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Firms need to have designs on future to win
YORKSHIRE'S recovery from a slump in manufacturing in the 1980s has left it well-placed to innovate amid the downturn, a Government minister said last night. Ian Pearson, science and innovation minister, who visits the county today, said firms should not be deterred from innovating in spite of the economic downturn and said it would ensure their survival.
He spoke before the Designing Demand event in Leeds, at which firms will be told how a design-led approach can help improve competitiveness, profits and the motivation of staff.
Delegates will also hear from some of the 1,300 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) which have benefited from the Design Council's Designing Demand programme, which Yorkshire Forward was the first regional development agency to implement.
Mr Pearson said that Yorkshire's recovery from the troubles of the 1980s left it well-equipped to develop new practices today. "Yorkshire's economy has changed enormously over the last 20 years and emerged with great results.
"Clearly we are going through tough times now as a result of the credit crunch and the surge in food and energy prices. But in tough times the tough get going and Yorkshire has proved that it can develop strong businesses."
Today Mr Pearson will highlight Design Council figures which claim that for every 100 spent on design and creativity turnover will increase by 225. He will draw attention to successful firms, which were helped through Designing Demand.
This will include Halifax-based Heritage Cashmere, a traditional manufacturer which struggled to compete on cost but went on to become a design-led, innovative firm plus Naylor Industries, a fourth generation Barnsley-based clay drain pipe firm which became a major manufacturer of clay and ceramic gardenware.
Designing Demand is part of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform's manufacturing strategy, an updated version of which was revealed yesterday (see panel below).
He will also say that in South Yorkshire, the average amount spent by SMEs on design products increased from 2,000 in 2005 to 14,000 last year. "It is absolutely essential that firms continue to innovate and invest in research and development."
So far 250 Yorkshire firms have received assistance from Designing Demand with 672 to benefit this autumn. Mr Pearson said that businesses which innovate were likely to see greater profits once Britain has emerged from the current downturn.
The conference, at Leeds' Met Hotel, will include speeches by chair of Toyota Sir Alan Jones and chief executive of Yorkshire Forward Tom Riordan.
For more information, contact the Design Council at www.designcouncil.org.uk
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Weather for Yorkshire
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -8 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South east
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