business registered in Richmond. Apart from the project director, we are all volunteers at Be Richmond, so we need businesses to come to us – big and small - and tell us what they would like improved in the area and how we can help them. We’d love to build up the website and would welcome contributions from smaller businesses – the more information we have about local businesses, the more useful the website will be.’ Are you just flying the flag for shops – or also those businesses without a ‘shop front’? ‘We are trying improve the area as a whole, which will benefit every business in Richmond and encourage more people to visit, work and spend their money here. And it’s not just businesses we help – I was recently asked by residents to get the telephone box on Richmond Green re-painted. They’d been fighting for this for years, but there just wasn’t the budget. I promised them it would get done – and ended up painting it myself!’ How can local businesses find out what’s going on and how they can contribute? 'We hold quarterly networking meetings in Richmond and would love more local businesses to attend. It’s a great way to build contacts, promote your business, learn about the work we are doing and also to find out how everyone can get involved. We all need to work together to make Richmond an even better place to work and live. Nobody is there to sell anything, we all just want to share our knowledge and understanding of what’s happening locally.' What are the plans for the future? ‘As well as making it the cleanest and safest place to live and work we are also working on a new Be Richmond app, which will help workers and residents benefit from promotions and events hosted by local retailers. We will also be organising future May Fairs on Richmond Green and intend to make it a destination event to bring more people to the area.’
more to make it an even greater place and really help local businesses – but we need to work together.’ You can find out more about Be Richmond at: berichmond.london Pippa Duncan
It’s a lot of work on top of a normal working day – why did you volunteer? ‘Because I have a vision for Richmond and I will get things done. I think we can do so much Please mention Living In Magazines when contacting advertisers
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