Our MD Thomas Laird Meets the Prime Minister at No 10 North

On Friday 23 October 2026, our Managing Director and part-owner, Thomas Laird, swapped the factory floor in Hampshire for No 10 North in Manchester, where he joined the Prime Minister and fellow small business owners at the Small Business Conference. It is not every day a deodorant company gets a seat at that table, so here is what the day was about, why it matters, and why it says something about who we are.

Salt of the Earth is a family-owned natural deodorant brand making deodorants in Chandlers Ford, Hampshire since 1993. We are certified 100% COSMOS Natural by the Soil Association, registered with the Vegan Society, certified by Cruelty Free International, a B Corp and a Living Wage employer.

What is No 10 North?

No 10 North is the government's northern base for the Prime Minister's office, at Heron House in Manchester city centre. It opened in July 2026, shortly after Andy Burnham became Prime Minister, as a hub for growth and devolution, bringing local economic policy and regional decision-making together outside Westminster. 

What was the Small Business Conference about?

The conference brought the Prime Minister and the Business Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, together with small business owners and representative organisations, including the Federation of Small Businesses.

Why does this matter to a business like ours?

Because small businesses are where a huge share of the country works. According to the government, small businesses support around 13 million jobs in the UK. We are one of them: a team in Hampshire that develops, makes, fills, packs and posts its own products.

Every hour spent on duplicated paperwork is an hour not spent on formulating a new scent, improving a refill or answering a customer. Big companies have whole departments to absorb that kind of admin. A family business does not. That is why having small businesses in the room, alongside the Prime Minister and the people writing the rules, matters.

Thomas went to share what it is like to make products in Britain as an independent, family-owned company:

"It was a privilege to be in the room, and every business there brought something worth hearing. We’ve been making natural deodorants in Hampshire for over thirty years, and as a family business we plan in decades, not quarters. Small businesses like ours are a vital part of the economy, and when we’re able to invest in our people and our products, that’s where real growth comes from. I’m grateful to the government for asking for our feedback.”

Thomas Laird, Managing Director and co-owner, Salt of the Earth

Why are we family-owned and independent?

Because it lets us make decisions the slow, careful way. Sally Laird bought Salt of the Earth in 2005, and (her son)Thomas has run it as Managing Director since 2008. Every decision about what goes into our deodorants, how they are made and how we treat the people who make them is taken here in Chandlers Ford, by the family that owns the business. If you want the full story, we wrote about who owns Salt of the Earth.

Being independent is not just a line on our About page. In practice it means:

• We make our own products. Our sprays, roll-ons, sticks and balms are made at our factory in Chandlers Ford; the exception is our crystal range.
• We play the long game. We have offered refillable sprays, roll-ons and sticks since 2013, because it was the right thing for our customers, not because anyone asked us for a quick win.
• We invest where it counts. We are a Living Wage employer, and in April 2026 we installed solar panels on our factory roof, estimated to provide around 45% of our electricity over a year. You can read about our first sunny months with them.
• We answer to our customers. The people we most want to please are the ones who want a natural deodorant that works and a business they can trust.

That independence has also earned us some recognition along the way: 83 industry awards, including two King's Awards for Enterprise, for International Trade in 2025 and Sustainability in 2026. See the full list on our awards page.

What happens next?

Back to the day job, mostly. Thomas is back in Chandlers Ford, the production line is running, and we are deep into preparations for Christmas. We will keep an eye on how the Taskforce's recommendations are put into practice, and we will keep speaking up for small manufacturers whenever we get the chance.

If you would like to support a family-owned British maker, our full range of sprays, roll-ons, sticks and balms are made right here in Hampshire.

Frequently asked questions

What is No 10 North?

No 10 North is the government's northern base for the Prime Minister's office, at Heron House in Manchester city centre. It opened in July 2026 as a hub for growth and devolution, and the Prime Minister and other ministers work from it regularly.

What happened at the Small Business Conference at No 10 North?

On 23 October 2026, the Prime Minister and Business Secretary met small business owners and representative organisations, including the Federation of Small Businesses, at No 10 North. The government accepted the majority of the Small Business Taskforce's recommendations to cut red tape for small firms.

Who owns Salt of the Earth?

Salt of the Earth is a family-owned, independent natural deodorant company. Sally Laird bought the business in 2005, and her son Thomas Laird, Managing Director and co-owner, has run it since 2008. Our deodorants are made in Chandlers Ford, Hampshire.