A STUDLEY businessman was invited to Downing Street after his company was named as one of the UK’s leading 100 small businesses.

Shohaib Shafiq, whose business Integrity Accountancy Services is based in Birmingham, was invited to a reception at No. 10 after winning a spot in the coveted Small Business Saturday Small Biz 100.

He said: “I’m really grateful and honoured to be invited to 10 Downing Street.

“It was a great day and I had the opportunity to talk to key decision makers within government about the issues that small businesses face operating within the UK.

“We talked to ministers and government staff about changes to apprenticeships, business rates and the implementation of Making Tax Digital, as well as the challenges that they are facing in respect of Brexit.

“We’re working hard to redefine the client-accountant relationship to be about more than just tax returns.

“We work for our clients as their trusted business advisers, adding real value to their relationship with us.

“I’d like to extend a big thank you to the staff and government ministers that we met at 10 Downing Street for listening to our views and making us feel so welcome.”

Mr Shafiq set up Integrity Accountancy Services from his home in 2010 before moving to serviced offices in Birmingham in 2012, where he now employs four people.

Small Business Saturday is an annual, nationwide event which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and support small businesses in their communities.