TWO “brilliant” businesses from the region were recognised last week at a Downing Street reception.

Borders MP John Lamont said the acknowledgements for Quins, in Galashiels, and Think Fitness, in Hawick, were “well deserved praise for great customer service”.

The small enterprises were invited to the Number 10 Downing Street Local Business Champions reception, where they spoke with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt.

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Sylvia Scott attended from Quins restaurant, while Greg Dalgleish and Stuart Oliver came along from Think Fitness gym.

Mr Lamont, Conservative MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, said: “It was a pleasure to celebrate two fantastic Scottish Borders businesses at the Number 10 Downing Street Local Business Champions Reception.

“Congratulations to Quins of Galashiels and Think Fitness in Hawick. They have received well-deserved praise for great customer service.

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“We are lucky in the Borders to have so many brilliant small businesses serving our local communities.”

Following the event, Ms Scott said: “I was delighted and honoured, on behalf of our hard working staff in Quins and all our lovely customers, to be invited to Downing Street.”

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Mr Oliver from Think Fitness added: “What an experience. Visiting Downing Street, a place steeped in so much history and tradition, was just a great privilege. Everyone was so welcoming and we were so well looked after.”

Recently, another Borders business won a prestigious UK-wide export award. Duns-based ScotlandShop became one of the first ever winners in the inaugural ‘Made in the UK, Sold to the World’ competition, run by the UK Government Department for Business.

The business has grown from a start-up to £2.4 million sales in 2022 and now employs 20 people in the UK and two in the USA.