We need growth in the economy at all levels if the country is to avoid the risk of another recession and any measures which help businesses thrive should be welcomed.

The Council’s new economic strategy may be hamstrung by the effect of continuing spending cuts but it at least represents a positive move towards this goal.

It is aware of the need for thousands of private sector jobs to be created to replace the ones that will inevitably be lost from the public sector over the next four years as spending cuts kick in.

And this strategy will help develop a framework for the Council, the chambers of trade and commerce, and other interested groups to move forward.

The one thing that could really drive our economy out of recession is the energy generated by our entrepreneurs and, hopefully, this will help to harness that.

Encouraging more and more small business start-ups will help to kick-start the economy’s spluttering engine.

They won’t all succeed, but any new venture needs as much support as it can be given.

And that should not just be from the Council and the chambers of commerce and trade.

It is in the interests of our major employers for these small businesses to thrive and they would do well to look at ways they can help support them.

The knock-on effect will be a boost for the whole economy.