It was good to see the success of Pace being recognised with a visit from David Cameron to the Saltaire factory, where he made his first major speech as Prime Minister.

In the run-up to the election, the chamber network lobbied all parties on issues that matter to business.

I was keen to hear which messages had been listened to by the new coalition government. It was pleasing to find that some items on the wish-list had reached the policy-makers.

Red tape is a burden, and while no-one expects it to disappear, the news of the one in, one out, for new legislation was welcome. The Prime Minister also talked of “getting out of the way of business”.

Expecting there to be reductions in support for business, we asked local companies who the beneficiaries should be. The answers were start-up businesses and manufacturers. According to Business Secretary Vince Cable, there will be no special measures for manufacturers, except to improve the infrastructure, but there was an interesting announcement for new companies – of no National Insurance payments for their first ten employees.

The cost and red tape of employment are often quoted as the reasons why entrepreneurs decide not to recruit staff.

Getting credit flowing again, more apprenticeships, a review rather than removal of regional development agencies in the North, a more competitive tax system and the removal of trade barriers, all sound promising.