Connected and Represented

Networking events and face-to-face contact will remain at the heart of Twickenham’s approach to life, but digital media is the vehicle by which Twickenham will grow and thrive in the next decade. The BID is taking the town’s rich and colourful history, and reviving its spirit through online channels. Through social media, email communication and a community e-commerce platform, the message is to invest in local, and word is spreading.

Delivering value for BID businesses to support their business plans… more here

Delivering value for BID businesses

The BID is committed to ensuring that the next five years show businesses value for their financial contribution. To live up to this, we will focus on the following projects:

Cost savings

The BID will work towards securing cost savings on services, exclusively for its BID businesses.

Joint procurement for business cost savings

The BID will find ways to link businesses together to trade products, services, and achieve reduced costs for common business supplies.

Engaging with businesses

The BID will enhance the engagement with levy payers through regular BID business networking sessions and meeting both direct and as a group. We will look to employ BID Street Ambassadors who act as the eyes and ears of the town centre, acting as a contact for support and reporting local issues affecting the town centre, back to the BID company, and to local key stakeholders and partners.

Employment and Recruitment Support

To BID will continue to promote vacancies and opportunities to local people and work with agencies, such as Richmond College and the St Mary’s University to help fill vacant positions. We will assist businesses with the management of vacancies helping cut costs for advertising roles.

We will explore opportunities and assistance for start-up and small businesses, and look at ways to activate underused and vacant business space in the town centre.

We will work with local charities and organisations to help promote and offer voluntary work for people with learning difficulties, disabilities, as well as people who are seeking work experience, apprenticeships in BID businesses and student placements or internships.

We are committed to actively seeking additional public funds, grants and sponsorship which will allow the BID to supplement and finance additional projects which are decided on by the Board, to the levy payers benefit.

It is important that Twickenham is seen as a shopping town that offers current and potential customers a clean, safe and family friendly environment to visit. I am supporting the BID because of their efforts with the beautiful hanging baskets, parking offers and business support using Instagram, which has made a positive impact on my business and the high street.

Mike RickardJo Downs Glass Design Ltd

As a small local charity, starting a business was pretty daunting so it was good to be welcomed to the BID. The People Hive, a high street shop with a social enterprise twist, offers retail space to local artists in the community. All profits the charity RHLT makes are ploughed back in to supporting people with learning disabilities in and around the borough of Richmond Upon Thames. The BID has offered us support in terms of providing information, and putting us in touch with people that can support us as well as welcoming us to the local Twickenham Community.

Samantha FÿnChief Executive Officer, RHLT (People Hive)