The Managing Director of Basildon-based Abby Couriers was one of 12 business people from across the country to be invited to have breakfast at 10 Downing Street yesterday.
Managing Director of Abby Couriers, Mark Giles, said: "The invitation to join the Prime Minister and Lord Mandelson for breakfast at 10 Downing Street came late on Wednesday afternoon for the following morning and at first I thought it was a very elaborate April Fool's Day joke but was soon convinced by the Parliamentary private Secretary making the call.
"When I arrived at 10 Downing Street at 7.00am I found I was one of just a dozen business people drawn from as far away as Glasgow to be invited to the 45 minute long meeting with Prime Minster Gordon Brown and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, lord Mandelson.
"Also at the meeting was the former National Chairman of the Federation of Small businesses, John Wright, and I understand it was via the FSB that I was invited.
"The main topics up for discussion were the problems business face when trying to access finance and how the High Street banks are reluctant to use the Government guarantee schemes, such as the Enterprise Finance Guarantee, to support viable businesses looking for funding.
"I was able to mention how the Banking on Essex scheme was providing an alternative source of finance for Essex businesses.
"What impressed me most of all was the willingness of Gordon Brown, Peter Mandelson and other Ministers present to listen to the views of businesses and the determination they showed in wanting the banks to make money available to help businesses survive and thrive."
Founded in 1994 Abby Couriers is a family run firm with a Head Office in Luckyn Lane, Basildon - more details at www.abbycouriers.com
With almost 200 staff the firm has more than 175 drivers on the road providing Same Day Delivery Services across the United Kingdom and Europe for key clients who include DHL, FEDEX and TNT.
Abby Couriers is a member of the National Courier Association, the Federation of Small Businesses and Essex Chambers of Commerce.
During 2009 Abby Couriers won the Business to Business category in the Essex County Business Awards; the Staff Training and Development and the Business to Business Awards in the Basildon District Business Awards and the Green Business Award in the North and West London Business Awards.