Big Interview “I took over a fish stall at Blue Market Bermondsey in 1990,” he recalls. “I’ve been running it ever since.” Russell is well-acquainted with Blue Market Bermondsey, which has been woven into the fabric of the borough’s history for more than 160 years. He has lived in the area all his life, has run businesses here and he’s currently the manager of the Blue Bermondsey Business Improvement District (BID). Established in 2014, the BID exists to promote the area, attract investment and drive forward projects that improve the trading environment for local businesses. Under Russell’s leadership, the BID has secured its future until at least 2024 – and, typically, he’s been busy making things happen. Notably, he was instrumental in a successful community campaign that saw £2 million of capital funding secured from the Mayor of London’s Good Growth Fund, a £70 million regeneration programme to support growth and community development in London. The £2 million cash boost is being used to drive forward Made in Bermondsey, an ambitious project that’s transforming the Blue into a thriving area so that it’s once more recognised and celebrated as Bermondsey’s historic town centre. The focal point of this transformation is the regeneration of Market Place. Russell says: “We’ve retained historical features of the market while making it a
Revitalising the Blue It’s fair to say that Russell Dryden has led a colourful career. The London-based entrepreneur has run all sorts of businesses, from printing and decorating firms to delivery and logistics businesses. 18 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY
greener, more accessible and attractive place to do business. We want to build upon the Blue’s strong manufacturing heritage by embracing the emerging range of local 21st century food production businesses and have them trading on the regenerated market, where we host regular cultural events that attract people from inside and outside of the borough.
