In March 2002 the Federation of Small Businesses, together with the Institute of Directors and the Confederation of British Industry resigned from membership of the North West Regional Assembly and formed Private Sector Partners NW - an organisation to represent the views of the private sector in the North West.

It has now grown to encompass 24 key professional bodies and business associations and together we are able to speak on behalf of around 140,000 North West businesses – from the sole trader right through to the region’s major employers.