National accolade for Bourne-based luxury gift company

Hay Hampers, based in Roman Bank, has been placed among the top 100 small businesses by campaign group Small Business Saturday.

The accolade comes as the group counts down to Small Business Saturday on December 1.

Hay Hampers was created 34 years ago and has seen its turnover soar from Â£500,000 to Â£2 million in the last four years.

It is the second local company to be included in the top 100 with beauty salon Serenity Loves, in Oundle Road, Peterborough, also included in the top 100.

Gabriele Da Re, managing director of the family-run Hay Hampers, said: "We are constantly looking for small, premium artisan producers from the UK and abroad as we believe that smallbusinesses are the engine of our economy. For this reason, we support their business.”

Director of Small Business Saturday UK, Michelle Ovens said: “The launch of the Small Biz 100 marks the exciting count-down to Small Business Saturday 2018.

"We are thrilled to highlight the dynamic, creative and inspiring small businesses from across the country, as part of our campaign to celebrate and champion the success of the UK’s small businesses.

"The Small Biz 100 showcases the companies at the heart of the UK’s economy, which we need to support now more than ever.”

Small Business Saturday seeks to celebrate small business success, and encourage the nation to shop local and support British small businesses.

It has been held annually for six years and last year saw an estimated Â£748 million spent with small businesses across the UK.

Peterborough beauty salon is named among top 100 small businesses