I was honoured to be invited to a reception at Downing Street to celebrate the UK’s first Small Business Saturday. Cakes with Faces was featured by Small Business Saturday as one of 100 small businesses, one per day in the run-up to Saturday 7th December. It was really exciting to be part of the day – and I got to meet George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and show him my designs!
In the morning I joined the Small Business bus tour at its final stop in Brixton, where Shadow Business Secretary Chukka Umunna and the Small Business Saturday team were out to promote the day and talk to business owners and the public.
I then rode on the bus to Downing Street, with other people from the Small Business Saturday 100.
We had to go through a security check, and the policemen even had guns. It was exciting to talk a walk along the famous Downing Street and past number 10!
The reception was in number 11, and I met lots of lovely people and shared stories about our small businesses. There were people from all over the country, and an amazing range of businesses, from fitness classes to green tea drinks, balance boards and some very funky umbrellas. I have a whole collection of business cards to go through and have a look at their websites. It showed how much character and creativity there is in the UK’s small businesses, and how they really do offer variety and niche products that chain stores can’t provide.
I met George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and showed him my takeaway menu so he could see my designs! He said I’m the most colourful person that’s been at Downing Street, and kept the menu as his son would like the t-shirts. (Let’s hope he remembers Cakes with Faces when he does his Christmas shopping!)
Thank you to Small Business Saturday for organising the event, inviting me along and for the photos I’ve used on this page. You can see lots more photos from the reception on their Facebook page (I’m really easy to spot with my purple hair!).
