Junior has a major role to play

Marcus Stuttard is on a two-day Yorkshire roadshow, meeting advisers, AIM-listed businesses and possible flotation candidates.

Mr Stuttard said: “Clearly financial markets have been volatile for some time around the globe but small and medium caps are particularly important for economic growth and job creation.

“We are continuing to spend an increasing amount of time across the regions. We are seeing greater interest from companies exploring a wider range of options.”

Mr Stuttard was speaking at an event in Leeds organised by business advisers Grant Thornton and the Institute of Directors to discuss opportunities on the London Stock Exchange’s junior market.

Matt Stroh, from Grant Thornton’s Leeds office, said: “AIM was always the place the for businesses with ideas on their way somewhere. It becomes problematic if you’re a bit stuck and have reached your ambitions.

“There have been some very high-profile decisions to look at leaving the market but it’s still the right place for certain businesses that are going places on their business trajectory. Markets are very much still open and are a good route for fundraising or an exit.”

Serial non-executive Colin Glass, who has worked on a number of Yorkshire firms’ flotations, said: “It’s really important to bring the whole concept of AIM to a wider range of SMEs.”

Others at the round table included Kenton Robbins, IoD regional director; David Ross, managing director of Leeds firm Keycare; and Mark Fahy from the London Stock Exchange.