A former police office and Stoke Newington RAF cadet is now serving his country in another way – after his call handling start-up app was given permission to be contracted by the government.

Aaron Henriques, 32, is a former member of the 296 Squadron in Albion Road and grew up in Highbury.

He left the Met after investing in a cleaning business but when he grew fed up of call handling services he decided to set up his own – Handlr.

And last week Handlr was given accrediation to be contracted by the Crown Commercial Service for its proactive live chat service. It is one of only 3,500 businesses to be selected.

It follows an invitation to 10 Downing Street in June, at which Aaron discussed how the government could help small businesses with Theresa May’s adviser Jimmy McLoguhlin.

Aaron was delighted to be given the option to work with the government, and said: “Jimmy was incredibly receptive to the ideas put forward. Small businesses get a rough deal.”