CFP also plans to launch an internet portal for East London printers and publishers and encourage local procurement.

The support programme  results from research by the private sector-led Cluster Action Group, set up last year to address the disappearance of print companies on the fringe of the City.

The programme, funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the London Development Agency, offers businesses the opportunity to access to discounted support services through both the BPIF and Vision in Print.

CFP sector development manager Alex Murray said that the 720 print SMEs based in Camden, Hackney, Islington and Tower Hamlets needed the support of the more successful City-based publishing sector.

"If publishers could advertise what they were looking for on the website so local printers could tender, there could be more local inter-sourcing of services between the two sub-sectors in the area," he said.

Murray said he hoped the portal website would be up and running by the time the programme's launches in May.

City print support programme

- Two-year programme funded by European Regional Development Fund, LDA

- Targets small print firms in East London

- Involves diagnostic assessment of operations

- Internet portal to be  launched for local procurement between printers and publishers