THE boss of a Basingstoke education procurement company attended a Downing Street reception to celebrate Small Business Saturday.

When Lorraine Ashover, director of Minerva Procurement Consultancy Services, heard about Small Business Saturday she was immediately interested in being a part of it.

She said: “Small businesses are the life blood of UK plc and, more so than ever, our role in helping the economic recovery is of paramount importance.

“Today is all about encouraging everyone in the UK to support small businesses both on the day and beyond.”

Minerva, based at Basepoint Enterprise Centre, in Stroudley Road, is a procurement consultancy working exclusively with schools. Whilst only formed in 2010, the business has already saved school clients almost £350,000, of ongoing annual savings in a vast array of spend categories ranging from photocopiers to oil and pupil transport to telephony.

In the run up to Small Business Saturday the campaign team has been promoting 100 businesses through social media and via the Tour Bus which has travelled the length and breadth of the UK. The Small Business Saturday campaign clearly gathered momentum with support from large corporates, such as American Express, entrepreneur’s including Karren Brady and several MP’s. It was even mentioned in Chancellor George Osborne’s Autumn Statement.

Lorraine said she was surprised and thrilled to receive an invitation from the Minister for Skills and Enterprise, Matthew Hancock MP, to attend the Downing Street event, which celebrated the conclusion of the Small Business Saturday Bus Tour and the success of Great British small businesses.

Lorraine said: “It was a fantastic occasion and wonderful to meet so many other energetic and successful small businesses. It was also really interesting to see the inside of Number 11 Downing Street. “Doctor Who’s Tardis has nothing on this place,” quipped Lorraine.