“With so many different providers, it can be a minefield for busy business owners and managers. We want to simplify this and make it easy for SMEs to find out where to access finance and decide which option is right fdor their business.”

The new guide includes information about support and financing for young businesses through the Business Enterprise Fund, private equity, venture capital and commercial bank loans. It also describes how money can be raised through the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) and the Enterprise Capital Fund, which combines government funding and private sector investment.

Publication of the guide follows a survey of chamber members which revealed 71% of businesses believe that the biggest barrier to growth and innovation is a lack of sufficient finance opportunities.

“This is a must read document for any business and can help take your business to the next stage of success,” says Williamson.

Many firms have over the past decade become used to sourcing products overseas, or from suppliers around the UK, and we often forget about, or are unaware of the vast range of manufacturers and products that they produce right here in Leeds and the other towns and cities in Yorkshire.

It won’t always be possible to find the very specialised widget your firm needs on your doorstep. But if we take the time to look around and review our supplier lists, as companies like furniture designer ABF Europe have found, there is a great deal more we could buy from within the region, keeping trade circulating at home and bringing many other business benefits.

A weak pound had made UK sourced products increasingly competitive over the past few years and freight costs were running at the highest level for years.

This, coupled with the benefits of much shorter lead times, better quality control, improved payment terms and lower transportation costs means there are a number of compelling reasons to be using even similarly priced locally sourced products,” he said, adding that environmental factors were also important.

So we’re suggesting a real nuts and bolts route to speed the recovery and avoid uncertainty – simply look to shop locally and regionally for your materials and product components. There will be specialist products that cannot be sourced here but don’t underestimate the number of companies that could be making your components and raw materials right here.

Two outstanding and thought-provoking speakers enabled representatives of regional companies to learn how innovation can be used to gain a competitive edge.

Barry Dodd, CEO of GSM Group and Council Member Yorkshire Innovation, used real life examples, rather than text book theory, to demonstrate the role of innovation in growing a business. He emphasised the importance of the value chain and the supply chain as sources of opportunity for innovation and growth.

David Bott from the Technology Strategy Board, looked at the future of manufacturing and how the use of competitive funding is driving research and development to help solve some of the most pressing problems facing society.

Business Link Yorkshire also presented an update on support available for manufacturing companies.

So it’s hats off to Harry, Christa and the gang for recently highlighting the ubiquitous Sound Leisure and its range of impressive jukeboxes that continue to buck the recession. The company designs and manufactures a wide range of audio and video products for the leisure and retail sectors and its extensive product range have established it as the UK’s leading supplier of classic and digital jukeboxes.

This week, Sound Leisure threw open its doors for two days of technical training and awareness: “Over the 31 years we have been manufacturing jukeboxes, we have probably trained more engineers than any other manufacturer in our industry,” said managing director Chris Black.

In addition to training, the sessions gave bench and service engineers and business development staff time to discuss products and technologies with trained Sound Leisure personnel.

Paul Birtles, manufacturing director of Surgical Innovations, went far beyond the call of duty prior to collecting the award for SME Manufacturer of the Year. Rushed to hospital with appendicitis this summer, he ensured the ensuing operation was carried out using the laparoscopic instruments he makes for minimally invasive surgery!

Shortlisted for Innovation of the Year, Brandon Medical’s work was recognised in the development of two new technologies – the world’s first fully integrated tele-video system and impressive new surgical lighting equipment.

And talking of lighting, a deserved and outstanding winner of the innovation section was Harvard Engineering for its brilliant Leafnut monitoring system for street lighting which significantly reduces running costs and the carbon footprint.

Congratulations to everyone who took part – it’s another great way that the skills of manufacturers in Leeds can be celebrated!