MEMBERS of an award-winning Lakes company met with the Prime Minister as part of a special event held at Downing Street.

Maria Whitehead and Jonathan Robb, from Hawkshead Relish, travelled to London on Monday to take part in an event held in Downing Street.

The afternoon event hosted by the Prime Minister was designed to fly the flag for British food and consumer goods and showcase small independent businesses that are exporting their goods internationally.

Attendees saw Downing Street transformed into a street market with ten stallholders invited along to showcase their products, including Hawkshead Relish from England, IGS Vertical Farming from Scotland, and Blaenafon Cheddar Company from Wales.

During the event the Prime Minister, joined by Cabinet Ministers, including the International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Environment Secretary George Eustice and Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, met with stallholders.

Other invited guests included the Founder and CEO of Genius Foods, Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne, also chair of Scotland Food and Drink, Michael Bell, CEO of the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA) and Chair of the Food and Drink Federation Karen Betts who works closely with the Department for International Trade as the voice of the UK food industry.

Maria Whitehead, co-owner of Hawkshead Relish said: "We were delighted to be given the opportunity to showcase our products alongside some of the best of British in the food and drink sector.

"And even more importantly being able to have the opportunity to represent small family-owned and run businesses from rural locations such as Cumbria in the capital.’’

International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: ''It’s fantastic to see so many examples of great UK businesses thriving thanks to the trade and export opportunities we’ve made available to them.

"As we continue our journey as an independent free-trading nation our Export Strategy offers a wealth of support for existing as well as new-to-market traders.

"We’re rightly proud of our small business exporters, and I want to see more of our brilliant products made here in the UK sold to the world.’’

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "Putting the best of British business on the global market is a vital part of growing our economy – with exports bringing £640.3 billion last year alone.

"Every corner of the UK is filled with exceptionally talented businesses, and I’m delighted that today we have been able to showcase some of the best of what this country has to offer.’’