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The prime minister and business secretary have recognised the achievements of the UK's most innovative entrepreneurs at a Downing Street reception.

Gordon Brown and Lord Peter Mandelson were joined by 150 businesspeople from a range of sectors, who explained how they are dealing with the recession and capitalising on any opportunities.

Several small and medium-sized firms were represented, including Huddersfield-based Lazarus Mobility, which supplies aids to disabled people, entrepreneur Imran Hakim, who appeared on BBC2's Dragons' Den with his iTeddy product, and online restaurant and party booking service Top Table.

Brown said: 'I believe that the countries that will succeed in the future, the countries that will do best in this new global economy, are those who can unleash the talents, the creativity and enterprise of its citizens.'

Mandelson added that UK's entrepreneurs possess the resources, skills and knowledge to support the country's eventual recovery from the recession and said the government needs to work to remove barriers to their success.

Earlier this year, the UK's entrepreneurial culture was recognised when Scarborough was named as the most enterprising place in Europe.

The European Enterprise Awards, run by the European Commission, ranked the seaside town above competitors such as Helsinki, Valencia and Liege.

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