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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.
West Midlands employers honoured with top Defence award for Armed Forces support
Nineteen organisations from across the West Midlands region have been recognised with the Ministry of Defence’s highest Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) honour – the Gold Award – for their outstanding commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community. The...
Latest Article
West Midlands employers honoured with top Defence award for Armed Forces support
Nineteen organisations from across the West Midlands region have been recognised with the Ministry of Defence’s highest Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) honour – the Gold Award – for their outstanding commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community. The...
Member News
Heartstart Malvern
Chamber member’s Heartstart Malvern offer ongoing free CPR and defibrillator training in the workplace for businesses and clubs in the Malvern area. Our team of volunteers will provide the training onsite provided a minimum of 8 people are willing to be trained....
EVERYTHING YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THOSE MENOPAUSE YEARS
AND…..BREATHE ! World Menopause Day is SATURDAY 18th OCTOBER and it is being acknowledged with an outstanding event of information, held by two of the best organisations in the field. Knowledge Menopause and Action Menopause Warwickshire will be at the very welcoming...
Patron & Strategic News
Skills Minister Supports VC Raising Funds for Student Scholarships and Hardship Funds
Support and donations for the University of Worcester’s Vice Chancellor continue to pour in, as he reaches the halfway mark on his challenge to raise money for student scholarship and hardship funds. Professor David Green CBE DL is walking 280km along the coastal path...
Worcester Lecturer Invited to Chelsea FC After Inspiring Presentation
A lecturer at the University of Worcester spent a weekend at Chelsea FC after being nominated for a mentoring experience by a school pupil. Jessica Fassnidge, lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science, had given a presentation at a Worcester high school and later found...
Chamber News
ONSIDE Independent Advocacy are offering a Free 6 week Timeout Course
Timeout is an exploration of creative techniques to inspire mindfulness and increase positive mental health. The course is provided by ONSIDE, charity no 1102022. During a free 6 week course, participants are encouraged to learn and practice simple, accessible...
Welcome new Members!
We would like to extend a warm welcome to our newest Members! Herefordshire Calming Connections Ltd – Developing a positive mental health environment for the benefit of everyone Eight Three Eight – Search Engine Optimisation Packages, WordPress Training...
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
Increased furlough contribution to test business resilience
This week employers who are claiming furlough pay for their workers now will have to pay 20% towards the subsidised wages as the Job Retention Scheme continues to gradually wind down. Figures published in July show the fewest number of people on furlough since the...
£7 million fund launched to support more flexible apprenticeship opportunities
Sectors including the creative, agriculture and construction industries can now bid for a share of a £7 million fund to support the creation of new flexible apprenticeships. Apprenticeships are at least 12 months long, so some sectors with flexible employment patterns...
Skills News
#SeptemberPromise for all young people
The Association of Colleges is predicting that half of the new labour market entrants (approximately 100,000 16 to 25 year olds) will struggle to find meaningful employment as the economic shocks of COVID19 continue to be felt. For this year’s school and college...
Government releases an introduction for employers to the UK’s points-based immigration system
The Home Office has published an employer’s guide to the new points-based immigration system. It provides an overview of the key changes that the new system will bring for businesses, the steps they can take to prepare and signposts to more detailed information....
Charity News
Alzheimer’s Research UK chosen as Thursfields’ charity of the year for 2023-24
Leading Midlands law firm Thursfields Solicitors has selected Alzheimer’s Research UK its charity of the year for 2023-24. Alzheimer’s Research UK is the UK’s leading dementia research charity, dedicated to funding diagnosis, prevention, treatment and cure of the...
MP set to stride out over hills for hospice care
Worcester MP Robin Walker is set to stride out 11 miles across the Malvern Hills to raise money for a county hospice in memory of his father, Peter. Mr Walker will be joining 140 other walkers who are taking on the St Richard’s Hospice Malvern Hills Walk on Saturday,...
US Tariffs Hit UK Business
Reacting to the introduction of 25 percent tariffs on exports of UK steel and aluminium to the United States, William Bain, BCC Head of Trade Policy, said: “This is a difficult day for trans-Atlantic trade and plunges businesses, in both the US and UK, into a new age...
BCC News
US Tariffs Hit UK Business
Reacting to the introduction of 25 percent tariffs on exports of UK steel and aluminium to the United States, William Bain, BCC Head of Trade Policy, said: “This is a difficult day for trans-Atlantic trade and plunges businesses, in both the US and UK, into a new age...
Worcestershire News
Digital Careers Fairs to Signpost Options for Young People
The wide range of technical and vocational career opportunities available to young people in the Marches area will be in the spotlight at a series of digital careers fairs this month (OCT). Young people in Shropshire, Herefordshire and Telford & Wrekin can find...
University’s First Medical Cohort Commences Studies
The first ever cohort of medical students have begun their training at the University of Worcester’s new Three Counties Medical School. Forty-four students have started their studies, including 20 UK students, who are being funded through their four years of study by...
Herefordshire News
Bright Future as Lighting Company Makes the Switch
A specialist lighting company from Herefordshire has transformed its production process and expanded its workforce thanks to support from the Marches Growth Hub. Hector Finch Lighting Ltd received a £30,000 Business Growth Programme grant to help owners Hector and...
Winter of Wellbeing Grant
Grant funding is available as part of the Household Support Fund (HSF) to community hubs and organisations across Herefordshire to create a ‘Winter of Wellbeing’ for families, that are most in need, to access in their local community. The Council invites you to open...
All Latest News
Intellectual Property (IP) : The Overlooked Driver of Business Growth and Finance
When we talk about business growth, the focus often turns to funding, recruitment, or expanding into new markets. But there’s one asset that’s frequently overlooked—and yet it’s probably the most valuable: your Intellectual Property (IP). Whether you’re...
Wyevale Nurseries launches new Bareroot Hedging and Forestry Catalogue
WYEVALE Nurseries has launched a new Bareroot Hedging and Forestry Catalogue this month featuring details of the varieties it grows and the benefits of using each one (May 2025). The leading commercial nursery hopes industry members will use the free, handy guide,...
Skills Minister Supports VC Raising Funds for Student Scholarships and Hardship Funds
Support and donations for the University of Worcester’s Vice Chancellor continue to pour in, as he reaches the halfway mark on his challenge to raise money for student scholarship and hardship funds. Professor David Green CBE DL is walking 280km along the coastal path...
Funding and Intellectual Property
The link between funding and intellectual property rights is often underestimated, and having a patent can do more for you than just keep your competitors at bay. R&D Tax Credits R&D tax credits are a government incentive designed to reward companies for...
Why don’t UK innovators file enough patents?
Many SMEs understand the value of patents, and routinely file patent applications to protect their innovation. However, UK innovators are lagging behind those in many other countries when it comes to patent ownership. Japan is, unsurprisingly, one of the leading...
Worcester Lecturer Invited to Chelsea FC After Inspiring Presentation
A lecturer at the University of Worcester spent a weekend at Chelsea FC after being nominated for a mentoring experience by a school pupil. Jessica Fassnidge, lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science, had given a presentation at a Worcester high school and later found...
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