The Arlon Printers managing director featured on a BBC story concerning the British Chamber of Commerce's (BCC) forecast that the worst of the current recession is over.

Cockerill agreed with the findings and said that there was "a lot more confidence at the moment".

He added: "Customers are ready to spend a bit more money – we are on the right road."

The BCC report was based on a survey of 5,600 companies, which found that there had been an increase in confidence during the three months to June.

The report contradicts the latest economic data with a 2.4% fall in GDP over the past quarter.

According to statistics from the Office of National Statistics, output of the manufacturing industries fell by 0.5% between April and May.

The most significant decreases in output were 2% in the paper, printing and publishing industries.