The reason companies are sluggish, according to the Tees Valley Chamber of Commerce Manager, Stephen Hood, is that they have grown weary of government invitations to partnership.

BBC: Not on my shopping list

"We saw a lot of waterfront property being bought and smaller homes being torn down and replaced by million dollar mansions during the dot-com boom, " explains Sara Young , economic development manager at the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce.

FORBES: Most Overpriced Places In The U.S. 2006

"If this ergonomics draft is in fact the policy that OSHA is prepared to adopt, we strongly urge the agency to reverse course and rethink this unworkable proposal before serious mistakes are made, " said Peter Eide, the Chamber of Commerce's manager for labor law policy.

CNN: OSHA announces draft for national ergonomics program

The growth in Manchester was also welcomed by the city's Chamber of Commerce, whose research manager Christian Spence said it could "boost the tourism, retail and hospitality sectors and result in further increases in investment in these areas".

BBC: England