• Sat. Dec 14th, 2024

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Award-Winning Teesside Businesswoman at Downing Street Reception to Honour Small Businesses

A Teesside businesswoman who runs an award-winning business in Middlesbrough’s Dundas Indoor Market and in Ingleby Barwick has visited 10 Downing Street to show off her range of goods to government ministers.

Dawn Worton, owner of Harry’s Pet Emporium in Dundas Market, and of Ingleby Pet Supplies in Ingleby Barwick, visited 10 Downing Street as part of a reception for small business owners to mark Small Business Saturday which took place on Saturday, 2nd December.

Mrs Worton, who sells a range of quality pet foods and pet accessories, was selected by Small Business Saturday as one of 100 small businesses to champion.

She, and other small business owners, were welcomed by Stephen Barclay MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Baroness Fairhead CBE, Minister of State at the Department for International Trade, Claire Perry MP, Minister of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Caroline Nokes MP, Minister for Government Resilience and Efficiency.

Mrs Worton showed off her range of high quality independent foods, toys, treats, apparel and other accessories, as well as Christmas presents, including pet selection boxes, to the ministers, and had a chance to talk to them about her business success.

She says: “It was a great honour to visit Number 10 Downing Street, helping to represent all the small businesses which are the backbone of the UK economy and to meet so many other inspirational small business owners.”

Harry’s Pet Emporium opened in Dundas Market, part of Dundas Shopping Centre, in October 2017.  To avoid confusion with her shop in Ingleby Barwick, Mrs Worton asked her 10 year old son Harry to think up a new name for her Dundas Market unit, and he came up with Harry’s Pet Emporium.

“Harry’s Pet Emporium is trading well in the Dundas Market.  It is a good location for us, as we are next to many other smaller independent traders who attract the same type of customer.  The market has built a good reputation and increases its pull with its monthly Food and Craft markets and other events,” continues Mrs Worton.

Dundas Market Manager David Harris says: “This is a great accolade for Dawn and her business.  I am sure she did us proud, representing our hard working market traders, as well as small business owners across Teesside.”