Known for delivering personalised, inclusive tutoring across Worcestershire, WLZ Tutors is passionate about unlocking creativity and opportunity for young people and the wider community – making this partnership a natural fit.

Now in its fifth year, Worcester Paint Festival is a highlight of the city’s cultural calendar. The festival brings world-class street and graffiti artists to Worcester, turning walls and public spaces into large-scale works of art that spark conversation, connection, and civic pride.

As one of the main sponsors, WLZ Tutors supported internationally acclaimed street artist SATR in creating a striking new mural at the Severn View Hotel. The piece is not only visually captivating but also a powerful reminder of how art and education can inspire, challenge, and bring communities together.

Festival visitors enjoyed live painting and family-friendly activities across the city on Saturday 20 September, with Natasha, Director of WLZ Tutors, attending in person to experience the festival’s buzzing atmosphere.

“Education and creativity go hand in hand,” said Natasha, Director of WLZ Tutors. “Being a main sponsor of this year’s festival and supporting SATR reflects our belief that inclusive, community-based projects can transform not only spaces but also how people see the world. Watching families, young people, and local businesses come together around art is exactly what we stand for.”

This year’s festival showcased a diverse mix of internationally renowned and emerging street artists, each contributing to a legacy that extends far beyond the paint itself. From bold, large-scale murals to hidden gems tucked into neighbourhood corners, Worcester Paint Festival celebrates art as a shared experience that connects people of all ages.

Festival organiser Kate Cox added:

“Worcester Paint Festival is built on community, collaboration, and inclusivity. Support from main sponsors like WLZ Tutors ensures we can continue bringing world-class Street Artists like SATR to Worcester, inspiring residents and visitors alike. It’s about leaving behind more than paint – it’s about leaving a positive, creative legacy within this vibrant scene.”

Working at the heart of the global street and graffiti art movement, Worcester Paint Festival champions artists who develop unique, recognisable styles while collaborating to push creative boundaries. SATR’s new mural is a particularly exciting addition, as it is one of only two of the artist’s works currently on display in the UK.

The Severn View mural was made possible thanks to the generosity of local partners, including Severn View Hotel, who provided the wall and accommodation, MDS Scaffolding, who donated scaffolding, and Worcestershire County Council, whose funding helped bring the festival to life.

For WLZ Tutors, the sponsorship reflects a wider mission: to create opportunities for learning and connection both inside and outside the classroom. By supporting initiatives like Worcester Paint Festival, WLZ Tutors continues to champion education, creativity, and community engagement across Worcestershire.

For more information about WLZ Tutors, visit www.wlz-tutors.co.uk.

To explore the murals and artists of Worcester Paint Festival, visit www.worcesterpaintfestival.co.uk.

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Sharon Smith, CEO H&W Chamber said “We are delighted to announce our collaboration with Wild Edric Media on a very special project that has been in development for several months. This partnership represents a shared vision and commitment to delivering exceptional content, and we’re excited to reveal more details in the near future.
In addition, we are pleased to confirm that Wild Edric Media will also be joining us as the official Video Partner for our upcoming Chamber Business Expo, scheduled to take place this October. Their expertise in high-quality video production will play a key role in capturing the energy and success of the event, and we look forward to working closely with their team both in the lead-up to and throughout the Expo.”

Carl Walker, Managing Director at Wild Edric Media added ‘We are thrilled to be awarded this prestigious position as Video Partner for the Chamber’s Business Expo, which we’ve been Members of for some time and have always been impressed with their support to local businesses. We’ve created a range of promotional videos and TV adverts for a number of regional businesses, and we are excited to have the opportunity to bring our creativity and high-end production experience to the Chamber, using the power of video to promote not only the brand but also highlight their vast range of services to help local businesses. It really will be Lights, Camera, Action!’

For more information about Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber Of Commerce, please visit https://www.hwchamber.co.uk

For more information about Wild Edric Media’s Video Production services, please visit www.wildedricmedia.com

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Hosted in conjunction with Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, Stoford celebrated the major milestone with an exclusive breakfast for agents, a guided tour of the new headquarters for MiTek staff, and a celebratory lunch bringing together occupiers, partners and stakeholders.

The celebration also commemorated the construction of MiTek’s new 278,048 sq ft EMEA headquarters — the largest pre-sale for Worcestershire in over 20 years — which is due for completion later this year.

Attendees heard from key speakers: Stoford Directors, Edward Peel and Gerard Ludlow; James Morgan, Managing Director of MiTek; Chamber CEO Sharon Smith; former England rugby star and British & Irish Lion, Simon Shaw MBE; Worcester Warriors CEO Stephen Vaughan; and Benniman Director Neil Fletcher.

Gerard Ludlow, Director at Stoford, said: “It’s exciting to see how far Worcester Six has come over the past decade. Most developments here are tailored to meet specific business needs, and MiTek’s new EMEA HQ is a great example. Its arrival highlights the strong partnership between Stoford, local councils, and businesses.

“Worcester Six thrives because of its unique mix of local firms and global companies. It was fantastic to bring everyone together to celebrate the journey so far and reaffirm our vision of the business park as a centre for innovation and regional growth.”

James Morgan, Managing Director for MiTek’s EMEA operations said: “We were delighted to be part of the celebration with Stoford and the Chamber of Commerce. It was great to see the developments at our soon-to-be EMEA headquarters as well as celebrating the broader, ongoing success of the Worcester Six Business Park development.”

As demand for offsite construction continues to grow, this building will provide the manufacturing capacity to support the continued growth of our customers across Europe, as well as providing spaces that inspire creativity, foster collaboration, and drive innovation.

Situated off J6 of the M5, the 72 hectares of land that makes up Worcester Six was identified as one of four ‘game changers’ for Worcestershire in 2015. Since then circa 1.2 million square feet of commercial real estate has been delivered, with a total of 11 buildings ranging from 19,849 to 180,121 sq ft. This represents over £190 million of private sector investment into the region, and the delivery of more than 1,000 jobs to the site.

Current occupiers on site include Bidfood, Alliance Flooring Distribution, IONOS, ZwickRoell, Kohler Mira, Sierra CP Engineering, Spire Healthcare, Kimal, Material Solutions, Super Smart Service, and Stop Start Logistics.

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Simon Shaw, ex-England international and Wasps Rugby legend, is set to make an appearance at the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce ‘Get Connected in Worcester’ event on Wednesday 18^th June, 12:30 till 2:30pm. The Get Connected events are a way for local employees to connect with like-minded individuals. The events are usually free for Chamber Members; however, to mark a decade of Stowford’s successful development at the business park the event is free for everyone.

The event will take place at the site of MiTek’s new 278,048 sq ft unit, currently under construction at Worcester Six Business Park. A marquee will be set up on-site, offering guests a unique view overlooking the development of MiTek’s new EMEA headquarters.

A delicious pig roast buffet will be available, accompanied by a variety of salads, soft drinks, beer, and wine. Seating will be arranged at tables of ten within the marquee, providing an excellent opportunity to relax, network, and enjoy the event in a comfortable setting.

Attendees will hear from guest speakers, including former England Rugby player Simon Shaw and senior representatives from Stoford, who will welcome attendees and give a brief overview of the scheme. This will be followed by James Morgan, MD of MiTek, who will share insights into why Worcester was chosen as the location for their new headquarters.

If you’re interested in attending this event, please get in touch with the team at the Chamber by email: events@hwchamber.co.uk or call 01905 673600.

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The morning kicked off with networking over breakfast, setting the stage for an insightful and informative conference. Guest speakers from Worcestershire County Council, Herefordshire Council, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, and West Mercia Police offered businesses practical guidance on how to bid for public sector contracts.

Attendees gained valuable insights into navigating online tendering portals, meeting essential requirements, and identifying upcoming opportunities. The event highlighted how small and medium-sized businesses can benefit from securing contracts with public sector organisations, opening doors to long-term growth and stability.

By strengthening connections between local businesses and public sector buyers, events like this play a crucial role in driving economic growth across the two counties, ensuring that local businesses are well-equipped to compete for and win valuable contracts.

The next conference in the Chambers calendar is the Food & Drink Conference on the 27^th February. The event is free for all and will feature speakers from the industry.

If you’re interested in attending the next Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce conference, email events@hwchamber.co.uk

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Earning CPD points involves attending training courses, events, workshops, or learning sessions. The number of points required and how they are earned depends on the organisation.

The Chamber offers a variety of training courses and events that contribute towards CPD points. Courses cover areas such as Developing People, HR, Health & Safety, Legislation and Regulation, IT, PR and Marketing, Sales and Customer Care, and Leadership & Management.

With over 120 events each year, many count towards CPD, including the HR Forum, HR Conference, and Economic Conference.

Chamber members receive discounts on training courses and events. All Chamber Forums are free for members. Contact enquiries@hwchamber.co.uk for more information.

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The conference brought together HR professionals from businesses of all sizes for a day of insight and connection. With engaging talks from industry leaders, it explored the key challenges and innovations shaping the future of HR, such as the Employment Rights Bill which aims to improve job security, living standards, and the employment rights framework in the UK.

The event featured an impressive lineup of speakers, including Sally Morris, Partner & Head of Employment Division at mfg Solicitors LLP; Tommy Moore, Senior Creative Director at DRPG; Gemma Hathway, HR Director UK & Europe at Karndean; Niccei Castanheira, Head of People, Culture & Development at West Midlands Safari Park; and Emma Jeffries, Senior HRD Manager at Southco Manufacturing Ltd. Attendees also heard from Laura Hewett and Ben Mannion, Directors at Hewett Recruitment.

The HR Professionals Conference 2024 lived up to previous events, making it a staple in the Chambers event calendar.

For those who didn’t attend, the Chamber will be hosting the brand-new Health & Wellbeing Conference in January, but hurry, spaces are selling out fast. To book on, email events@hwchamber.co.uk.

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The Chambers Business Expo has a long past in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, making it a staple within the business community. The Expo is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to present their business to those attending, make long-lasting connections, network, and make themselves known within the community. The day also has an agenda full of networking opportunities, seminars, and talks from experts in their fields.

The October 2024 Expo was no different and kicked off with a breakfast and a warm welcome from Sharon Smith, Chief Executive of the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, and Ben Mannion, Owner and Director of Hewett Recruitment. Throughout the day, attendees participated in two fast-paced speed networking sessions, offering a dynamic twist on traditional networking. There was also a joint seminar by Herefordshire Council and Worcestershire County Council on local support, grants, and funding, as well as an insightful session on how B2B and B2C businesses can make an impact on TikTok.

The Chamber was thrilled with the overwhelmingly positive feedback from both exhibitors and attendees and has already begun planning next year’s Expo. For more highlights from the event, check out the Chamber’s social media platforms, including LinkedIn and Instagram.

If you’re interested in exhibiting at the next Expo or want to learn more, feel free to reach out at events@hwchamber.co.uk.

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F8 Creates was started by Co-Founders, Hamish Gill and Greg Smith in 2009, offering brand/design, video, photography, and website services. From it being just a small team working in Hamish’s attic, the company has grown significantly over the last 15 years with there now being a team of ten working within The Kiln, a co-working space that the duo also set up. 

Seeing a gap in the market for high-quality, fast business signage, Carl Murphy founded PB Signs in 2009.  Alice Fox joined Carl in 2016 and together they’ve grown to a team of 9 print experts along with three units stacked with state-of-the-art print and cut equipment. The team is known for its print quality, responsiveness, and excellent customer service.

Over the last couple of years, F8 and PB Signs have been working together on a variety of projects, ranging from smaller collateral right up to big exhibition stands and commercial building signage. The two businesses work well together with F8 bringing their branding expertise to creating the artwork and then passing that onto PB Signs to print and manufacture to a high quality with a super fast turnover. With this expertise, F8 and PB Signs can work together to create unique and bespoke designs to help your business stand out from the competition.

Check out this example of the two companies collaborating on Hewett Recruitment’s Expo Stand:

https://f8creates.com/project/hewett-recruitment/

With the collaboration of the two companies working so well and both celebrating their 15 year anniversary, they have decided to put together some packages, combining the two services to offer your business the best of both worlds and come out with a bespoke, on-brand end product. 

With the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce Expo coming up in October, F8 and PB Signs are offering a 15% discount on their exhibition stand design packages. Get in touch to set up a discovery call to discuss how best to advertise your business at events such as the Chamber Expo.

Email Lewis Webster (lewis@f8creates.com) to book your discovery call.

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From beginning to end, the day radiated energy, with an incredible atmosphere in the main hall where eager visitors explored a variety of stands. The Networking Zone, sponsored by Worcestershire Growth Hub; the Food & Drink Zone, sponsored by mfg Solicitors; and the Expo agenda all played vital roles in making the day truly special.

The day kicked off with 180 visitors enjoying the Networking Breakfast, offering a chance to catch up and hear from speakers such as Laura Hewett, Director of Hewett Recruitment; Jayne Sargeant, Head of Fundraising and Communications at KEMP Hospice; Chris Walklett, Tax Partner at Bishop Fleming; and Robert Elliot, Director of Business Engagement and Policy. Following some tea, coffee, and breakfast, Robert Elliot officially opened the Expo.

Bishop Fleming then hosted their Budget Update Seminar, unravelling Jeremy Hunt’s Budget Statement from the day before (March 6). Leading the session were tax specialists Rob Pearce and Daniel Pitt, who provided a detailed explanation of how the new Budget Plan might impact companies.

The Chamber then hosted an exciting Speed Networking event, with 70 participants engaging in fast-paced business networking. Following that, FormusPro hosted the AI Seminar, offering excellent insight into the advancement and applications of AI in the corporate world. The Expo agenda concluded with the Business Leaders lunch, where guests were inspired by Paralympian Dan Pembroke, a gold medallist in javelin.

Both attendees and exhibitors could not stop praising the Expo; those regular to the Expo called it the best one yet, while new exhibitors expressed their eagerness for the next one. The Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce Facebook page features the entire day’s gallery: www.facebook.com./HWChamberofCommerce/

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