Bassingbourn and Litlington dance school founder heads to 10 Downing Street for Small Business Saturday
Naomi Wallen at 10 Downing Street. - Credit: Archant
The founder of a community dance school in Bassingbourn and Litlington was invited to 10 Downing Street on Thursday last week for a reception to mark the UK’s fourth annual Small Business Saturday.
Principal of DanceMatters Naomi Wallen joined her fellow small business owners for a reception at No. 10 after she was named in this year’s 100 small businesses list – where each firm has a day dedicated to promoting them in the run-up to Small Business Saturday on December 3.
Naomi said: “I can hardly believe I’ve been given the opportunity to visit 10 Downing Street.
“It says so much about the importance of dance in our community.
“DanceMatters is a wonderful family of dancers from two to 92, and their passion for dance makes going to work a thing of joy for me.
“I know how their support and that of my family made it possible for DanceMatters to be worthy of such an honour. I’m not ashamed to say that I had a few tears as I walked back to the tube.”
She added: “We celebrated with a Christmas party.
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“The DanceMatters family came together on Saturday to watch a performance of newly-created dances before enjoying the first party food of the season. A raffle raised £135 in aid of SILA, the sarcoidosis charity.”
Prime Minister Theresa May said: “Small Business Saturday is an opportunity for us to celebrate the success of the UK’s 5.4 million small businesses. I’m delighted that we had such a great representation of firms here in Downing Street to mark this event and recognise the prosperity they bring to the UK.”
The campaign places small, independent businesses in communities across the country into the national spotlight.
Secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy Greg Clark said: “The UK’s 5.4 million small businesses are the backbone of our economy,
“I am proud to be joining Small Business Saturday in championing them, and would encourage people to get out and to do the same.”
Campaign director Michelle Ovens said: “We aim to showcase the level of diversity, innovation and talent that is active within our small business sector, and persuade people to get out and support businesses and reinforce local communities and economies.”
More information on DanceMatters can be found by searching ‘DanceMatters’ on Facebook and Twitter or at dance-matters.co.uk.
For more on the campaign to go www.smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com.
