News archive

Old news stories from the Richmond Business Hub.

Introducing the 2025 Re:Create Cohort

We are excited to announce that over 80 artists, creative freelancers and micro-entrepreneurs from the boroughs Westminster, Richmond upon Thames and Wandsworth have been selected to join this year’s Re:Create programme – our dedicated initiative designed to strengthen sustainability and support growth in the creative sector.

Re:Create is designed to empower creative businesses to build sustainable models and strengthen their skills through expert guidance and training. Delivered by social enterprise Creative United and funded by Westminster, Wandsworth, and Richmond Councils via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the programme provides tailored support to help creative enterprises grow, adapt, and thrive.

First piloted in the London Borough of Wandsworth in 2021, Re:Create has since supported more than 200 creative businesses in the capital – boosting income, developing skills, and building confidence.

This year, the individuals and businesses selected for the programme represent the incredible creative diversity the borough of Richmond has to offer. From potters to poets and fashion designers to theatre practitioners, all have been carefully selected from a pool of applicants for this year’s cohort.

• Agnieszka Pelc – Agnes Art Studio
• Alice Lickens-Richards – Mortlake Papers
• Amanda Randall – Amanda Randall Design
• Anna Goncharova – ANJOY KIDS
• Anne-Kathrin Schoettle Hanna – Designfreiheit LTD
• Charlotte Hicks – Charlotte Hicks Art
• Charlotte Wainwright – Cloth & Clay
• Clare Norburn – The Telling
• David Barros – DigitalDave.media
• Joanna Ling – Joanna Ling Ceramics 
• Jonathan Cantwell – Trophy Oars/The Flying Boatman
• Julia Pedrollo Albertoni – Coruja Press
• Juliana Jones – JulianaJonesDesign
• Laurentia Colea – laurascreativeworkshop
• Leen Kay – Berryfield Studio
• Lottie Walker – Blue Fire Theatre Company Ltd
• Madiha Zaidi – Invoke London
• Paola Estrella Rhiannon Jones – Jones & Fountaine
• Shaye Poulton Richards – Stage Interactive
• Sophia Bloxham – Sophia the Illustrator

15 October 2025

Join the Fit To Bid programme

Supply Wandsworth is pleased to invite SMEs in Richmond and other South West London boroughs to join its successful Fit to Bid programme. Sign up now to strengthen your ability to bid for and win public and private sector contracts.
 
Fit To Bid provides SMEs with a proven structure, practical tools, and strategic insight to grow confidently, stand out in competitive markets, and secure more contracts. Watch a recording of the launch session.
 
Visit the Supply Wandsworth page to find out more about the resources and help on offer, including the opportunity to book a one-to-one advice session and submit your details for the 2025 supplier directory.

5 September 2025

Registering as a Cool Space

This is a call to action asking you to register as a Cool Space. The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames is currently working to ensure that everyone across the borough has a Cool Space to cool down and stay safe in the event of extreme heat in the upcoming summer. If you think that you could provide a Cool Space for people to shelter we would really appreciate if you are able to register your venue through the GLA Cool spaces form.

Cool Spaces are indoor spaces for Londoners to shelter from the sun, cool down, rest and take respite on hot days. They may help reduce health risks from hot weather. However, they are not designed to support vulnerable individuals on hot days, or as a medical care substitute if someone is unwell from overheating.

All Cool Spaces appear on the GLA Cool spaces map, which is live 1 June to 30 September. This aligns with heat-health alerting season, as per the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)'s Adverse Weather and Health Plan. The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames currently has very few Cool Spaces, we are committed to changing this.

Registering as a Cool Space is a quick process but could have significant benefits for your community. If you need any further support, please email rose.joyce@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk.

19 June 2025

Single use vapes banned from 1 June 2025

Trading Standards wishes to remind the business community that single use vapes will soon be banned, with the deadline fast approaching. The ban applies to all single use vapes whether or not they contain nicotine, and applies to shops and online sales. Businesses selling single use vapes must sell through their stock before 1 June. From this date onwards single use vapes cannot be sold. Failing to comply with the ban could lead to products being seized and traders facing legal action, such as a fine. Trading Standards has taken firm action recently against sales of illegal oversized vapes with two businesses ending up in court.

Stock should not be left in business premises as it could end up being sold by mistake. It can also create the impression that it is being kept ready for sale. Any stock that cannot be sold should be returned to suppliers or must be properly disposed of, as it cannot be thrown in the bin like normal rubbish. As well as dealing with stock, businesses should take the opportunity to ensure their sales staff are aware of the new rules and can answer any customers queries.

It is also important to check any new stock meets the new requirements for vapes and is not caught by the ban. If businesses find that a supplier offers them single use vapes after 1 June, then this can be reported to trading standards using the details below. 

The ban is being introduced to deal with the issues created by single use vapes. 8.2 million vapes are now thrown away or littered every week in the UK, which is the equivalent of 13 each second. However, recycling single-use vapes is notoriously arduous, with waste industry workers needing to take them apart by hand which can be a slow and costly process. Their contents also present a fire risk to recycling facilities and can leak harmful chemicals into the environment. Single use vapes are also favoured due to their lower price when compared with the refillable equivalents. The ban plays a role in reducing take up of vaping by adults and reducing illegal underage sales.

Trading Standards advises businesses use the following checklist to get ready:

• Sell through remaining single use vapes by 1 June 
• Get familiar with the new rules by reading GOV.UK guidance on the single-use vapes ban
• Check new stock is compliant with the ban 
• Discuss the ban with sales staff 
• Remove or properly dispose of non-compliant stock by 1 June 
• Seek further advice if needed 

The Regulatory Services Partnership provides Trading Standards for Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth. For requests for advice or to make a report that the ban is not being complied with contact  trading.standards@merton.gov.uk. 

Shiuli, Twickenham

Shiuli is a contemporary Indian restaurant run by Michelin starred chef, Alfred Prasad. Alfred and Sunita’s local story was featured in our February Newsletter.

Watch YouTube influencer Gary Eats review Shiuli.

23 March 2025