Representatives from three of the charities Mode supports; Marie Curie Cancer Care, The Blue Cross and Together for Short Lives, also joined staff at the event, which was held on 6 March.

The three charities were presented with the firm’s latest fundraising donations, which totalled £15,500.

Managing director Robert Clarke said the reception, which was attended by around 30 people, went very well. “Sir Oliver and the mayor were with us for about an hour and a half, talking to the trainees and other members of staff. Sir Oliver did a speech talking about our commitment to training and how important it is.

“The mayor also thought the reception was brilliant and told us that she was impressed with our website and training academy.”

The firm’s Mode Sales Academy is a training arm of the business that leads the continual development of all employees, especially those joining at entry level. Clarke said that Mode is a ‘progressive business’ which places a great deal of emphasis on nurturing talent and investing in its people.

Established in 1995 by David Davis, Mode employs 40 people at its headquarters in Hertfordshire and central London office and has a turnover of around £6m. It sells Xerox and Ricoh devices to customers in and around the London area.

Davis said: “I am immensely proud of how we have grown by working with customers to identify their needs and offer expert guidance, state-of-the-art equipment and unrivalled service.

“The secret to Mode’s success is simple: it’s all about people. Whether those people are customers, employees or suppliers; treating people with respect, acting with integrity and investing in relationships has been the bedrock of our achievements to date.”