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.
Neurodiversity in Business Co- working: a neuroaffirming, sensory friendly, supportive environment for work and learning.
Nurturingnd is pleased announce a new addition to its service line up: neurodiversity in business co-working at The Shell Store, Hereford. The first session will be on Thursday 21st May and will include: • Three hours access to space and support 9.30am-12.30pm • Free...
Latest Article
Neurodiversity in Business Co- working: a neuroaffirming, sensory friendly, supportive environment for work and learning.
Nurturingnd is pleased announce a new addition to its service line up: neurodiversity in business co-working at The Shell Store, Hereford. The first session will be on Thursday 21st May and will include: • Three hours access to space and support 9.30am-12.30pm • Free...
Member News
What Really Happens When Someone is ‘Cancelled’? Join University Expert to Find Out
A University of Worcester expert will be exploring cancel culture and the role of the news media and social media in this cultural phenomenon in an event at The Hive. Katy Wareham Morris, Senior Lecturer in Media & Film Studies and Course Leader for Media &...
REHAU: Fenestration industry could do more to showcase its innovation and career opportunities
Recruiting skilled workers within the fenestration industry is becoming increasingly challenging and those within the sector are aware that it needs to do more to attract talent. The industry is more innovative and self-reliant than those outside of the sector give it...
Patron & Strategic News
Young Artists Offered Chance to Shine at Worcester’s Art House
Talented young artists from schools across Worcestershire are being offered the chance to showcase their work in a professional gallery setting, with £2,500 of cash prizes up for grabs. A new collaboration between the University of Worcester and the Clothiers Company...
Autumn Budget tax hikes lead to warnings from legal expert
Businesses, landlords and savers set to be impacted by Labour’s Autumn Budget are being urged to seek expert legal advice following the Chancellor’s announcement of sweeping tax hikes. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed a raft of tax rises, worth around £26...
Chamber News
40-year high inflation figures place further pressure on businesses
After a revised mini budget was announced on Monday by newly appointed Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, stability is the key message the government are portraying following the economic turmoil in the last few weeks, which has included the sacking of former Chancellor Kwasi...
Supporting your people during the cost-of-living crisis
Whether you agreed with the mini-budget or not, there’s no doubt that many of us across the UK will be left feeling confused, anxious and let-down in the wake of this week’s Government’s U-turn. Without a clear vision of what support will now be on offer to help ease...
Our Latest Member
Welcome New Members!
The Chamber would like to wish a very warm welcome to our newest Members this month: Worcestershire B-Stitch Embroidery & Printing – Embroidery & Printing Service for workwear apparel Capella Associates Limited – Leadership & Personal...
Welcome New Members!
The Chamber would like to wish a very warm welcome to our newest Members this month: Worcestershire B-Stitch Embroidery & Printing – Embroidery & Printing Service for workwear apparel Capella Associates Limited – Leadership & Personal...
Policy News
Institute for Fiscal Studies release report investigating employment patterns for over 50’s
The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) have released a new report entitled “Changing patterns of work at older ages”. In the report, they provide fresh evidence on the nature of paid work at older ages, how employment patterns differ for people in different...
British food and drink exports to EU fall by 47% in first quarter of 2021
The Food & Drink Federation (FDF) have released their Trade Snapshot for Q1 2021. The report shows there has been a 28% fall in UK food and drink exports in Q1 2021 when compared to 2020. Exports to the EU fell by 47% compared to Q1 2020, whereas sales to non-EU...
Skills News
Nursery swimming gala fun
Children at Little Trinity Nursery in Kidderminster had an amazing time showing parents their swimming skills as they took part in their first Swimming Gala. Over 30 children took part with the younger children from the age of 3-years showing how they could swim and...
Help shape the design of the apprenticeship service
ESFA calls on small and medium sized apprenticeship employers and supporting training providers to help develop the Apprenticeship Service The ESFA has opened an Expressions of Interest (EOI) for small and medium sized employers and supporting training providers to...
Charity News
Darren Wilkins Appointed as a New Trustee of Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust
Worcestershire business owner Darren Wilkins has been announced as a new Trustee at the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust (GKCCT). Having supported the charity since Darren’s family business City Signs, celebrated their 60th anniversary in 2020, his dedication to the...
Worcestershire Community Foundation Seeks New Board Members!
Worcestershire Community Foundation is a local charitable body and one of the leading grantmakers in Worcestershire; we act as a conduit to local philanthropy, linking private and public funders with community projects across the county. We are an accredited member of...
Procurement Act Must Quickly Deliver for SMEs
Only 20% of direct public sector procurement spend was with SMEs in 2024 – a similar figure to 2023 (19%) £45.4 billion was spent by Government directly with SMEs last year, up from £42.4 billion in 2023 Median spend per SME remained at £31,000 in 2024 Local...
BCC News
Procurement Act Must Quickly Deliver for SMEs
Only 20% of direct public sector procurement spend was with SMEs in 2024 – a similar figure to 2023 (19%) £45.4 billion was spent by Government directly with SMEs last year, up from £42.4 billion in 2023 Median spend per SME remained at £31,000 in 2024 Local...
Worcestershire News
Ballards LLP Spices Up Droitwich Food and Drink Festival with 1000 Eco-Friendly Bags!
Worcestershire accountancy firm, Ballards LLP, will be supporting the upcoming Droitwich Food and Drink Festival by supplying 1000 environmentally friendly forever bags which will be handed out to attended upon entry. The festival which is now in its 13th year is set...
Vamos Theatre Tours Sharing Joy, a colourful, interactive performance, to local care homes.
Worcester-based Vamos Theatre, the UK’s leading full mask theatre company, is to take its popular show, Sharing Joy, out on the road this June to visit care homes and other venues in Worcestershire. Sharing Joy is a vibrant and colourful interactive performance...
Herefordshire News
Chair’s Report
Great news for Hereford, with the successful bid for funding from the Government Towns Fund. A total of £22.4 million has been secured for investment in up to 15 transformational projects included in the city’s Town Investment Plan (TIP). Details of all the projects...
Hay Festival Winter Weekend returns!
Organisers of Hay Festival are excited to announce it’s return for Winter 2022 and this time with a new home! On 24-27th November, the festival will bring writers and readers together in the grounds of the beautiful Hay Castle. A centre for arts, literature and...
All Latest News
Free CPR and defibrillator training for Malvern Businesses
Free CPR and defibrillator training is being offered to businesses in Malvern and the surrounding area. The training being offered by Heartstart Malvern, only takes 90 minutes and is very practical. During this time, participants are taught some very simple skills...
Can you step up for Midwives this November and make every mile a moment that matters
Did you know one Community Midwife travels over 345 miles every month caring for newborn babies and their families? This November, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Charity is calling on our amazing local business community to get moving and to try and match those miles...
Why Every Restaurant Needs a Pest Control Contract in Herefordshire
The One Thing That Can Close Your Restaurant Overnight Picture this: It’s a busy Friday evening in your Herefordshire restaurant. Tables are full, the kitchen is firing on all cylinders, and then it happens. A diner spots a mouse scurrying along the skirting board....
Graduates’ Film Impresses on Global Stage with Festival Award
Two University of Worcester graduates are celebrating an unexpected triumph after winning an award at a global film festival, despite not actually entering the competition. Ben Monk and Joshua Prior, both Film Production graduates, won Best UK Short Film / Featurette...
Joel Richards Scholarship Event Raises Thousands at University of Worcester
A special event at the University of Worcester has raised thousands for a new scholarship fund dedicated to the memory of former student Joel Richards. Held in the University’s conference suite, named in Joel’s honour, the evening included a special address by his...
Non-cancer patient numbers under the care of St Michael’s Hospice exceed cancer patients for first time
One of Herefordshire’s largest charities says the number of its patients with non-cancer conditions has exceeded those with cancer for the first time. The change is down to an expansion of services offered by St Michael’s Hospice including expert care and support for...
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