Following a January immersed in finalising the budget and worrying about social care, business rates and pension fund pooling, I started February by looking at the Government’s industrial strategy hoping for some relief and encouragement.

The green paper outlines a plan to grow and rebalance the economy and spread the benefits across the whole of the UK. The 10 inter-linked pillars aim to join up skills, infrastructure, R&D, investment and institutions in a mutually supporting network and recognise a more active role for government.