Creative Digital Industries Yorkshire (CDi) along with the BPIF celebrated Yorkshire Day on 1 August by hosting the industry get-together, where Percy, in only his second week in office, paid tribute to the work of both organisations.

Robert McClements, chief executive CDi Yorkshire, said: “I was very impressed with the minister's understanding of the print and digital sector."

CDi Yorkshire is a networking initiative to inform and support the supply chain that links brands to consumers for the creative and digital industries in Yorkshire.

“We spoke of our overlapping interest in supporting a proposal to establish a university technical college (UTC) with a digital specialism with access to millions of pounds of government funding," said McClements.

“Digital printing would be an important part of this and we want to create a cadre of young people with a mindset of problem solving and team skills in the business environment.

“None of this would have been possible without the BPIF, of which we are a special interest group. We've been able to expand activities to show how traditional print fits into the online and creative world.

“CDi is the link between government strategy and blue-sky thinking. We are the intermediary, the conduit between the two, and can speak both print and creative languages.

“Most people are too busy running their businesses and say 'why go for funding; it's too complicated?' But we can help companies that want help with training, for example.”

McClements, reminded the gathering the Leeds city region was the largest economy outside London, with 60,000 jobs in the digital sector.

The UK has the fifth-largest printing industry in the world and at 45% ranks only second in the industry scale of gross value-added as a percentage of turnover.

The lunch provided an opportunity to reflect on past successes including leveraging £6m investment in the sector through the Business Growth Programme.

Representatives of local government were among the guests including councillor James Lewis who takes the digital lead in Leeds City Council.