West Midlands manufacturing is alive and well and just has to re-affirm itself after recent setbacks.

That was the message from business speaker John Getty at a masterclass organised by Business Link Black Country.

Turning your ideas into profit was the latest of four BLBC masterclasses aimed at offering a positive response to industries affected by the decline of the automotive sector. The half day event looked at how companies should consider new product development as traditional markets shrink.

"We have the greatest engineers in the world and this region in particular is renowned for manufacturing," said Mr Getty. "Yes there have been setbacks with the closure of Rover and Peugeot, but that has happened and we have to move on. The best thing we can do in business is attack - look for new opportunities, innovate, create and move forward. That is the only way to survive and prosper."

He went on: "The world is becoming wealthier and if, in the short term the UK loses business to countries developing their own manufacturing base, we need to use this opportunity to retrain, re-equip and most of all innovate.

"The best piece of advice I can give to businesses is to get off their backsides and get out there."