Local version of Dragons' Den could help boost northern economy - Thurso

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 24th Sep 2009

John Thurso MP, Lib Dem Shadow Secretary for Business, has called for the creation of a local "Dragons' Den" in order to channels funds into promising new business and help boost the economy in the north.

John suggested that there were sufficient wealthy individuals locally who be delighted to invest in sound new business ventures, especially in a way which spread the risk. He felt it would be possible to put together a fund of about £2 million this way.

At the same fringe event at his party's conference in Bournemouth John said that reviving regional stock markets could be an option to enable larger businesses to get the investment they need without become over reliant on credit from the major banks.