Returning to 11 Downing Street with Small Business Saturday

In November 2018, I was invited back to 11 Downing Street as part of Small Business Saturday. This was a return visit, four years after I was first invited in 2014 as one of the Top 100 small businesses.

Why I Was Invited Back

After my original visit in 2014, I stayed involved with Small Business Saturday. In 2018, I was invited to return to Downing Street to meet with ministers and continue the conversation about supporting small businesses across the UK.

We had to leave our phones in a box on entry to 11 Downing Street, so we weren’t able to take photos ourselves. The images below were shared afterwards.

Meeting Government Ministers

During the visit, I had the opportunity to meet Philip Hammond, who was Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Matthew Hancock, who was then Minister for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (and previously Minister for Small Business).

Small Business Saturday Bus at Downing Street

We also saw the Small Business Saturday Bus parked outside Number 11 as part of the day’s activities.

Meeting Michelle Ovens

I also had the chance to meet Michelle Ovens again, the founder of Small Business Saturday, who has done so much to champion small businesses across the UK.

Why These Visits Matter

Being invited back to Downing Street showed the ongoing commitment from Small Business Saturday to keep small businesses on the government’s agenda. These visits give small business owners a rare opportunity to have their voices heard at the highest level.

More than ten years on from my original invitation, I still believe that recognition schemes like this are valuable — not just for the businesses involved, but for raising awareness of the important role small businesses play in the UK economy.