SMEs are struggling to gain finance, says Cutler

At her last press briefing before she is succeeded by Neil MacDonald, Mrs Liversidge told the Yorkshire Post: “We have a lot of SMEs in this part of the world and SMEs are struggling to get investment on the terms they find agreeable. You can get money, but you probably have to sell your soul to get it in some instances.”

The Company of Cutlers represents manufacturing and promotes manufacturing in the Sheffield City Region.

Chartered engineer Mrs Liversidge, the first female Master Cutler in the company’s history, said: “It’s been wonderful having the opportunity to represent the Sheffield City Region down in the city of London, trying to get across the message that manufacturing is actually in quite good heart, despite what you read in some of the national press.”

But she added that those manufacturing firms with links to the construction sector are having a tough time.

Mrs Liversidge also spoke about the pilot of a scheme to prepare young people in schools for the world of work. “For a long time, businesses have been saying the educational standard of the Sheffield schools is getting better, but young people are coming out not prepared for the world of work.”

The Company of Cutlers, in partnership with Sheffield City Council, has worked on a scheme to tackle the issue. Schools in the area have been piloting a programme of events and activities which includes works visits and mentoring.

“Business wants certain core skills and they are obvious things like literacy and numeracy, but business also wants what you’d term character, the character of the individual they are going to employ. So it’s the determination, the grit, the resilience, that you will see the project through to the end, and that you’ve got some initiative,” said Mrs Liversidge.

The Company of Cutlers has elected finance man Mr MacDonald as the next Master Cutler. He spent 25 years in various accounting roles in the manufacturing industries of Sheffield and South Yorkshire.