New Year proof of the effectiveness of this approach comes from brewing equipment manufacturer Microdat, a company that has continued to invest and develop new products through the recession. The firm’s current order book, already exceeds total sales in 2009 and six new jobs have been created.

And the good news doesn’t end there – the surge in orders has led founder and managing director Steve Midgley to seek sub-contract suppliers near his Leeds base to help out.

Cheers!

Vickers is developing the technology to manufacture primary standards for acid, alkaline and conductivity measurements, which will be used by laboratories as a benchmark for the tests they are required to carry out.

Vickers chief executive Julian Driver is quoted as saying: “With consumers wanting increasingly high product quality worldwide, there is a need for higher standards to measure against and these primary standards will be at the top of the quality pyramid.”

While UK car salesmen and delivery drivers are understandably rubbing their hands, it appears overseas manufacturers are the main beneficiaries. Volkswagen manufacturing plants in Germany are working seven days a week to churn out extra volume to meet the increased British demand and imports from the Far East are also buoyant.

But very few of the incremental sales are picked up by home manufacturers, such as Nissan in Sunderland and Vauxhall, Ellesmere Port.

Environmentally, the programme also demonstrated that many eminently roadworthy cars with little or no residual value, are being junked for the £2000 bonus.

And Yorkshire entrepreneur Lawrence Tomlinson’s situation made fascinating viewing. His Garforth plant turns out the sexy Ginetta sports cars and was, until recently, developing a prototype electrically-powered model. Ginetta applied for Government funding for the project and was turned down flat, so work has halted.

Lawrence was regularly driving the prototype home and re-charging it via wind power – about as green as motoring can get!

Much of the North’s prosperity is rooted in its rich heritage of textile manufacturing. Despite the challenges of recent years, some companies such as Hainsworth are proving able to adapt and carve out a place for themselves in 21^st century commerce. From its origins in woollen ceremonial cloths (the Woolsack in the House of Lords is covered in Hainsworth cloth), the company has diversified to establish itself as a major producer of protective fabrics, interior furnishings and even snooker and pool cloth.

Bio-degradable

Specialising in quality textiles for 226 years, Pudsey-based Hainsworth boasts a unique success story with the eighth generation of the family still heading affairs.

Much of the North’s prosperity is rooted in its rich heritage of textile manufacturing. Despite the challenges of recent years, some companies such as Hainsworth are proving able to adapt and carve out a place for themselves in 21^st century commerce. From its origins in woollen ceremonial cloths (the Woolsack in the House of Lords is covered in Hainsworth cloth), the company has diversified to establish itself as a major producer of protective fabrics, interior furnishings and even snooker and pool cloth.

Bio-degradable textile coffins lifted the company into the headlines again this year and there’s a whole lot more going on as this remarkable enterprise continues to develop. A complete and modern re-branding has narrowed down the operational divisions from a dozen to a more manageable four and plans for a joint venture in the USA are well-advanced.

The company has also established its own, award-winning textile innovation centre for which has become an internationally recognised authority in the design and development of woven textiles for its own and other firm’s products. Sales of protective clothing fabrics are launching into Europe – they already supply many UK emergency services and the Red Arrows flyers. And if you feel like treating yourself of someone else this Christmas, Hainsworth is also re-launching its range of luxury blankets, available through Harrods and other top stores.

Watch this space!