Richmond Chamber of Commerce (RCC) welcomes directors and colleagues from companies of all sizes, from start-ups to well-established UK and international corporates operating in various sectors and located and/or commercially active within the borough of Richmond upon Thames.
Businesses join to meet their peers, listen and engage, and to develop long-term trusting relationships.
This process strengthens each firm’s roots commercially, strategically, and locally.
Book the next relaxed, local Richmond upon Thames borough professional business networking in Teddington on Thursday, September 25 at Côte Teddington, from 10 am to 11.30 am at https://bit.ly/BookRichmondChamberEvents - and join Richmond Chamber of Commerce at https://bit.ly/JoinRichmondChamberofCommerce - the membership is annual and based on the size of a company’s turnover or if a charity’s, its income - all are welcome.
Whilst UK services exports are performing well, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) data showed UK exports of goods to the US reaching their lowest level in 3 years.
When comparing goods exported to the US during April to June to the same period last year, exports are 13.5 per cent lower in Q2 this year, equating financially to approximately £2 billion less.
Current concern is around steel and aluminium both in raw material form, as well as within manufactured goods.
By contrast, UK services exports performed well across the quarter April to June with good growth of 2.9 per cent and the stronger performing sectors being: professional and advisory services and business, financial and travel services activities.
There was also a strong performance of 3.6 per cent increase in the exports of goods from the UK to the EU from April to June this year.
By contrast, UK exports to the rest of the world were down by 9.9 per cent during the same period.
Official figures from Tussell confirm that the total value of UK government contracts for artificial intelligence-related projects January to July 15 2025 to be £573 million, whilst last year’s total spend was £468 million.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated that AI can help streamline the civil service and reduce government waste, and ministers confirmed in March that technology deployment would save the UK £45 billion a year.
In July the government signed a strategic partnership with OpenAI, whereby Sam Altman’s company invests in the UK in exchange for Whitehall using its technology.
International Air Transport Association (IATA) data confirms that the age of the global aircraft fleet is higher due to supply chain distortions caused by the COVID pandemic.
They claim that it will take 9 years to return to normal and that older aircraft are either taking longer to replace or not being replaced at all.
In respect to the current stock, at the last count and from June 2025 there were 30,300 commercial passenger aircraft flying, with a further 5,250 certified planes in storage.
Boeing, the US plane maker and European company Airbus both account for 80 per cent of the global fleet, thus dominating the market for short-haul and long-haul aircraft.
IATA confirms that if the air sector’s growth projections had remained as expected between 2019 and 2026, then more than 16,000 new aircraft would have been delivered.
Instead, 10,700 new planes are scheduled to be delivered, leaving the market short of around 5,000 fuel-efficient, quieter planes.
This has major implications for the sector as well as the wider economy in respect to both costs as well as sustainability.
London-based tonic and soda brand Double Dutch has successfully raised £4.5 million reportedly predominantly from the de Carvalho family to grow into the airline and travel sectors and to seek out further exporting opportunities.
This company was borne out of a £10,000 prize from University College London University for the best business plan and it is now exporting 13 flavours into 40 countries across the world.
Waitrose is trialling AI-powered trolleys called ‘smart-carts’ that automatically scan groceries, speeding-up the customer experience, whilst feeding real-time data insights to marketing and operational and supply chain management.
This is a pilot taking place in Bracknell and depending on the outcome, a roll-out of these ‘smart-carts’ may follow across more branches.
Waitrose: "We’re exploring options for more frictionless payment for our customers, while still maintaining conventional checkouts for customers who value interaction with our partners."
Amazon Fresh Stores also first pioneered scanning technology that automatically scans and charges their customers after they leave their stores.
Companies operating in the borough join RCC to connect, build long-term relationships, lobby governments, develop their businesses, promote their products and services through the effective network and the subsidised press advertising and sponsorships, event PR and brand awareness and innovate alongside micros, SMEs and global firms at https://bit.ly/JoinRichmondChamberofCommerce https://bit.ly/RCCBizNetworking.
These companies then enter the 2025 Richmond Business Awards by the deadline of September 30th and they attend The Richmond Christmas Ball at The Allianz, Stadium, Twickenham on Friday, December 5th https://bit.ly/ENTERRichmondBusinessAwards.
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