The website, which went live on 1 June, provides a forum for printers to buy or sell businesses and equipment by brokering deals between willing sellers and buyers.

Initial enquiries are dealt with by the Network, which will try to provide a solution for the printer. Only after a non-disclosure agreement has been signed will the Network pass on the printers information to interested parties. Online registration costs 360 per annum or 30 per month.

Unity managing partner Peter Donnelly (pictured) said of the venture: "Times have been hard for printing companies over the past few years and we spotted a gap in the market where our expertise could help with consolidation."

Donnelly set up the Network with John Mort of Graphic Arts, who added: "Its about time this sort of thing happened in an industry which is in a state of flux and is heavily financially dependent, with late payment and bad debt commonplace."

The Network hopes to have up to 1,000 members at any one time. www.printersnetwork.co.uk