A top Government official has spoken with key Sheffield business leaders on the future of the region's economy during a whistle-top tour of the city.

Adam Jackson, director of enterprise at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, visited local businesses and entrepreneurs, from manufacturing to creative and digital, as part of the trip, which was organised by the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce.

Mr Jackson received presentations from Chamber president Nick Tovey, chief executive Nigel Tomlinson and Mandip Dosanjh from Sheffield Enterprise Agency on how the city has become a hot-bed for new business start-ups during the last few years.

Over lunch he met with a number of Chamber members to hear their views on how businesses can be better helped and assisted by the government.

The group included Anne Lockwood from Sereniti Ltd, Andy Pickles of UExplore, Mike Kent and Tom Ward from Kitlocker.com and Yuri Matischen managing director of MLS and the next chamber president.

A key part of the visit was for Mr Jackson to talk with a number of small micro-businesses which had been set-up within the last 12 months. This focused on the support they had received when starting their business and whether this could be improved.

In the afternoon Mr Jackson was taken on a tour of Chamber Business Award winner Davy Markham by managing director Kevin Parkin, before meeting with Andy Mayer from Yoomee at the Sheffield Digital Campus.

Mr Jackson is the latest senior political official to meet with the Sheffield Chamber in the last few months after Secretary of State for Transport Lord Adonis and Baroness Warsi, Shadow Minister for Sheffield and Community Cohesion, visited the city.

The meetings coincide with the Chamber's development of a business manifesto - ‘Working for Business: A Vision for Sheffield' - which includes key requirements to help the city become a better place to do business.