North East interior design studio founder Dr Kelly Smith attended a Downing Street reception recognising female entrepreneurs from across the region.
Dr Kelly Smith, founder of SPELK., was among a group of female entrepreneurs invited to a reception at 11 Downing Street on March 25, 2026.
Hosted by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, the event brought together 50 women from across the North East to highlight the role of female-led businesses in the UK economy. Attendees also included North East Mayor Kim McGuinness.
The reception was organised in partnership with Sophie Milliken MBE and City Ladies Networking, and aimed to reflect growing recognition of female entrepreneurship in the region.
Smith was selected to represent the North East based on her work with SPELK. and her wider involvement supporting independent, design-led businesses, alongside voluntary work with public sector organisations.
Speaking after the event, Smith said: “To be invited to Downing Street to represent North East female founders is an incredible honour. It’s a powerful reminder that the work happening in our region is being seen and valued at the highest level.
“I hope this moment translates to meaningful support and long-term investment in female-led businesses across the North East”.
SPELK. operates across both residential and commercial interiors, with a focus on combining functionality with a more considered design approach. The studio’s name is derived from a regional dialect word meaning a splinter of wood, reflecting its emphasis on material-led design.
The Downing Street invitation follows a period of wider recognition for the business. SPELK. was named Best New Business in County Durham, Sunderland and South Tyneside at the North East Business Awards in 2025, and has also been shortlisted for New Business of the Year at the Northern Echo BusinessIQ awards, due to take place in April.