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.
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
Cyber resilience – Are you ready for when it hits the fan?
In an age where digital threats are evolving faster than ever, resilience is no longer just an IT issue – it’s a business imperative. We’re bringing together decision-makers from across the region to explore how organisations can prepare for, respond to, and...
New Monthly Workshop Series Launches to Help Small Business Owners Accelerate Profit and Build Lasting Legacy
Profit Acceleration Workshops at Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce HQ Explore 12 Proven Strategies for Strategic Business Growth A new monthly workshop series designed to transform how small business owners approach growth and profitability has...
Patron & Strategic News
Anonymous Art Auction Challenges Buyers to Trust Their Instincts
Art lovers will have to trust their instincts at a unique exhibition by University of Worcester students, where postcard-sized artworks will be auctioned anonymously; buyers won’t know the artist’s name until after the sale. The event, developed in partnership with...
Students Go Global in 4,000-Mile Movember Mission to Tackle Mental Health Stigma
University of Worcester cricketers have been growing moustaches and going the extra mile to raise awareness of men’s mental health this Movember. Members of the Men’s Cricket Club committed to a month-long challenge, combining moustache-growing with a collective goal...
Chamber News
Inflation eases but rising prices increase pressure on businesses
UK inflation has eased in March, however rising food prices has meant inflation remains higher than expected above 10%, adding to the speculation that the Bank of England will raise interest rates again on Thursday. According to data released from the Office for...
Labour market struggles continue, according to the Office for National Statistics
The UK continues to struggle with labour shortages despite the estimated number of vacancies falling on the quarter, data released today from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has shown. April’s labour market overview revealed that between January and March...
Our Latest Member
The Business of Mindfulness Limited joins the Chamber!
The Business of Mindfulness has been created to provide training to companies who are looking to help their employees be more resilient and better equipped to deal with today’s changing world? Do you have more of your people absent with sickness due to stress and...
The Business of Mindfulness Limited joins the Chamber!
The Business of Mindfulness has been created to provide training to companies who are looking to help their employees be more resilient and better equipped to deal with today’s changing world? Do you have more of your people absent with sickness due to stress and...
Policy News
A summary of the Covid-19 winter plan
Thanks to the success of the UK’s vaccination programme, data has shown that the link between cases, hospitalisations and deaths has weakened significantly. As part of the Covid-19 winter plan, the government has introduced a ‘Plan A’ and ‘Plan...
BCC Forecast: business investment set to be left behind in record economic recovery
UK business investment is expected to decline this year despite the prospect of record economic growth, according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) economic forecast. The leading business group predicts UK GDP growth for 2021 of 7.1%, which, if realised, would...
Skills News
BCC/Totaljobs: Budget must address critical skills shortages to ‘level up’ UK growth
Over half of UK firms attempted to recruit in the last quarter of 2019, but almost three quarters have struggled to find the right talent, the largest survey of UK employers has found. Labour market remains stable as over half (55%) of UK businesses attempted to...
BCC comments on Migration Advisory Committee’s report
Commenting on the release of the Migration Advisory Committee’s report on the UK’s immigration system, published today, BCC Head of People Policy Jane Gratton said: “Businesses want a flexible immigration system that provides access to the staff they need, without...
Charity News
St Richard’s Hospice signs up to The Charity Shop Gift Card
Worcestershire’s St Richard’s Hospice is now accepting The Charity Shop Gift Card in its stores — the only nationally accepted, multi-retailer gift card that can be spent exclusively in charity shops. The Charity Shop Gift Card is a not-for-profit that has been...
Ball in Aid of the Children of Worcestershire Cancer Fund
Join Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Charity for a charity ball to raise funds for their Children of Worcestershire Cancer Fund. The ball will be hosted by Elliott Webb (Radio Presenter on BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester) and will be held on the 23rd of September at...
Mounting Uncertainty Delays Further Rate Cut
Responding to the latest Bank of England interest rate decision, David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Yesterday’s CPI data confirmed that inflation remains stubbornly high, so today’s decision by the Bank of England to hold...
BCC News
Mounting Uncertainty Delays Further Rate Cut
Responding to the latest Bank of England interest rate decision, David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Yesterday’s CPI data confirmed that inflation remains stubbornly high, so today’s decision by the Bank of England to hold...
Worcestershire News
University of Worcester to Host Careers Fair
Following the success of last year’s event, the Worcester Business School is holding another Careers Fair at our City Campus between 11am and 2pm on Thursday 19th October 2023 and we would love you to join us! This fair will have a focus on 12-month placements,...
Love it or List it
Lee and Mair Whittington are bringing their experience in buying and selling houses to anyone thinking of facing the challenges of making a move. When you’ve moved house over twenty times, you’re going to know a thing or two about the property market. Going through...
Herefordshire News
Courtyard’s annual visual arts project is open for submissions from young, local artists
The Courtyard are offering an opportunity for emerging visual artists aged 16–25 with a link to Herefordshire to take part in the 2023 visual arts project, Cultivate@Courtyard. The chosen artists will be shortlisted by a panel of judges and will then be mentored by...
Herefordshire’s Big Economic Plan
Hereford County Council are establishing clear priorities and the actions needed now and over the next five years, showing how Herefordshire partners can work together, bringing different talents and perspectives to deliver for Herefordshire. To date, the plan has...
All Latest News
Welcome to your latest edition of Branch Lines!
On the surface, things are looking much quieter at the Railway, as we shut down for a few weeks, prior to the very busy festive season services, which start at the end of this month. We very much hope you’ll be able to join us for one of the exciting Christmas...
Recycle Your Christmas Tree with the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust
Worcestershire-based Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust will launch its 6th year of recycling Christmas trees on 15th November. For a voluntary donation, your tree will be taken away by the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust’s team of volunteers to local recycling...
University Experts Explain Why Jane Austen Still Has Us Hooked After 250 Years
As the nation marks the 250th anniversary of her birth, experts from the University of Worcester will explore our fascination with the author Jane Austen in a free event next month. The discussion, titled ‘Why are we obsessed with Jane Austen?’ will take place at The...
Sharon Baker of Kinder Accountants Wins Business Leader of the Year at the Herefordshire Means Business Awards 2025
Local business leader Sharon Baker, founder and director of Kinder Accountants, has been named Business Leader of the Year at the Herefordshire Means Business Awards 2025. The award recognises Sharon’s outstanding leadership, innovation, and commitment to putting...
September Trade Slump Rounds Off Weak Q3
Commenting on the latest ONS trade data, BCC Head of Trade Policy, William Bain, said: “September was a poor month for UK trade. Goods exports fell to the US, EU and the rest of the world. The impacts of the JLR cyber-attack were clearly felt in a slump in automotive...
Budget Must Kickstart Sluggish Economy
Reacting to the latest GDP data published this morning by the ONS, Stuart Morrison, Research Manager at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “With a backdrop of weak business and investment confidence, sluggish Q3 growth of just 0.1% is unsurprising. “But the...
Want to submit a story?
If you would like to read our guide to submitting a story click here