A Shipley-based management consultancy has set a new business benchmark for the north.

Equas Cost Management Solutions has become the first independent firm in the region to become an accredited Business Advisor for the Small Business Service Benchmarking Index.

The index is a DTI-backed programme designed to help firms improve their competitiveness by measuring their performance against rivals across some 80 areas.

Equas, which was launched last year by seven partners with a wide range of senior management experience and focus areas across Yorkshire, uses the system to produce action plans for its clients. Partner Keith Harris, who has responsibility for the Bradford and Calderdale areas, said: "Benchmarking forces you to look objectively at what you are doing."

The process begins with the company in question, assisted by their Business Advisor, completing a questionnaire covering all key aspects of their work. The results are then fed in to a secure database containing details on more than 56,000 'benchmarked' companies from the UK and the continent.

From that, a Benchmark Index report is generated, highlighting the firm's strengths and weaknesses.