KIRKLEES firms have been urged to start 2012 on a positive note.

The call comes from Huddersfield law firm Baxter Caulfield following its latest assessment of the private sector in Yorkshire and Humber.

The firm, based at Station Street, conducted an evaluation of announcements published by companies relating to jobs, investment and new contracts – and says its findings provide strong evidence of new innovation, private sector investment and new private sector jobs throughout the region to balance the “difficult” news of jobs at risk in the public sector.

The firm’s research shows that 36,257 private sector jobs were announced in 2011 along with more than £2.2m of new investment by private sector business in the region.

Stephen Newman (pictured), senior partner at Baxter Caulfield, said: “There is no doubt that the region has been through some tough economic times and the future remains uncertain for many businesses.

“However, our research clearly indicates that more than 36,000 new jobs and £2m of investment were announced by organisations in Yorkshire and Humber last year.

“We heard an awful lot about job losses in 2011, but nowhere near as much about the job creation that has been happening in the region’s private sector.”

Said Mr Newman: “The region’s companies are now investing some of the money they have saved as a result of cost reduction. This is filtering through but is not hitting the headlines. We need to address that and talk up Yorkshire and Humber.”