LINGERIE entrepreneur Michelle Mone met Scots entrepreneurs as she made a private visit north of the border as part of a major government review on supporting business start-ups in disadvantaged communities.
The founder of the Ultimo lingerie brand was in her home town of Glasgow as part of a fact-finding exercise following her appointment as small business czar by the Conservatives to find out what obstacles there may be for setting up in business.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) did not release details of the location and timing of her visit, with officials saying they wanted to avoid any "disruptive issues".
However, her hosts Entrepreneurial Spark, the business support scheme, said she had met local business people during a visit to the Hatchery, at Caledonia House in the Gorbals.
Lady Mone met local business people including Alexis Wiswanathan, a former teacher who has launched the educational business Alphabet Babies and Dhruv Trivedi, who relocated to Glasgow from India to launch hangover cure business Reinvent Life Sciences.
A DWP spokeswoman said: "It's a private visit. They want to be able to speak to these people without any issues.
"We are not inviting anybody there or talking much about it so she can put together her report to the Prime Minister."
Jim Duffy, chief executive of Entrepreneurial Spark, said: “Entrepreneurs help themselves, help others and grow the economy all at the same time, so developing a vibrant start-up culture is the ideal way of turning round deprived areas. But there are still many barriers faced by those who have a great business idea and the attitude to make it a success, but come from a poorer background.
“We were delighted to show Lady Mone what we are doing here, and indeed at our rapidly growing list of Hatcheries across the UK, as we believe our work is very relevant to her review into an area where much more can be done by the government, to the benefit of everyone.”
Officials later produced a statement on Lady Mone's behalf.
It said: “I truly believe anyone, regardless of their background or where they are from, should be able to turn a great idea into a successful business and that’s why I am honoured to be conducting a Government review into supporting entrepreneurs in disadvantaged communities.
“Glaswegians are some of the most hard-working, talented people I know, and it has been wonderful being back in my home city and seeing the incredible support offered by Entrepreneurial Spark to aspiring businessmen and women.”
Last week Ms Mone found herself under attack after boasting she’d been given a taxpayer-funded, chauffeur-driven, government Jaguar while she was conducting her tour.
She hit back, saying the criticism was unfair and said she was doing 50 days' work unpaid for the Government .
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