A NEW voice for smaller firms in the region was announced yesterday.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) North East announced the launch of the North East Enterprise Group.

It will be chaired by both Jacqui Taylor, a director of the Image Group, and Eric Lloyd, managing director of Business Furniture Centre.

Both are members of the CBI's SME Council in London.

CBI Regional Director, Steve Rankin said, "I believe the SME sector in the region needs to be given a much sharper profile with both national authorities and those in the North-East.

"We have deliberately called the new forum an 'Enterprise Group' to emphasise the vital role that small dynamic firms across many different sectors play in the economic life of the North-East.

"With the group being supported by the CBI both regionally and nationally, we can expect its voice to be influential.

"In the coming months, we shall be publishing a manifesto for small firms in the region".

The group will meet regularly and will be open to all the CBI's small business members in the region.