volunteers
Worcestershire’s St Richard’s Hospice will be celebrating the tireless support of hundreds of volunteers over the next week. (1 – 7th June) During Volunteers’ Week from June 1st to 7th, the hospice will join thousands of charities and voluntary organisations...
Limited tickets remain as first-ever St Michael’s Hospice Messy Runner nears
A Herefordshire charity says it has been blown away by ticket sales ahead of the launch of a new event. St Michael’s Hospice has announced that places for its first-ever Messy Runner on Saturday 17th June are becoming limited after hundreds snapped up tickets shortly...
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...
BCC News
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...
Worcestershire News
County IT expert to take on Worcester 10k for Cancer Research
A Worcestershire IT specialist is set to take part in this month’s Worcester 10k to raise money for the Cancer Research charity. Paul Taylor, head of sales at Kidderminster IT firm Minster Micro, is taking part in the city’s popular race after running the half...
New Exciting Business Created Offering Love it or List it Service
Lee and Mair Whittington have set up a new estate Agency in Malvern incorporating their daughters Interior and Spatial Design studio. We believe clients with larger and more luxurious homes deserve a little more from the standard high street agent so we will be...
Herefordshire News
New operator appointed for Shell Store Business Centre
Hereford’s first dedicated business incubation centre is entering an exciting new phase in 2023 after a new operator was appointed to manage The Shell Store. The building, on Skylon Park, Hereford Enterprise Zone, has been a huge success since its formal opening in...
The Courtyard welcome a new Chair of the Board
The Courtyard is pleased to announce that Bruce Freeman has taken over as Chair of the Board. Bruce has been a member of The Courtyard Board for four years, and replaces previous Chair Joanna Cobb, who held the position for three years before retiring in November...
All Latest News
University of Worcester Shortlisted in Student Accommodation Awards
The University of Worcester has been shortlisted in the Student Accommodation Awards 2025. Worcester is a finalist for the Sustainability Initiative of the Year award, which celebrates initiatives that reduce environmental impact and promote greener student...
CONSTRUCTION WELL UNDERWAY AT NMITE’S CENTRE FOR INNOVATION AND FUTURE SKILLS
Construction is today underway at NMITE’s Centre for Innovation and Future Skills with base plates being installed and the timber frame being erected this week. Due to be opened in Spring 2026, this is a significant milestone in the construction of the building which...
Midlands Air Ambulance Charity receives £13,000 donation from Hereford’s KGD Industrial Services
Midlands Air Ambulance Charity is flying high after a generous donation of £13,000, following the success of a lively charity dinner held by Hereford’s own, KGD Industrial Services. KGD Industrial Services, which specialises in designing and manufacturing process...
SYNDICATED INTERVIEW WITH WUTHERING HEIGHTS DIRECTOR, DAVID DURANT
“Wuthering Heights is a tale of love and loss that has a very strong connection to a lot of Greek Tragedies which allows for plenty of Drama.” – David Durant, Artistic Director at The Courtyard Interviewee: David Durant, Artistic Director, The Courtyard Date:...
Is your Business Ready for the Accessibility Revolution?
In today’s fast-evolving digital landscape, accessibility is no longer a box to tick—it’s a business imperative. The accessibility revolution is here, and it’s reshaping how organisations operate, innovate, and connect with their workforce and customers. Why...
Top 10 cybersecurity threats SMEs in 2025
In 2025, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face a cybersecurity landscape that’s more complex and dangerous than ever before. With attackers increasingly targeting smaller businesses due to perceived vulnerabilities, it’s crucial for SMEs to understand the...
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