ILKLEY Business Forum chairman, Steve Butler, attended a Northern Powerhouse Reception at the invitation of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne.

The reception, at 11 Downing Street, took place on Tuesday and was attended by more than 100 businessmen and women, and the MPs who had arranged their invitation.

Ilkley MP Kris Hopkins was accompanied by Mr Butler, Nathan Goodridge, a director of R McDowell Logistics in Keighley and Pierre Richterich, of Ilkley, a keen proponent of the importance of the North to the UK’s economy.

Mr Osborne spoke individually to everyone in the room before making a short speech. He stressed that the North of England had as large an economy as London and that it was the fastest growing part of the UK economy as a whole. He pledged to improve transport and scientific research facilities to ensure the North could do even better in future.

Mr Butler said: “I was surprised to be invited to this event, but, when you think about it, Ilkley Business Forum does represent part of the Northern Powerhouse. Many of our members are leaders in their field. Look at NG Bailey and Spooners with their nationwide businesses. Box Tree Events just won the award as the Best Events Team in the Wedding Industry Awards.

“Talk Straight has won the Internet Service Providers Association award for Best Business Use of the Cloud for its school broadband brand. And I could go on because we have many impressive members. We aim to represent all businesses in LS29 and we can truly boast that we ‘have the ear’ of MPs and government ministers.”

Mr Richterich has been asking Mr Hopkins about the need to recognise the contribution made to the UK economy by the North for many years.

The next meeting of Ilkley Business Forum is on Wednesday, February 11, at 5.45pm at the Clarke Foley Centre, Ilkley.