At a summit this week, hosted by deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, business secretary Vince Cable and business minister Mark Prisk, UK manufacturing, including the print sector, was given the opportunity to shape the government's future policies regarding manufacturing.

MPs asked the attendees about the ease of obtaining finance, claiming that they had been informed, by the banks, that there was no problem because nobody was seeking finance.

BPIF president Rupert Middleton, who represented print at the event, said: "People were asking who the banks were kidding, claiming that there is no longer a problem. I said that small printers had trouble getting access to finance and it was a problem across the board.

"If banks are using that line, when it is so manifestly not the case, you wonder if they really want to engage. Perhaps they are not able to engage. It was suggested that local banks would be better able to make a judgement on local business. Larger organisations feed details into an algorithm and if the right answer doesn't come out that is the end of the conversation."

Other areas discussed at the event included changing the image of manufacturing, achieving a sustainable balance in the UK economy with the help of manufacturing and developing skills in industry.

Responses for the event will feed into the March budget and Middleton added that the event was a success, but he would be interested to see how it is followed up. "The ministers were on the ball. They said they want a clear strategy for manufacturing and will stick to it."