A BASINGSTOKE company has sailed to success after it was named in a rundown celebrating the country's small businesses.

The Nautical Company, a retailer of nautical lifestyle clothing and décor, was recognised as one of this year’s Small Biz 100, for its contribution to both the UK economy and its local community, ahead of this weekend’s Small Business Saturday, which will be celebrated across the UK on December 1.

The ‘Small Biz 100’ is an annual 100-day campaign to champion and profile the UK’s small businesses, in the lead up to Small Business Saturday and its aim to celebrate the UK’s 5.6 million small businesses and encourage the nation to 'shop local'.

The businesses named in the list received recognition at a House of Lords event on Thursday.

Founder of The Nautical Company (UK) Ltd, Sandrine Wyatt-Gonord, said: “It is an honour to have been chosen as one of UK’s 100 Small Business Saturday among thousands of applicants. We need such initiatives to raise awareness about small businesses like us and encourage more people to shop small and local."

Lord Young of Graffham, former secretary of state for trade and industry, and a government adviser on enterprise and small business hosted the event and was attended by other special guests including secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy, Greg Clark MP.

Lord Young said: “Small Business Saturday is a vital campaign to highlight the critical role that small businesses play in fuelling the British economy. They are the true backbone of our economy, helping to drive growth across all areas of the country. Hosting the impressive businesses in this year’s Small Biz was a huge pleasure, and it is only a small part of the recognition they deserve for their entrepreneurial spirit shown day in, day out.”