You know by now that we’re proud to be a small business (employ less than 50 people? You’re small too! Yay!) and that we work hard to support other small businesses with social media training, regular updates and useful content, ideas and inspiration. So we were double chuffed this year to be selected for the Small Biz 100 and invited to Downing Street and the Treasury to meet the Chancellor as a result.

Our exclusive invitation

At HM Treasury (Bond fans will know this one)

Of the 100 businesses invited, 12 were selected to have a small chalet in the Treasury to showcase their business further – and Shake was one of the 12. We asked visitors to our chalet to recommend a small business that they loved: we used the recommendations to create a wall of small biz fame and tweeted them all to share the love over the weekend.

Our small biz recommendations

Albert Jones making his recommendation

George Osborne spent some time with us enquiring about Shake Social and the power of social media for small businesses. We asked him to recommend a small business to add to the wall of fame. Sadly, it stumped him for a moment – he had to think a while but just as his aides were leaning in to rescue a potentially disastrous situation he thought of one! Kudos to the Stolen Lamb Restaurant in Wilmslow for getting the Chancellor’s recommendation.

Moya and Kate with the Chancellor

George Osborne recommending a small business

The Small Business Saturday team were amazing as always – keeping everyone informed as to what was happening, helping to maximise the press attention and giving everyone lots of social media love. We gave away some lucky dip boxes, all containing different sources of inspiration and ideas for your social media content too. Great to see they got people smiling!

Our visit wasn’t complete without a quick sojourn to Downing Street and a photo call at Number 10.

Kate and Moya at No 10

I couldn’t resist a goofy shot!

All in all, a great day – and the best part about it? Meeting all the other business owners – a hugely inspirational bunch. Here’s to the grafters, the risk-takers, the creatives, the innovators, the Small Business Saturday team and everyone who can recommend a small business without having to think about it!

By Kate Tyler