HUDDERSFIELD could be at the cutting edge of bringing the British recovery out of the recession.

Companies like David Brown and Huddersfield University were leading the way in developing new technologies which would lead manufacturing into better times.

That was the view expressed by Business Secretary Vince Cable on a visit to Huddersfield with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg yesterday.

They began their tour by opening the University’s new £8 million Centre of Innovative Manufacturing in Advanced Metrology. This precision engineering centre is one of 12 specialist units based at universities throughout the UK.

That was followed by a visit to David Brown Gear Systems’ Park Works at Lockwood where they announced a £2 million grant from the Regional Growth Fund.

This, coupled with the £2.8 million invested by David Brown, will create 80 new jobs and fund the company’s development of gearboxes in the rapidly developing market of wind turbines.

Mr Cable said: “Huddersfield and towns like it could be at the cutting edge of the British recovery if we can really get behind these manufacturing industries.

“David Brown is a world beating manufacturing company. As part of the economic recovery and better balance in the economy, we want to promote manufacturers in these very technologically advanced companies like David Brown.”

Both Mr Cable and Mr Clegg spoke of the country’s over-reliance on public sector jobs in the past.

Mr Cable continued: “One of the ways out of recession if Britain is to succeed is for us to grow in private business investment, in exports and particularly in manufacturing and Huddersfield is an area with well above manufacturing skills.