Drinks and canapes …
Juliet and the other #SmallBiz100 winners were welcomed by Stephen Barclay MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury and Baroness Fairhead CBE, Minister of State at the Department for International Trade. Everyone was treated to drinks and canapes in the impressive official drawing rooms and dining room.

Essex small businesses
Selected participants were invited to showcase their businesses, among them fellow Essex small business Secret Hamper.
Nigel Richardson of www.secrethamper.com meets Stephen Barclay MP (photo: Zoe Norfolk)

By an amazing coincidence, the other winning business from Essex – Mandie Holgate of the Business Womens Network – is also from Mersea Island. A tremendous coup for our island’s businesswomen!

Privilege
Juliet said: “It was such a privilege to be the other side of that iconic door! And it was wonderful to meet and network with the other Top 100 Small Business winners. Thanks to Small Business Saturday UK for inviting us all to such a memorable event.”
Michelle Ovens MBE, Director, Small Business Saturday, said: “Small Business Saturday shines a spotlight on our local businesses to show how vitally important they are to individual communities and the UK as a whole. We are encouraging everyone to support the small businesses near them this Saturday, by shopping local, and also giving them their backing into 2018 and beyond.”

Stephen Barclay MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, said: “It’s great to welcome so many business owners to Number 10 today to show our appreciation for the crucial contribution they make to Britain. Small businesses are vital to a thriving and competitive economy that is fit for the future, so it’s great to see that the number of small businesses in the UK has been growing in recent years. We hope the country will join us in championing the UK’s small businesses, and support them this Saturday.”
No phones or cameras permitted past the entrance hall of No. 10, but you can take a private virtual tour here!