Richmond Council has encouraged its businesses to reach out to its namesakes in USA.

A business workshop organised by the council and partners from the UK and USA was attended by 39 of the borough’s businesses.

Councillor Gareth Evans, council cabinet member for business, said: “It would be wonderful to see our business cross the Atlantic and expand.”

The event took place on Friday, March 28, at the American International University in Queen’s Road.

Greg Wingfield, of the American development body Greater Richmond Partnership, said: “We already have more than 150 international companies based in Richmond, Virginia, and we hope this excellent event will produce some more from our UK namesake.”

Virginia’s Richmond was named after the UK’s Richmond, because of the similarity between its James River and the Thames.

Visit richmondworldview.com for advice on starting a business in the USA.