A Yorkshire-based manufacturer of water-saving valves has joined a delegation of small British businesses in London to pitch directly to international buyers and attend a reception at 11 Downing Street.

SealStop, based in Pocklington, was among 40 small firms selected for the Great British Pitch India initiative. Organised by Small Business Britain and supported by the Department for Business and Trade, the event aims to create export channels ahead of the proposed UK-India Free Trade Agreement.

The company manufactures an automatic shut-off valve designed to prevent water waste, originally invented by local farmers Jason and Belle Richardson to resolve flooded yards on their property.

During the trade event, participants attended legal, regulatory, and cultural workshops alongside structured matchmaking sessions with South Asian corporate buyers. SealStop was selected to present its product to Asterix Innovations, an advisory firm specialising in cross-border trade and market entry strategies across India and South Asia.

Belle Richardson commented: “What an amazing if somewhat surreal experience this was and such a privilege to pitch to influential Indian buyers. I was invited to pitch to Asterix Innovations and being selected felt like a huge achievement.

“As a small Yorkshire business, getting the chance to present our product to Indian buyers and meet other business owners, industry leaders and government representatives was something I'll never forget.

“What stood out most was being surrounded by so many ambitious people who are all working hard to grow their businesses and take British innovation to new markets. Days like this remind you to stop and appreciate how far you've come. SealStop started as a solution to a problem on our smallholding, and now we're exploring opportunities around the world.

“This pitch reinforced just how much opportunity there is for SealStop beyond the UK. We're actively looking for international distribution partners, so opportunities like this are incredibly valuable in helping us make new connections and continue growing the business.”

The delegation subsequently travelled to a reception at 11 Downing Street hosted by Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The event included briefings from Kumaran Periasamy, the Indian High Commissioner, and Harjinder Kang, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for South Asia.

Michelle Ovens CBE, CEO and founder of Small Business Britain, said: “The UK and India Free Trade deal offers huge potential for both economies, and we know that small businesses are an incredible engine for growth too. We are delighted to be the facilitators of business connections between our two nations, and to help small businesses in all kinds of sectors to unlock the potential of export and international trade.”