A BASINGSTOKE entrepreneur was an MP’s guest of honour at event to celebrate International Women’s Day on Thursday las week.

Elizabeth Truss MP, chief secretary to the Treasury, hosted a reception for women entrepreneurs from around the country at 11 Downing Street with MP Maria Miller welcoming Catherine Waters-Clark, of Inspero, to the event.

Catherine founded Inspero in May 2012, a Basingstoke charity that aims to empower and support young people and their families to lead healthy lifestyles through learning about food and the integral role it plays in their lives.

Catherine said: “The team at Inspero are passionate about contributing to the local community, and inspiring young people from Basingstoke through our food growing, cooking and healthy eating programmes. I was delighted to attend the reception at No 11 with Maria and meet with many other inspiring business women from around the country.”

Maria said: “I was pleased to welcome Catherine to the reception to celebrate the role of women in business. Basingstoke is one of the top 10 centres of business in the south-east, and it is local businesswomen in smaller businesses who I find incredibly inspiring, people like Catherine Waters-Clark who founded Inspero to help children understand where their food comes from and how they can cook it.”