Oliver was in Potters Bar for Small Business Saturday last weekend and along with representatives from the Federation of Small Business he spent the day visiting local companies and listening to the concerns of the owners.

Following the event, Oliver said: ‘It was great to take part in Small Business Saturday and support our local businesses in Potters Bar.

‘It is a fantastic way of meeting with local businesses and understanding their concerns and the pressures they are under. I know how important small companies like, Revive Fitness, Precious Soles and Hertfordshire Fireplace Gallery to name just the few that I visited are to the town.

‘Many took the opportunity to raise the issue of business rates and rents with me. This is an issue I am very much aware of and have been campaigning on and regularly raise with Government Ministers.’

Small Business Saturday UK is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign, which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and support small businesses in their communities.

The day itself takes place on the first Saturday in December each year, but the campaign aims to have a lasting impact on small businesses.