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.
Smaller Exporters Struggling To Make Headway
The proportion of businesses reporting increased export orders sits at 25% in Q1 2026, compared with 31% in Q2 2018 There is a big split relating to the size of the business, with 23% of SMEs reporting increased orders, compared to 38% of larger firms....
Latest Article
Smaller Exporters Struggling To Make Headway
The proportion of businesses reporting increased export orders sits at 25% in Q1 2026, compared with 31% in Q2 2018 There is a big split relating to the size of the business, with 23% of SMEs reporting increased orders, compared to 38% of larger firms....
Member News
Speak Volumes Festival to Return Bigger Than Ever
The organisers of this year’s Speak Volumes Festival are putting the finishing touches on plans for the three-day event but say there’s still room for artists and performers to sign up and take part. Taking place from Friday 29 to Sunday 31 May, the festival, which...
Cybersecurity Consultant Reveals Why Every Business Is a Target in New Podcast Episode
Cybersecurity consultant Martin Cadwallader of LawFinity features in the latest episode of Dandelion Video Production’s What Do You Do? podcast, sharing what businesses of all sizes need to know about protecting themselves online. Cadwallader challenges the...
Patron & Strategic News
Speak Volumes Festival to Return Bigger Than Ever
The organisers of this year’s Speak Volumes Festival are putting the finishing touches on plans for the three-day event but say there’s still room for artists and performers to sign up and take part. Taking place from Friday 29 to Sunday 31 May, the festival, which...
Worcester Academic Contributes to New Study Tackling Cultural Loss for Children in Care
An expert from the University of Worcester is partnering on a new nationwide study which will give a voice to children and young people from marginalised communities to address the growing issue of children in care being raised outside their culture. Led by the...
Chamber News
Women’s Business Conference 2026 Returns with Inspiring Speaker Line-Up and Powerful Stories of Leadership and Resilience
The Women’s Business Conference returns in 2026 as one of the Chamber’s flagship events, bringing together professionals from across the region to celebrate, connect, and empower women in business. Proudly sponsored by mfg Legal Services Limited, the conference...
New Construction & Trade Forum Series Launched to Support Industry Collaboration
The Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the launch of its new Construction & Trade Forum series, designed to bring together professionals from across the sector to share knowledge, discuss key challenges, and explore...
Our Latest Member
Local Expertise Meets New Connections: West Mercia Air Conditioning Joins the Chamber
West Mercia Air Conditioning is proud to be a member of the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce. Having joined the Chamber in recent weeks, we are already enjoying being part of a thriving local business network. While we are relatively new to the...
Local Expertise Meets New Connections: West Mercia Air Conditioning Joins the Chamber
West Mercia Air Conditioning is proud to be a member of the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce. Having joined the Chamber in recent weeks, we are already enjoying being part of a thriving local business network. While we are relatively new to the...
Policy News
Conflict Cuts Middle East Trade By One Fifth
New data from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has revealed a 20% drop in export activity to the Middle East as conflict escalated in March. The findings are based on the number of certificates of origin issued by Chambers of Commerce. These are a...
Reading the Seismograph: What the BCC’s QES Dashboard can tell us about the looming economic shock
The latest results from the British Chambers of Commerce Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) for Q1 2026 present a familiar picture1. Business confidence remains subdued. Investment intentions are weak. Cost pressures, though no longer accelerating, remain elevated. Firms...
Skills News
Surprise Fall In Unemployment But Threat Remains
Reacting to the latest labour market data from the ONS, Patrick Milnes, Head of People and Work at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “While unemployment has seen a surprise fall to 4.9%, the expectation is that it will rise this year as business...
Skills Planning Vital To Tackle Gen Z Drift
A new report on a pioneering scheme for business-led skills planning in England has identified a pressing need to better engage Generation Z with the workplace. The analysis of Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) found they have engaged thousands of people and...
Charity News
KEMP Hospice runners raise over £22,000 at London Marathon 2026
Dedicated fundraisers successfully completed the iconic TCS London Marathon on Sunday, raising an incredible £22,276 including Gift Aid, in support of KEMP Hospice. Six runners took part raising funds for KEMP Hospice. In a particularly special year, for the first...
The Ladybird’s Path: Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust Unveils Magical School Garden created by the children it supports at RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2026
A wonderful, fun-filled day out for families and gardening enthusiasts alike, The RHS Malvern Spring Show Festival 2026 brings with it a plethora of garden ideas with plenty to see and do for all ages. The RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2026 (7–10 May) will showcase...
Smaller Exporters Struggling To Make Headway
The proportion of businesses reporting increased export orders sits at 25% in Q1 2026, compared with 31% in Q2 2018 There is a big split relating to the size of the business, with 23% of SMEs reporting increased orders, compared to 38% of larger firms....
BCC News
Smaller Exporters Struggling To Make Headway
The proportion of businesses reporting increased export orders sits at 25% in Q1 2026, compared with 31% in Q2 2018 There is a big split relating to the size of the business, with 23% of SMEs reporting increased orders, compared to 38% of larger firms....
Worcestershire News
Free bus travel for all veterans and serving personnel launching
Veterans and serving armed forces personnel across Worcestershire will soon be able to travel for free on buses. The new scheme provides free travel on the county’s commercial bus network and the Worcestershire on Demand service for veterans and serving personnel who...
WORCESTER STREET SIXES RETURNS TO THE CITY CENTRE THIS JULY
Worcestershire Cricket Foundation is inviting businesses from across the county to take part in Worcester Street Sixes, returning to the heart of the city on Wednesday 15 July 2026. Set across Cathedral Square and Worcester High Street, the event will once again...
Herefordshire News
Luctonians Sports Club investing in the future of Herefordshire’s young people
Luctonians Sports Club is continuing to invest in the next generation across Herefordshire, having engaged more than 20,000 children through its schools’ outreach programme and raised over £250,000 for local charities since 1992. Today, the club is home to more than...
Local Expertise Meets New Connections: West Mercia Air Conditioning Joins the Chamber
West Mercia Air Conditioning is proud to be a member of the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce. Having joined the Chamber in recent weeks, we are already enjoying being part of a thriving local business network. While we are relatively new to the...
All Latest News
Smaller Exporters Struggling To Make Headway
The proportion of businesses reporting increased export orders sits at 25% in Q1 2026, compared with 31% in Q2 2018 There is a big split relating to the size of the business, with 23% of SMEs reporting increased orders, compared to 38% of larger firms....
Speak Volumes Festival to Return Bigger Than Ever
The organisers of this year’s Speak Volumes Festival are putting the finishing touches on plans for the three-day event but say there’s still room for artists and performers to sign up and take part. Taking place from Friday 29 to Sunday 31 May, the festival, which...
KEMP Hospice runners raise over £22,000 at London Marathon 2026
Dedicated fundraisers successfully completed the iconic TCS London Marathon on Sunday, raising an incredible £22,276 including Gift Aid, in support of KEMP Hospice. Six runners took part raising funds for KEMP Hospice. In a particularly special year, for the first...
Cybersecurity Consultant Reveals Why Every Business Is a Target in New Podcast Episode
Cybersecurity consultant Martin Cadwallader of LawFinity features in the latest episode of Dandelion Video Production’s What Do You Do? podcast, sharing what businesses of all sizes need to know about protecting themselves online. Cadwallader challenges the...
Worcester Academic Contributes to New Study Tackling Cultural Loss for Children in Care
An expert from the University of Worcester is partnering on a new nationwide study which will give a voice to children and young people from marginalised communities to address the growing issue of children in care being raised outside their culture. Led by the...
The Ladybird’s Path: Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust Unveils Magical School Garden created by the children it supports at RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2026
A wonderful, fun-filled day out for families and gardening enthusiasts alike, The RHS Malvern Spring Show Festival 2026 brings with it a plethora of garden ideas with plenty to see and do for all ages. The RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2026 (7–10 May) will showcase...
Want to submit a story?
If you would like to read our guide to submitting a story click here