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.
Menopause Knowledge CIC commissioned for new project shining light on hidden experiences of menopause
Warwickshire Libraries has commissioned Escape Arts, in partnership with Menopause Knowledge CIC, to lead an inspiring new community project shining a light on the often hidden experiences of menopause. ‘Stitching Stories – Threads Through Menopause’ forms part...
Latest Article
Menopause Knowledge CIC commissioned for new project shining light on hidden experiences of menopause
Warwickshire Libraries has commissioned Escape Arts, in partnership with Menopause Knowledge CIC, to lead an inspiring new community project shining a light on the often hidden experiences of menopause. ‘Stitching Stories – Threads Through Menopause’ forms part...
Member News
Back to the shop floor and listen: four ways to strengthen employee voice
At a recent Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce event, a comment about leadership and change really resonated with me. “Leaders need to go back to the shop floor, listen to colleagues and really understand their feedback.” As someone who has spent...
Upton Business Centre celebrates 30th Anniversary
The team at Upton Business Centre are marking an important milestone this year as they celebrate 30 years of providing modern business accommodation in Upton on Severn. The Centre, along with its sister site Link Business Centre based at Malvern Link, is owned and...
Patron & Strategic News
Worcester Prostate Cancer Survivor calls for Testing Awareness in Over 50s
Recent prostate cancer survivor and Worcester business owner Duncan Sutcliffe, calls for greater awareness of the need for males over the age of 50 to request annual, and in his case, life-saving, PSA tests for prostate cancer detection. Despite prostate cancer being...
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...
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
Welcome new Members!
The Chamber would like to wish a very warm welcome to our newest Members this month: Herefordshire Alcocks Limited – Alcocks Ltd are experienced chartered surveyors with an in-house architect. Black Mountain Clothing Ltd – Here to help you create a...
Welcome new Members!
The Chamber would like to wish a very warm welcome to our newest Members this month: Herefordshire Alcocks Limited – Alcocks Ltd are experienced chartered surveyors with an in-house architect. Black Mountain Clothing Ltd – Here to help you create a...
Policy News
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...
A summary of today’s health and social care announcement
The NHS is getting £36bn over the next three years “to fund the biggest catch-up programme in the NHS’s history, tackling the Covid backlogs.” Prime Minister Rt Hon Boris Johnson, MP, said: “The pandemic has illuminated chronic problems in our health and...
Skills News
Digital Transformation: Are you ready for the roaring 20’s?
According to the World Skills Economic Forum, more than half of the current workforce will require new skills by 2022 in order to maintain relevance in the workplace. That’s more than half of all employed people in the developed World, requiring training or reskilling...
What do businesses want and need from our colleges in ten years’ time?
The Independent Commission on the College of the Future is asking the simple question – “what do we want and need from our colleges in ten years’ time?” The Independent Commission recognises that seismic shifts are taking place across the UK – from demographic...
Charity News
Builder joins forces with mental health charity to support Herefordshire residents
A local builder has come to the aid of one of Herefordshire’s best-known charities to help bring their vision of supported accommodation into reality. Contractor Speller Metcalfe has joined forces with local mental health charity, Herefordshire Mind, to help realise...
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...
Fragile Growth as Business Confidence Struggles
Responding to the latest GDP data, published by the ONS this morning, David Bharier, Head of Research at the BCC, said: “Today’s GDP figures, showing growth of 0.5% in the three months to May, but a fall of 0.1% in the month, reinforce the view that UK growth remains...
BCC News
Fragile Growth as Business Confidence Struggles
Responding to the latest GDP data, published by the ONS this morning, David Bharier, Head of Research at the BCC, said: “Today’s GDP figures, showing growth of 0.5% in the three months to May, but a fall of 0.1% in the month, reinforce the view that UK growth remains...
Worcestershire News
Malvern St James Girls’ School Appoints New Head
Malvern St James Girls’ School has announced the appointment of Dr Gareth Lloyd as the new Head of the school, taking up post as of January 1st 2024. He comes from Stoke College in Suffolk and succeeds Mrs Olivera Raraty, who retires at Christmas having been Head...
Rare Opportunity in Worcester as Purpose-Built Student Accommodation Building Comes on the Market
Investors can take advantage of a rare opportunity in Worcester as a purpose-built student accommodation building which is already fully let for the next academic year comes on the market. Leading property consultancy Fisher German is marketing Court Mews – a...
Herefordshire News
Tim swaps L’Oréal for top finance role at Wyevale Nurseries
Tim Fawbert whose previous role was with the French cosmetics giant L’Oréal has joined one of the UK’s leading commercial nurseries as Group Finance Director (December 2022). In his new position at Wyevale Nurseries, which is based in Hereford, Tim is managing the...
Marches LEP event to highlight access to finance hailed a huge success
An event to highlight the many funding options available to businesses in the Marches has been hailed a huge success. The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership hosted the event for intermediaries working with businesses across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford...
All Latest News
Winter Diesel Day at the Severn Valley Railway
The Severn Valley Railway (SVR) is set to round off 2025 in style with the return of its popular Winter Diesel Day on Monday 29 December, offering a full day of powerful diesel action set against the scenic backdrop of the Severn Valley on a crisp winter’s day....
Severn Valley Railway kicks off 2026 with a winter celebration of steam
The Severn Valley Railway (SVR) will welcome the New Year in spectacular style as its popular Winter Steam Gala returns on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 January 2026, offering an unmissable two-day festival of steam at a time of year when few heritage railways are in full...
Five Years of Festive Support: Linden Homes Backs KEMP Hospice Christmas Tree Collection.
KEMP Hospice is delighted to announce that Linden Homes are once again generously supporting their annual Christmas Tree Collection – marking an incredible five years of support from the award-winning home builder. Linden Homes have generously donated £2,000 to KEMP...
Speller Metcalfe: Building Excellence Across Worcestershire and Herefordshire
Speller Metcalfe is a leading regional construction company with deep roots in Worcestershire and Herefordshire, and a proud heritage spanning 30 years. Established in 1995, the business has grown into an award-winning contractor delivering complex, high-quality...
NMITE AND THE BRITISH ARMY ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT TO LAUNCH REVOLUTIONARY UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE IN AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS
The New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) has reached a landmark agreement with the UK Armed Forces to develop a groundbreaking new undergraduate degree in Autonomous Systems which will be set to welcome its first students in September 2026. Built...
Hamnet Puts Herefordshire in the Global Spotlight – Here’s How Your Business Can Get Involved
Herefordshire is stepping onto the world stage, and local businesses have a unique opportunity to be part of something truly special. Global buzz is building around Hamnet, the beautifully crafted film adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s award-winning novel. Directed by...
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