KIRKLEES firms must start preparing for the upturn now if they are to seize the opportunities presented by improving economic conditions, a banker has warned.
Phil Hawker, area director for Lloyds TSB Commercial in Yorkshire, said: "Recession has weighed heavily on UK businesses and it is easy to see why talk of a recovery might bring welcome relief. But in the same way that we have encouraged firms to take action to survive the downturn, they will also need to prepare for the return to growth.
"The shape and scale of any recovery is still uncertain, but one thing is clear – those businesses already looking towards the upturn and planning how to make the most of it are the ones that will thrive."
Mr Hawker delivered the message at seminars run with Business Link and local professional firms for for 300 regional business delegates.
