Some 43 councils in the northwest will receive £37 million as a reward for boosting business and economic growth in the region.

The money comes from the Local Authority Business Growth Incentives scheme and can be spent according to local priorities.

Greater Manchester did particularly well, confirming the city-region's reputation as the engine house of the northwest.

Among the biggest winners are the city of Manchester, and the boroughs of Stockport and Tameside, which are awarded £8,876,044, £2,387,201 and £1,761,596 respectively.

Local government minister John Healey said the money encourages councils to play a bigger role in backing business and new jobs in their area.

"Over the last three years this scheme has made a real difference to local communities, so I want to ensure that we continue to provide an incentive for local authorities," he added.

According to the Learning and Skills Council, northwest employers are among the biggest spenders in the country when it comes to investing in workforce skills.

The region spent £5.6 billion on training last year, with companies spending £1,950 per employee, which is 11 per cent more than the national average.